Bob's Blog

NEWS: Northern Trust increases purse, adds new features to tournament at Riviera CC Feb. 14-17

Northern Trust, the financial services company that has taken over sponsorship of what was once called the Los Angeles Open, has increased the purse and added several new enhancements to the PGA Tour event that will be played Feb. 14-17 at Riviera CC in Pacific Palisades.

From the players’ point of view, the most significant change is that the purse has been raised $1 million from last year to $6.2 million, with $1,116,000 going to the winner. In addition, all players will receive courtesy cars this year (last year about half received cars). The tournament hopes to raise $2.5 million for charity, a 37 percent increase over 2007.

One other change that will definitely make players happy is that the pro-am tournament preceding the tournament will feature just three amateurs with each professional, instead of four.

For spectators, one significant change will be to eliminate the $5 parking fee and the shuttle bus at the VA parking lots in Westwood. In addition, the first 400 patrons into the gate each day will be able to use a myLeaderboard handheld device that will allow them to track up-to-date scores for all players while on the course.

Daily tickets purchased in advance are $25. Those purchased at the gate are $30 (senior tickets, ages 55 and over, are $20 and $25; junior tickets, ages 17 and under, are $10 and $15). Season badges are $100.

NORTHERN TRUST OPEN WEB SITE

Lovemark makes the cut at the Buick

Although you might not have scrolled down far enough to see it, SCGA member and USC sophomore Jamie Lovemark made the cut for the final two rounds of the Buick Invitational at Torrey Pines Golf Club right on the number.

After opening with a 1-over-par 73 yesterday, Lovemark — a member of last year's victorious U.S. Walker Cup squad (COVERAGE) — came back with a 1-under-par 71 today on the North Course and finished at even-par 144 and in an 19-way tie for 48th place.

Another 19 players tied for 67th place at 1 over par, but under the new PGA Tour rules in force this year, the cutline reverted to the next number closest to 70, which in this case was the even-par figure. The top 70 number reached 85 players.

Many players on the PGA Tour are unhappy with the new rule and one possible solution might be to add a "10-shot rule" to the mix, where anyone within 10 shots of the lead gets to play at least on Saturday. When Jose Maria Olazibal won the 2002 Buick Invitational after making the 36-hole cut right on the number, he was only eight shots behind the leader heading into the third round. Those in the MDF (made cut but did not finish) listing on the scoreboard this year are 13 shots behind the leader, Tiger Woods.

NEWS: Western Amateur to leave Point O' Woods GCC

After a 39-year run, the Western Amateur will leave Point O' Woods Golf and Country Club following this year's tournament, according to a story in Golfweek.

Western Golf Association vice president of tournaments John Kaczkowski said Monday, 'Our goal is to move it [the Western Amateur] around to a select group of clubs that support the Western Golf Association and the Evans Scholarship Program, and also feature quality, championship venues capable of challenging the world’s top amateur golfers."

The WGA runs the Western Amateur, one of the nation's oldest and most prestigious amateur golf championships. The WGA's five-year contract with Point O’Woods, located in Benton Harbor, Mich., expires following the 2008 tournament. The association is exploring the possibility of rotating the Western Am among a handful of Chicago-area clubs and Point O’Woods. "We’re looking forward to bringing the Western Amateur to the Chicago area for the first time since 1952," said Laczlowski.

Point O’Woods first hosted the Western Amateur in 1963. The championship returned to Point O’Woods in 1965 and then was anchored at the club starting in 1971.

“Point O’Woods continues to enjoy its relationship with the Western Golf Association and the Western Amateur,” club president Mike Piraino said. “The club’s board feels that hosting the event on a rotating basis will benefit both the tournament and the Point. Local attendance at the event has declined in recent years. We’re hoping this new arrangement will result in higher attendance at each venue.”

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Winged Foot rejects U.S. Open

Not everyone is enthralled with hosting a U.S. Open. Members of Winged Foot GC in Mamaroneck, NY, have voted overwhelming to reject the idea of inviting the USGA to host the 2015 U.S. Open at its club.

Read Tod Leonard's story in the San Diego Union-Tribune HERE.

Now, this is longevity

The Philadelphia Cricket Club has agreed to host the 2010 U.S. Women's Amateur. Buried in the release was the most interesting fact, from my perspective: PCC is believed to be the only club in the nation to open golf courses in three different centuries. Its St. Martin's layout opened in 1895, the A.W. Tillinghast-designed Wissahickon course (to be Women's Mid-Amateur site) was unveiled in 1922 and the Militia Hill course, designed by Michael Hurzdan and Dana Fry, began play in 2002.

The 2010 event will mark the centennial of the last time the club has hosted a USGA championship: the U.S. Open was played there in both 1907 and 1910. Tillinghast, a PCC member, played in both events.

Great stuff!

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