PACIFIC PALISADES >> Dustin Johnson’s Riviera-to-Riviera run as the No. 1 player in the Official World Golf Rankings didn’t come without one major pratfall.
From the time he sloshed his way to a rain-impaired win in the 2017 Genesis Open last February to climb atop the computer-generated list from No. 3, to where he is today as a favorite to defend the title as well as keep that top-dog status, the only real misstep Johnson made over the last 12 months was poorly navigating a flight of stairs at an Augusta rental house the day before the Masters last April.
Johnson’s back took the brunt of the injury – he initially thought he broke it. After a month of rest, missing the cut at the U.S. Open in June, and gutting out eight more events at less than 100 percent, he somehow kept his first-class status.
Rankings aside, his concern was it could have been much worse.
“It wasn’t just my back – both of my elbows hurt,” said the 6-foot-4, 190-pounder from South Carolina. “Thank God, I didn’t break my back. Definitely, it was severe pain.
“I got an MRI that showed it was just badly bruised, no structural problems, and I knew it just took time. Continuing to play didn’t help it heal quickly, so I kept working through it.”
Johnson’s five-stroke win last year during the 36-hole Sunday final was the greatest margin of victory in this L.A. Tour stop since 1986. The 17-under score was the best recorded in 13 years.
If Johnson goes back-to-back at Riviera, questions about the back issues probably won’t even come up. It’s somewhat obvious he’s returned to top-launching form after four events this 2017-18 PGA Tour season, where he has already claimed one title (the Sentry Tournament of Champions at Kapalua in Maui), two ties for second (last week at the Pebble Beach Pro-Am, after having a share of the lead going into the final round, and at the World Golf Championship HSBC event in Shanghai, China), and a tie for 14th (at Tiger Woods’ Hero World Challenge last December, an unofficial PGA event).
Keeping the No. 1 standing and all the perks that come with it are much better than any sort of free fall.
“Really, the only perk is I get to do more interviews,” he said.
That’s a perk?
“No,” he sheepishly replied. “You obviously get a little more attention, but … I like the attention. I’d rather be here than not. I’ve worked very hard to get to this, and I’ll work hard to maintain it.”
He gets enough attention as the son-in-law of Wayne Gretzky, his pro-am partner last week at Pebble Beach. He has the attention of his competitors by leading the season in scoring average (68.716) and birdie average.
Considering that Johnson was a runner-up at Riviera in 2014 and ’15 (a playoff loss), fourth in 2016, seven Top 10 finishes in his 10-year pro career here, plus 13 rounds (out of 36) where he has shot 67 or better since 2008, the 32-year-old should continue one of the most dominant runs in this tournament’s history.
Lloyd Mangrum won the L.A. Open four times from 1949-56, the first three at Riviera. Ben Hogan had three wins (two at Riviera) and two runner-ups from 1942-50. Arnold Palmer won three times and finished second once from 1963-’68, when Rancho Park hosted the tournament.
Phil Mickelson was the last to win consecutive Riviera events, in 2008-09, after a playoff loss to Charles Howell III in ’07 that could have made it an unprecedented three straight. Mickelson was also tied for second in 2012, again losing in a playoff.
Last Sunday, Mickelson closed with a 67 while Johnson stumbled with a 72 to get entangled in a four-way tie for second at Pebble Beach, three shots back of surprise winner Ted Potter Jr., who is in the Genesis field.
Said Mickelson about how his finish last Sunday could continue at the Genesis Open: “Riviera is a course I’ve played well in the past and I like it a lot. I know a lot of the nuances in it. If I drive it the way I’ve been driving, it’s a perfect course for those who are striking it well. And I’m hitting it as well as I have in a long time.”
HAAS UPDATE
Bill Haas, the 2012 Riviera winner, returned to his home in Greenville, S.C., injured during a car accident Tuesday afternoon just west of the Riviera Country Club on Chautaqua Blvd., that killed the driver of his vehicle.
Haas’ representative Allen Hobbs said Wednesday morning that the 35-year-old was released from a local hospital. Mark Gibello, 71, a friend of Haas’ swing coach Billy Harmon and hosting Haas this week at his home, was killed. Gibello was said to be instrumental in helping bring the Walker Cup and U.S. Open to the Los Angeles Country Club.
Haas was scheduled to tee off at 8:04 a.m. Thursday. His place was taken by Ryan Moore.
TEE TIME NOTES
Johnson plays with two other defending champions – Adam Scott and Bubba Watson – from the first tee at 12:12 p.m. Thursday, and at 7:32 a.m. from the 10th tee Friday. After Watson finishes Friday, he goes from the course to Staples Center to participate in the NBA Celebrity All-Star Game …
Two UCLA grads, Patrick Cantlay (Long Beach, Servite High) and Kevin Chappell, are paired with World No. 3 Jordan Spieth at 12:02 p.m. off the first tee Thursday …
Mickelson, World No. 13 Tommy Fleetwood and Matt Kuchar go off at 7:32 a.m. from the first tee Thursday in the group behind Tiger Woods, World No. 4 Justin Thomas and World No. 10 Rory McIlroy (7:22 a.m.) …
Other Southern Californian natives in the field – aside from Woods — include 2013 champion John Merrick (Long Beach Wilson High, UCLA), Beau Hossler (Mission Viejo, Santa Margarita Catholic High), Cameron Tringale (Laguna Niguel, Mission Viejo High), Jamie Lovemark (USC), Kevin Chappell (UCLA), Vinnie Poncino (head pro at San Clemente Municipal Golf Course, Mission Viejo High, Saddleback College, UC Irvine) and J.J. Spaun (Los Angeles, San Dimas High, a 2016 Charlie Sifford exemption for this event).
2018 GENESIS OPEN INFORMATION
Where: Riviera Country Club (1250 Capri Drive, Pacific Palisades)
Schedule:
Thursday and Friday: First two rounds begin at 6:40 a.m.; gates open at 6 a.m.
Saturday and Sunday: Final two rounds begin at 8 a.m.; gates open at 7:30 a.m.
The course: Par 71 on a layout of 7,322 yards (75.6 rating, 137 slope). Opened in 1927. Designed by George C. Thomas Jr., updated by William P. Bell. Greens are a mix of bentgrass and poa annua. Fairways are kikuyu. Course website: www.therivieracountryclub.com
Prize money: $7.2 million ($1.296 million to the winner and a Genesis G80 Sport)
Defending champion: Dustin Johnson
The field: The 144 players include current World No. 1 Johnson, No. 3 Jordan Spieth, No. 4 Justin Thomas and No. 10 Rory McIlroy. Past champions include Phil Mickelson, Bubba Watson, Ernie Els, James Hahn, Charles Howell III, Adam Scott and John Merrick.
Weather forecast: No chance of rain and a mix of partly cloudy and sunny skies all four days of the tournament with highs between 65 and 72.
Tickets: All information at www.GenesisOpen.com
Public parking: Downtown Santa Monica parking structures S1 through S8 are open 24 hours and include a complimentary shuttle. The pickup and drop off locations are on Wilshire Boulevard, between 2nd and 3rd Street. Shuttles run from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday and from 7:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday. The shuttle ride from Santa Monica to the Riviera Country Club main gate is about four miles.
The Metro Express line riders can exit at the Downtown Santa Monica station and walk 10-to-15 minutes to the shuttle pick up and drop off spot. More info: www.metro.net.
Television: Golf Channel is live Thursday and Friday from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., Saturday from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 11:45 a.m., with repeats later in the day. KCBS-Channel 2 is live Saturday from 1-4 p.m. and Sunday from noon to 3:30 p.m. Live streaming as well at PGATour.com
History: The PGA Tour professional stop in Los Angeles goes back to 1926. It has rotated among several Southern California courses until staying at Riviera as the home course since 1973 (with diversion to Rancho Park in 1983 and Valencia Country Club in 1998). It has previously been known as the Northern Trust Open, the Nissan Open and the Glen Campbell L.A. Open.
Records: 72 holes – 264 by Lanny Wadkins in 1985 at Riviera; 18 holes – 61 by George Archer (third round, 1983, at Rancho Park), Ted Tryba (third round, 1999, at Riviera)