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GOLF RESOURCE GUIDE:
Northern Trust Open
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After 11 holes Thursday, it seemed Phil Mickelson was well on his way to positioning himself for an unprecedented third-consecutive Northern Trust Open title. But a series of miscues to close his first round means the 39-year-old San Diegan’s focus is now on making the cut. Mickelson opened with a 1-over-par 72 in the PGA Tour’s annual stop at Riviera Country Club in Pacific Palisades, eight shots behind leader Dustin Johnson. Johnson, gearing up to defend his title next week at the AT&T Pebble Beach National Pro-Am, posted a 7-under 64, one stroke ahead of Andres Romero and Kevin Stadler. Stadler, who played his college golf at nearby USC, began in torrid fashion. Starting on the famous short par-4 10th, the 29-year-old made birdies on seven of his first 10 holes before falling back with a bogey on the 11th. He closed with seven pars to post 65. “You never really expect to start out like that, but I hit a lot of really good shots and left myself in the right spots,” said Stadler. He will celebrate his 30th birthday Friday. Stadler’s father, Craig, won this event in 1996. If Kevin goes on to win this week, it will mark the third time in Tour history that a father-son duo has won the same event — the first duo was Al and son Brent Geiberger at the Wyndham Championship and the second was Jay and son Bill Haas, who matched his dad with a win at this year’s Bob Hope Classic in La Quinta. “I walked around [Riviera] watching my old man for years and just feel real comfortable here,” added Stadler. Mickelson is one of 19 players tied for 83rd at 1-over par. The 2008 and 2009 Northern Trust champion likely will have to shoot under par in order to stick around for the final 36 holes. It is unclear if the second half of the event will begin as scheduled since a rainstorm is expected to hit the Los Angeles area Friday. There is an 80 percent chance of precipitation in Pacific Palisades, and half-an-inch of rain is being predicted. Only one group failed to finish before the sun set, and Murrieta’s Rickie Fowler was in it. The 21-year-old, coming off a tie for fifth at last week’s Farmers Insurance Open, is at even par through 17 holes (he teed off on No. 10). Here’s how notable players fared in the first round of the Northern Trust Open: • Steve Stricker, last year’s runner-up to Mickelson, is in a three-way tie for sixth place at 4-under par. • Eighteen-year-old Japan native Ryo Ishikawa opened with a 3-under 68 and is one of 14 players tied for ninth place. Also in that cluster are Poway native Charley Hoffman and major winners Ernie Els and David Duval. • Propelled by a rare birdie on the difficult par-4 second hole, 50-year-old La Quinta resident Fred Couples shot a 2-under-par 69 and is tied for 23rd along with Long Beach’s Paul Goydos. • Riverside’s Joshua Wooding, the recipient of the Northern Trust Open exemption, opened with an even-par 71 and is tied for 55th. Orange’s Hunter Mahan is there as well, and so is Los Angeles native Anthony Kim, who is making his 2010 PGA Tour debut this week. For a complete leaderboard, visit PGATour.com. Check back to Southland Golf throughout the week for more coverage of the Northern Trust Open. ALSO SEE: Local Focus: Mickelson goes for three in a row at Riviera Fast facts on Northern Trust Open Wooding receives Northern Trust Open exemption |
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