As the Northeastern part of the country is dealing with a snowstorm, the PGA Tour returns to Riviera Country Club this weekend for the 2014 Northern Trust Open! With the Winter Olympics going on in Sochi, Russia, it’s only fitting that the PGA Tour also returns to Riviera, where the dressage equestrian and the riding part of the modern pentathlon was held in the 1932 Summer Olympics!
Riviera Country Club is a classic golf course filled with history. The inception of the Northern Trust Open began in 1929 and history was made in this tournament as it became the first golf tournament to be broadcast via radio. In 1942, Ben Hogan won the first of his four titles at Riviera, including the 1948 US Open that inspired Riviera Golf Club’s moniker, Hogan’s Alley! Jack Nicklaus also earned his first pay day as a professional at this tournament in 1962 while three decades later, a 16 year old kid named Tiger Woods made his PGA debut at the same tournament!
There is certainly a lot of history at Riviera and it continues to be made, with 18 total playoffs in the history of the tournament, including the last of the two years! With a drivable par 4 10th hole and a bunker in the middle of the 6th green, the golf course sets up for some drama. Given the history, we look forward to more history being made this weekend!
Source: PGA Tour YouTube