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 Phil Mickelson hopes to make enough adjustments in his game to rebound from a 19th-place finish at the Farmers Insurance Open (PHOTO: Mark Susson). In the family of PGA Tour events, the Northern Trust Open is that venerable grandpa who can regale you with grandiose tales of champions like Ben Hogan, Sam Snead, Arnold Palmer, Billy Casper and Tom Watson. But this year at Riviera Country Club in Pacific Palisades, Phil Mickelson has the chance to write an unprecedented chapter at the fourth-oldest non-major event in Tour history — win for the third year in a row. The San Diegan is coming off a 19th-place finish in his first event of 2010, the Farmers Insurance Open at Torrey Pines Golf Course. He entered the final round only four shots off the lead but closed with a disappointing 1-over-par 73. Despite fighting inconsistencies in the timing and acceleration of his swing throughout the week, the 39-year-old expressed optimism game heading to Riviera. “The last 13, 14 holes I actually hit a lot of good shots,” Mickelson said of his Sunday performance at Torrey Pines. “I’m excited about [the Northern Trust Open] because my game is feeling not as rusty as it looks.” In last year’s Northern Trust Open, Mickelson put on a Jekyll-and-Hyde show that featured two stunning efforts — an 8-under 63 to start Thursday and a 9-under 62 in Saturday’s third round — and two pedestrian performances, a 1-over 72 in both the second and final rounds. His 15-under-par total was just enough to fend off Steve Stricker by a stroke. Stricker is back this year, along with plenty of other high-profile players that make the Northern Trust Open field the deepest so far in the young 2010 PGA Tour season. Here are 10 other players to watch this week: Steve Stricker. Since the world’s third-ranked golfer turned 40 in early 2007, he’s won more than $13 million on the PGA Tour. Stricker’s resurgence is illustrated at this event, where he finished tied for 11th in 2008 before his runner-up finish a year ago. Though not a flashy player, he’s a contender every times he tees it up. Anthony Kim. Finally — the 24-year-old L.A. native and former La Quinta resident makes his 2010 Tour debut after skipping the Bob Hope Classic in favor of the European Tour’s Abu Dhabi Golf Championship and deciding to rest instead of competing in the Farmers Insurance Open. He tied for 13th overseas. Robert Allenby. The 38-year-old Aussie has been a successful professional for almost 20 years, but lately he’s come to the fore in America for what he’s said off the course. His game speaks volumes, though, especially in this event — Allenby emerged victorious in a rainy playoff in 2001 and has recorded top-20 finishes in four of the last five years, including a tie for third in 2007. Fred Couples. It’s entirely possible this is the last time Couples tees it up in the Northern Trust Open. The 50-year-old has said he will be selective with his PGA Tour starts now that he’s a member of the Champions Tour. Even with his age, the La Quinta resident can’t be counted out of an event he’s won twice and contended at just last year. Ernie Els. Has Els regained the form that’s netted him three major championships? His swing looks solid as ever, but, as is the case with most players, it will come down to the putting. In his tie for 12th at this season’s Sony Open, he was among the field leaders in ballstriking but was near the bottom in putts per round, and at the Farmers Insurance Open he had similar results. Mike Weir. Weir, the 2003 and 2004 champion of this tournament, wasn’t afforded a prime opportunity to three-peat since heavy rains forced the 2005 edition to be shortened to just 36 holes (he finished tied for 37th in what is deemed an unofficial event). The left-handed Canadian kicked off 2010 with a solid sixth-place showing at the Bob Hope Classic. Rickie Fowler. The 21-year-old Murrieta native finished tied for fifth at last week’s Farmers Insurance Open and could have come closer if not for a double bogey on his 71st hole. Even if Fowler doesn’t contend at Riviera, he has quickly become one of the flashiest and most exciting players in golf. Watch him, you'll be glad you did. Ryo Ishikawa. Speaking of flash, the 18-year-old Japanese sensation also has plenty of it. He’s only 5-foot-8 and weighs just 150 pounds, but launches it off the tee and also has an impressive touch that he showed off to Americans when he went 3-2 in last year’s Presidents Cup in San Francisco. He missed the cut at last year’s Northern Trust. Padraig Harrington. Yet another high-profile international player in the field, the Irishman and three-time major winner makes his 2010 debut this week. He missed the cut at Riviera last year but finished seventh in 2007 and tied for third in 2008. Charles Howell III. Don’t sleep on the 2007 champion this week. (It’s interesting to note that Howell defeated Mickelson in a playoff that year, and if Mickelson had won, it could have already marked a three-peat for the San Diegan.) Howell also finished second here in 2003 and has been playing well to start 2010, finishing tied for fifth at Sony and tied for ninth in the Farmers. Check back all week for more coverage of the 2010 Northern Trust Open, which kicks off Thursday and concludes Sunday (don’t worry, the final round should conclude before the Super Bowl kicks off). ALSO SEE: Fast facts on the Northern Trust Open |
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