Time For Our First Thomas-Spieth Mega-Millennial Match-Up?
Doug Ferguson reports on the one-shot Northern Trust Open lead held by old guy Retief Goosen, the two-time U.S. Open champion who has not won since 2009.
Ferguson notes it's no coincidence Goosen's playing well over a Riviera layout sporting firm greens that have players scratching their heads.
"It's been such a long time since I've last been in contention," Goosen said. "Who knows how my game is going to hold up? But I'm feeling good. My back is feeling great. So if the nerves can hold, just continue to make good golf swings and make a few good putts, who knows?"
Yet with only three shots separating Goosen from Jordan Spieth and one stroke from Justin Thomas, the youth-obsessed and history-wise are longing for a rematch of their 2012 NCAA Championship final match at Riviera.
Golfweek's Adam Schupak on how that match continues to be a source of discussion between two of the tour's young stars.
As if Justin Thomas could ever forget what happened at Riviera Country Club’s 15th hole in their match at the 2012 NCAA Men’s Golf Championship, Jordan Spieth was happy to remind him.
“He’s sent me like three different pictures of that hole already,” Thomas said.
Flashback to when Spieth of Texas holed his second shot to all but ice their head-to-head match and help the Longhorns edge Thomas’ Alabama team 3-2 in the match play final.
“4-iron, rolled around the back of the green and went in,” Spieth recalled at the Waste Management Phoenix Open. “He hates when I bring that up.”
Earlier this week, PGATour.com's Sean Martin profiled Thomas and his Kentucky upbringing as a self-described golf geek who has already made a huge impression on the West Coast swing.
Earlier this year, he played in a final group on the weekend of three consecutive events – Sony Open in Hawaii; Humana Challenge in partnership with the Clinton Foundation; Waste Management Phoenix Open – and has three top-10s in nine TOUR starts.
Golf Central talked about Spieth and Thomas and wheeled out this footage from their NCAA finals match.
Spieth hit a 375-yard drive on the 18th Friday, aided by Riviera's glorious buggy paths, not something you usually see on a world-class course:
Friday, February 20, 2015 at 08:42 PM
Reader Comments (7)
My first time on the property and wow what a property.
My good buddy , Brad Gregory , and I were checking course set up that early morning . The green had already been cut but not the hole location which had been predetermined for that final day prior to the start of the Championship. The hole location had been set to be about 10 feet to the right on the same parallel. Those who know the 15th green at Riviera will tell you that it's a bit dicey on the right side of the green. A ton of slope. Brad was in his cart on the radio and I putted the dot. I didn't like it and told Brad we should change it. We found a spot that was in a bit of a trough that was flat and fair so the new location was dotted for the hole cutter to cut.
Jordan's tee ball on 15 was about 15 feet short of the right fairway bunker in the riugh with a decent lie but sitting down a tad. I recall he told me after the shot that he had it at 208. When the ball went in the spectators of course went nuts but we looked at each other and were not sure if it was just stiff or holed. Someone behind the green gave the pointed finger down and we knew then it was a 2. We walked up to the green and I told him that we had changed the hole that morning. He smiled and said, " Much appreciated ".
It still amazes me how these players get the elevation they do from spotty lies. Great shot , great match between two of the best amateurs I've seen in 38 years of officiation. But, more important and I will repeat. Two outstanding young men that have a great future on tour.