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While the quantity of tournaments in our corner of the world has been reduced recently, area fans still have a chance to see some of golf's top players. The Northern Trust Open (formerly the Nissan Open) annually hosts one of the tour's top fields, mainly because it's played on one of the country's most revered courses - Riviera Country Club in Pacific Palisades. Northern Trust Open When: February 14-17. Where: Riviera Country Club, Pacific Palisades. Purse: $6.2 million. Tickets and information: Single day $25; clubhouse badge $80. (800) 752-6736 or northerntrustopen.com. Last year: Charles Howell III defeated Phil Mickelson for his first PGA Tour victory in more than four years. What's new: The name. For the first time since 1989, the Los Angeles stop on the PGA Tour will not be known as the Nissan Open. Northern Trust signed a sponsorship deal through 2012. It's the sixth official name change for the tournament, which started in 1926 as the Los Angeles Open. The hospitality tents will be upgraded, and the shuttle from the VA Hospital parking lot to the course will now be free. The purse also has increased to $6.2 million, and the Wednesday pro-am will feature three amateurs with every pro instead of four. Notable: Last year's tournament had the second best field of any non-major event on the calendar, with 10 of the top 12 players in the world competing. Some of that had to do with the World Golf Championships-Accenture Match Play Championship that followed the event in Tucson. The same schedule is set for this year. Bet you didn't know: Riviera Country Club has withstood the best efforts of at least four of the world's top golfers. Arnold Palmer, Jack Nicklaus, Phil Mickelson and Tiger Woods have never won a professional event there. Palmer won three Los Angeles Opens, but they were played at Rancho Park Golf Club. |
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