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Woods tries to keep one streak, end other
(AP)
Updated: 2006-02-16 08:57
One assumption seems safe — that it will be 72 holes.
A year ago, players spent five days at Riviera and managed to squeeze in only
36 holes because of rain that turned the fairways into swamps and gave bunkers
the literal meaning of "beach." Adam Scott and Chad Campbell were tied for the
lead, didn't play Sunday and returned Monday morning for a playoff, which Scott
won on the first extra hole.
Because it was only 36 holes, it did not count as an official victory.
California is getting plenty of sunshine these days, however. Coming off a
spectacular week at Pebble Beach, the forecast is for mostly dry conditions
through Sunday. The course is in great shape, with fairways running fast.
And if a playoff also is in the forecast, perhaps that bodes well for Woods.
Both victories this year went extra holes — two at Torrey Pines before he
outlasted Jose Maria Olazabal, and the 18th hole at Dubai when he beat Ernie
Els. In fact, Woods' last four victories went overtime, including the American
Express Championship at Harding Park and the Dunlop Phoenix late last year in
Japan.
The field at Riviera is stronger than usual. Even without Phil Mickelson,
Vijay Singh and Retief Goosen, the Nissan Open boasts 13 of the top 25 in the
world ranking.
The welcome sight is Els, who is playing on American soil for the first time
since the U.S. Open.
The Big Easy tore ligaments in his left knee during a holiday in the
Mediterranean last July. He was the last one to fall off a tube and got tangled
up with someone in the water, putting him on crutches and out of golf for four
months. Els has played five times since returning in December, winning in South
Africa and losing to Woods in Dubai.
Some see Dubai as another failure; it was the seventh time Els has been a
runner-up to Woods. But the 36-year-old South African saw it as progress. His
knee not quite 100 percent, and he did well to get into the playoff when Els
made a 6-foot birdie on the final hole.
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