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 Cameron Tringale, who graduated from Georgia Tech last year as a three-time All-American, is now a member of the PGA Tour (PHOTO: Andrew Weber/Georgia Tech University Athletics). As usual, there are plenty of high-profile competitors with ties to Southern California. Here are 14 to keep an eye on: The rookies: Rickie Fowler and Cameron Tringale Fowler, a Murrieta native, has played in PGA Tour events as an amateur and a professional without any status — now comes the third stanza, as he is now set to play as a fully exempt Tour member. “I'm just looking forward to this full year,” said Fowler, who made it through the final stage of Qualifying School last year after coming up short in a three-man playoff at the Frys.com Open. “It's nice to start it over here in Hawaii — kind of like an extended vacation.” Tringale finished tied with Fowler at the final stage, though he comes into his rookie season with only one PGA Tour event under his belt — the 2009 U.S. Open at Bethpage Black, where he missed the cut. An Orange County native who graduated from Georgia Tech last year as a three-time All-American, Tringale isn’t as big of a name as Fowler but has the attitude and talent necessary to make headlines this season. Plus, Fowler, who has already taken up residence in Las Vegas, Nev., said Tringale might be moving in with him at some point in the near future. How interesting it would be to have two promising locals under the same roof, albeit in a location other than Southern California. The veterans: Corey Pavin, Paul Goydos, Chris Riley and Pat Perez Each player has won on the PGA Tour, but each comes to Waialae under different circumstances. Ventura’s Pavin, who turned 50 last November and will captain the U.S. Ryder Cup team later this year, will be spending a solid chunk of 2010 on the Champions Tour but should be in the field at plenty of PGA Tour events to keep tabs on prospective team members. The 45-year-old Goydos, a Dove Canyon resident, won at Waialae in 2007 and will look to earn at least $1.6 million on Tour for third consecutive year. Such consistency has eluded Riley, a San Diegan who has been forced to return to Q-School in each of the last two years. And then there’s Perez, the former San Diego resident who was able to make his first appearance at the SBS Championship by virtue of winning last year’s Bob Hope Classic. The 33-year-old took advantage of the opportunity with a solid showing, finishing tied for 10th and starting off the season with $160,000 in the bank. Perez will be looking to round his game into form as the PGA Tour heads to Southern California later this month. The hopefuls: John Merrick, Kevin Na, Scott Piercy and Charlie Wi Could this be the year any of these players break through for PGA Tour win No. 1? Each has come close at least once recently: Long Beach’s Merrick finished runner-up to Perez at the ’09 Hope; Na, a former Diamond Bar resident, climbed into contention with a tie for third at last year’s FBR Open; North Hills’ Wi tied for second at the 2009 Zurich Classic of New Orleans; and Piercy, a former San Diego State men’s golf team member, stumbled to disappointing final rounds after being in contention for 54 holes at both the Turning Stone Resort Championship and Justin Timberlake Shriners Hospital for Children’s Open last October. Merrick could be poised to put the pieces together — in 2008 he ranked 25th in greens in regulation and 154th in putting average, only to see those standings reverse to 11th and 68th, respectively in 2009. Na’s strength is his short game and putting, as the 26-year-old has ranked 15th or better in scrambling during each of the last three seasons. Don’t be surprised to see Wi become a consistent contender, as he’s finished 18th, 18th and 26th in all-around ranking in each of the last three years. The key for Piercy will be limiting mistakes. He tore up par 5s last year, compiling a cumulative total of 118-under par, but was 75 over on par 3s and 4s. The Nationwide alums: Rich Barcelo, Jeff Gove, Roger Tambellini and Chris Tidland It feels awkward calling this group graduates of the Nationwide Tour since all have been full-time PGA Tour members at some point prior to 2010. The most experienced of the bunch is Gove, a Pepperdine alumnus who has competed in 141 PGA Tour events and amassed more than $2 million in earnings. The group hasn’t proven much on golf’s biggest stage, combining for only seven top-10 finishes (five from Gove and one apiece from Long Beach’s Barcelo and Torrance’s Tidland). But each displayed flashes of brilliance on the Nationwide Tour in 2009, and it’s not impossible that more than one could see that brilliance carry into 2010. Keep an eye on Tambellini, a former All-American at USC who hits a lot of greens and is capable of catching fire with the flatstick. Check back throughout the week for recaps and analysis on players with Southern California ties at the Sony Open, and keep checking back next week for complete coverage for the first Southland event of the 2010 season — the 90-hole Bob Hope Classic. ALSO SEE: Rickie Fowler speaks prior to competing in Sony Open |
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