February 12, 2013
Weir just might find a way to win at fabled track

Mike Weir of Canada tees off on No. 12 during the second round of the 2010 Northern Trust Open at Riviera Country Club in Los Angeles. With his game coming around of late, Weir will be back at Riviera this week looking for his third win at the fabled course — despite being left off a news release list of previous winners. (Reuters)

On 127 acres of flat, barren land on the floor of the Santa Monica canyon, a masterpiece was made.

Riviera doesn’t have the awe-inspiring views of Pebble Beach, it doesn’t have the hoopla of the rowdy 16th at the Phoenix Open. It doesn’t need them. It has a layout that has stood the test of time and a tournament history as rich as it gets.

In 1925 golf course architect/dog trainer/rose breeder George Thomas arrived at the Pacific Palisades site and was unimpressed by what he had to work with. A year later he had eventual Augusta National architect Alister Mackenzie calling his design, “As nearly perfect as man could make it.”