Quick Roundup: A Familiar Feeling First Round At Riviera, Only With Crowds!

The confluence of mega-stars and the strongest field of 2018 brought out the people, but if you watched any of round one you know Tiger-Justin-Rory got most of the eyeballs.

The three certainly didn't disappoint from the perspective of providing memorable shots--Tiger with two all-time recovery shots on the 5th and 9th holes--but each had their issues too.

As I noted for Golfweek, Tiger's driving gets all the attention but it was the iron play that let him down, while on the greens the contrast between Thomas and McIlroy is telling.

Others had similar takes, including James Corrigan at the Telegraph who labeled McIlroy's putting lousy. At GolfChannel.com, Will Gray has all of the details on the day, including Tiger's bizarre early morning lost ball at the 11th.

Tony Finau and Patrick Cantlay lead with afternoon 66's reports Eamon Lynch at Golfweek. That's a particularly strong showing for Cantlay given that his two previous professional appearances here were missed cuts.

Cantlay told a really swell Masters-related story during a long and insightful press session. The Forecaddie shared it at Golfweek.com.

As for the crowds, attendance figures are no longer attempted by touranment director Mike Antolini shared this when queried:

We've nearly doubled ticket sales from last year and demand continues to build in large part due to our terrific field, including Tiger. Today's crowds were strong and we expect them to grow even larger as we enter the weekend. It's great to see the fans come out to Riviera to experience the Genesis Open.

Tiger's first round highlights followed by the overall first round best of, courtesy of PGA Tour Entertainment.

Comments

[MJ]

Just watched the highlights video. How were either of those “all-time recovery shots?”

[Sclaff & Foozle]

I watched Spieth take a couple of weeks over a three foot putt. When the best in the world take that long over something that short, you'll find Sclaff & Foozle screaming at the TV. Which I was. Oh, and there's a goddang sand bunker in the middle of one of the greens! Ye gods!

[digsouth]

''Oh, and there's a goddang sand bunker in the middle of one of the greens! Ye gods!''

-2

S&F-- Where have you been? ~dig~

[Sclaff & Foozle]

Sorry, digsouth! I'll pick it up a little bit! Snark targets have been light lately! Ha!

[FC]

Tiger won't be there every year. 16 needs a stadium.

[GinGHIN]

What is with TW's hyperbolic Arnie fade follow through? Was any of that necessary?

[CroDad]

I'm watching a PGA event for the 1st time in, I dunno, 6 months... the television is now on mute, courtesy of Kelly Tilghman.

[TLB]

Every time Spieth gets ready to put, I reach for the FF button....

[Johnnnycz]

GinG: He wuz really really trying to keep the heel ahead of the toe. trouble left I reckon.

I like it. He’s got his post impact moves of glory again. Been awhile. Shows he’s not flinching. Good speed where it matters imo.

Playing 4or5 of next 6tourneys on the trot will be do him wonders. Get those big numbers out of his system before Augusta.

Coverage is horrible. Took TGC about 7min Thursday to show more than 5shots and a leaderboard cause of some Hollywood fluff piece propaganda...image control with all the shenanigans coming to light.

Cheers

Jcz

[Pops]

Just watched him finish live. A sparkling 76 missing the cut by 3 and posting 8 bogeys today. If that's "He's close" then "to retirement" is the rest of the sentence. Really awful in all aspects.

[Schlasser]

I realize it's trendy to jump on the "Kelly Tighlman's no good" bandwagon but I don't get it. What is wrong with her work?

[Center Cut]

So bored by Tiger, but good to see he still has the full range of profanity that he can rely on when hoiking it into the gutters of the rich and famous.

[digsouth]

GG, 3N's, Pops. CC -dang say what you will, but Tiger brings out the old gang every time!

Missing the cut at Riviera really doesn't mean he isn't close, Pops. While he's amassed several hundred victories, according to the Swooner Station, he has done it at the same four or five tracks, more or less. Riviera is not one of them. ~dig~

[D. maculata]

Have no fear, people. The "experts" will be along any moment with a litany of remedies to fix his game. Everything up to applying leeches as a last resort, strange in and of itself since so many are already attached in hope of a resurgence. Granted, his presence is warranted given the charity business. But it doesn't mean he doesn't deserve style points for putting whatever his 2nd round was on display. Riviera wouldn't be my first choice as the ideal course to work the kinks out of ones game.

[Hardy Greaves]

Watching Rory and Tiger play in the same foursome demonstrated a stark difference in their golf games. Rory has really good finishes which he holds, sometimes for a few seconds. Tiger's finish is wild and undisciplined. Is this a window into their psyches?

[Sclaff & Foozle]

Yes, Hardy Greaves, everything we do and say is an insight ... fake or real ... into our psyches. Good observation.

[digsouth]

Hardy Boy ~~ " Is this a window into their psyches?"

S&F~~ "Yes, Hardy Greaves, everything we do and say is an insight..." *that'll be $19.95*

S&F's new mental health show, on TGC, can be seen between 3 and 3:01 AM on alternating Tuesday's and Thursdays, in alternating months.

Fact is, the basic premise of golf IS that it is a reveal into the mind, and soul of the player. Articles, books and blogs have played on this basic truth since before PG Wodehouse wrote the same golf/girl story for the twentieth time. ~dig~

[Hardy Greaves]

Thanks digs. I've read some of those stories!

Now I'm off to work on my finish.

[Patches O'Houlihan]

This week isn't real complicated for Tiger. If a player misses greens at Riviera, there are going to be a bunch of those nasty 6-10 footers for par. Kind of like Augusta,

Tiger missed a lot of fairways and greens. He made putts round one and didn't round 2. If the fairways and greens hit don't improve pronto, it's hard to see how the Masters will be any better than what we just saw.

It used to be that if Tiger put it in the fairway, it was all over. Now, he has to put it in the fairway to even have a chance.

[Johnnnycz]

Yep. Eldrick brings out the old school lurkers.

I’ll say again. More starts. Just enter 5ofnext6. Doesn’t matter the course. In fact, some new targets will help psychologically. Nothing to compare to when he won regularly on the hardest setups. Those days are gonna be fewer.

Harbour Town. That’s a track he could dissect. Small greens good.

You getting body as healthy as your little GTO Digger?

[digsouth]

3n's

Harbor Town wow- i don't think he has ever played there. I know, Dallas, Ft Worth, San Antonio, I don't think
Houston, and Austin is new. The SA course is different than the hill climb he played, and a lot of Austin is a tough walk. All the Fl courses, save one are flat.. I bring up the hills as TW commented on feet hurting after 9M of cart golf.

I have 2 takes- he will continue to improve, or he will decide e still could, but why bother. Lots of life to live outside the ropes/// dig

My health- maybe GW will give me one sentence w/o blocking me, so here goes- 2 blood clots in the same leg i have had BC surgery on, and eff, man, I keep forging ahead, but there is sure a lot of impurities in the ore..... /// waiting for the weather to get out and go 18 for the frst time in 2 years. ( he asked, Geoff)

[FC]

"Leave Tiger Woods alone."