Thursday morning 144 players from around the world of golf will tee it up at the famed Riviera Country Club in the 2019 Genesis Open. This 7,366 yard, par-71 course nestled into the Pacific Palisades of California has played host to both the U.S. Open and PGA Championship since becoming a tour staple in 1973. Heavy hitters will have plenty of length down the fairways but will need touch and precision around the greens in order to come away with the victory Sunday.
With so much to see and keep track of from Riviera this week Last Word on Golf has your guide to the course, featured opening round groups and how to watch and listen to all the action at the 2019 Genesis Open.
The Course
Riviera Country Club was founded in 1926 with official course play opening up in 1927. A creation of George C. Thomas, Riviera’s fairways and rough are comprised of kikuyu grass while the greens hosts the always treacherous poa annua. The local forecast calls for rain to kick off the tournament Thursday and Friday but will make way for mostly sunny conditions in the upper 50’s and low 60’s for the final rounds.
Despite its length Riviera is home to only three par-5’s. Uniquely enough players teeing off from hole one will face one of these three right out of the gate. The first may be a player’s best chance to score low on a par-5 at just 503 yards. The 11th and 17th, sitting at 583 and 590 yards respectively, prove a tougher task to navigate as water, bunkers and deceptive greens surround nearly every shot.
Elsewhere on the course four par-3’s will test competitors focus with the shortest measuring just 166 yards and the longest 236. One of the featured holes year in and year out is the famed 10th hole. Riviera’s 10th has been referred to by Jack Nicklaus as one of the top ten holes in Major Championship golf.
The 315-yard short par-4 will tempt the long ball hitters to go for the green off the tee. Bomber beware however as anything short of dialed in, pinpoint accuracy could spell danger from the first shot. The best, and safest, path is up the left side of the fairway leaving a short approach and ideal chance at birdie to get out ahead on the back nine.
Featured Groups
As is often the case with top tournaments like the Genesis Open, the field is once again comprised of a wide variety of seasoned veterans, former champions and young, hungry contenders. With such an array of contenders teeing it up at Riviera there were sure to be more than just a few featured groups for golf fans to get excited about. Instinctually, anytime the 14-time major champion Tiger Woods is on the course it’s likely to be part of a featured group.
As a 16 year old Amateur, Riviera was the site of Woods’ first PGA appearance. Despite 12 total events played at this venue, he has yet to taste victory at this Pacific Palisades paradise. Thursday and Friday Woods will playing alongside two fellow major champions also looking to pick up their first win at this storied course in Justin Thomas and Rory McIlroy.
Both Thomas and McIlroy have started out strong in 2019. In three events this calendar year Thomas finished T16 at the Sony Open and 3rd at both the Sentry Tournament of Champions and the Waste Management Phoenix Open. In dedicating more time to focus on the PGA Tour this season McIlroy has placed in the top five in both tournaments he’s played so far in 2019.
These three titans off the tee will get their round started Thursday at 3:22 p.m. Eastern and Friday at 10:22 a.m. Eastern. Playing the long ball together in the opening rounds will be Dustin Johnson, Cameron Champ and the 2018 Genesis Open winner Bubba Watson who will tee off at 10:11 a.m. Eastern on Thursday off the 10th tee. Rounding out the power pairings for Thursday and Friday will be Xander Schauffele, Phil Mickelson and Jordan Spieth teeing off at 10:22 a.m. Eastern Thursday.
With so many big names and rising stars in the field this week nearly every tee time has someone to watch for.
Viewing Schedule
The 2019 Genesis Open begins Thursday, February 14, and is scheduled to conclude Sunday, February 17. Coverage throughout the week can be found on both radio and television broadcasts. Below are the dates, times and locations for your listening and viewing needs (all times Eastern Standard time).
Thursday-Round 1
PGA Tour Live 9:30 a.m. to 6 p.m.
PGA Tour Radio 12 p.m. to 6 p.m. (Sirius 208/XM 92)
Golf Channel 2 p.m. to 6 p.m.
Friday-Round 2
PGA Tour Live 9:30 a.m. to 6 p.m.
PGA Tour Radio 12 p.m. to 6 p.m. (Sirius 208/XM 92)
Golf Channel 2 p.m. to 6 p.m.
Saturday-Round 3
PGA Tour Live 10:30 a.m. to 6 p.m.
PGA Tour Radio 1 p.m. to 6 p.m. (Sirius 208/XM 92)
Golf Channel 1 p.m. to 2:45 p.m.
CBS 3 p.m. to 6 p.m.
Sunday-Final Round
PGA Tour Live 11:30 a.m. to 6 p.m.
PGA Tour Radio 1:30 p.m. to 6 p.m. (Sirius 208/XM 92)
Golf Channel 1 p.m. to 2:45 p.m.
CBS 3 p.m. to 6 p.m.
Main Photo
Embed from Getty Images
