In association with Cybergolf

Dustin Johnson leads as the top-five players are all in their 20s

Friday, February 5, 2010 12:27 am (Eastern)

By SAL JOHNSON
Publisher, GOLFOBSERVER
E-mail me at: Golfersal@aol.com

Lots of good play in the first round at famed Riviera as Dustin Johnson was flawless in shooting 64 and leads by one, but all could be wasted as some bad weather is bound to play havoc for Friday and Saturday.

Over the course of history at Riviera Country Club, it seems that age is one of the quiet secrets of the winners as age and experience rules. In looking at the 35 Northern Trusts held at Riviera since it returned to the club in 1973, the average age of the winners is 32 years, 9 months as only 11 players in their 20s have won. But this stat doesn't really mean anything if you look at the age of the five players in the lead.

Photo: © Jeff Gross/Getty Images

First you have 25 year-old Dustin Johnson who shot a flawless round of 64, his lowest first round of his career as he leads 28 year-old Andres Romero and Kevin Stadler (who turns 30 on Friday) by a shot. Two back are two other 28 year olds Ricky Barnes (who turns 29 on Saturday) and 29 year-old Brandt Snedeker.

So what's up in this? First if you take Mickelson out of the equation, Charles Howell was 27 when he won in 2007, Rory Sabbatini was 29 when he won in 2006 and even though it was an unofficial win, Adam Scott was 24 when he won in 2005 so this myth of having to be older and with more experience to win doesn't mean anything anymore. Matter of fact in 1975, Pat Fitzsimons was only 24 when he won in only his 46th start. Two years later Tom Purtzer was only 25 and making his 38th start on the PGA Tour when he won so if Dustin Johnson was to prevail at 25 and in his 60th PGA Tour start it won't be that shocking.

Johnson's round was very solid as he birdied 11, his second hole of the day, then 12 and 14. He birdied all of the par 5s and ended his round birdie-birdie-par as he hit only 7 of 14 fairways and 13 of 18 greens. But he made up for it with the putter as he took only 25 putts but made over 142 feet of putts. It does help when you have no three putts and 11 one-putts as he had his way with the short stick as you can see by this chart below as he missed only one putt inside 10 feet for the day.

Big putts made by Dustin Johnson:
6 feet at 11 for birdie
64 feet at 12 for birdie
14 feet at 14 for birdie
8 feet at 17 for birdie
7 feet at 4 for par
5 feet at 7 for birdie
14 feet at 8 for birdie

Photo: © Jeff Gross/Getty Images Andres Romero just trying to get out of the bunker at 9 that led to his double bogey.

Now putting has never been his strong suit, for Johnson it's hitting it long. So if he gets the short stick going with his long game, watch out for him. Last year he was the 3rd longest driver on tour and it seems that in his two wins at Turning Stone and AT&T he putted well which helped him win. Johnson also has some good vibes of Riviera as he finished T10th last year. As for hitting it long, with the rain that is predicted for Friday and Saturday his length may help him.

On paper Johnson's round was perfect but Andres Romero's day could of been better. That's because he made eight birdies and ended his round with four straight birdies but the flaw of the day was at nine when he drove into a fairway bunker, was forced to chip out, his third into a greenside bunker and missed a 15 footer for bogey. On the day Romero hit 8 of 14 fairways, 14 of 18 greens and took 25 putts. But while Johnson made 142 feet of putts, Romero only made 94 feet of putts as he also had 11 one putts and no three putts.

After winning in 2008, last year was a big disappointment for Romero as in 20 starts he was only in the top-ten twice, his best finish coming at the Northern Trust were he was T3rd, so he has a good track record at Riviera.

Photo: © Justin Sullivan/Getty Images Like father, like son, Kevin & Craig Stadler.

Tied with Romero is Kevin Stadler, who started off in a blaze of glory shooting 30 on the front and then making birdie at 1 (his 10th hole). But he gave that shot away at 2 and finished up with pars and shot 65. After his round he talked about how much inspiration it was to see Bill Haas win at the Hope and need we remind anyone that his dad Craig won at Riviera in 1996. You talk about like father, like son Kevin may not look anything like his dad but his body and his swing looks just like Craig when he won here in 1996. It would be great if NBC was smart to try and find a swing of Craig from that event 14 years ago and match it up with Kevin today.

In his round, Kevin hit 11 of 14 fairways, 16 of 18 greens (best of the day) and took 28 putts. Even though Kevin has played a lot at Riviera since he went to school at USC, he has only played in the Northern Trust twice, T29th in 2007 and missing the cut in 2005.

Some other scores of note, Ricky Barnes, who almost won the U.S. Open last year shot 66 in the only other flawless round of the day, he had five birdies. He is tied with Brandt Snedeker who had 6 birdies and a bogey. This is his third start of the year and in his ten rounds he has been under par in all of them and 8 for 10 in rounds in the 60s. He is 39 under in his ten rounds so you have to think he will be around on Sunday.

Also have to think that Steve Stricker will be around, he got off to a good start with an eagle on his opening hole, birdied the second hole but three putted the third from just six feet and went on to shot 67. The three-putt for Stricker was a bit of a milestone, since they have been collecting putting data since 2003 Stricker has only three-putted from inside 10 feet once back in 2003 at the Shell Houston Open. He was runner-up to Mickelson last year. Ryo Ishikawa, on a sponsor exemption shot 68 and bettered his opening Northern Trust score from last year by five shots. Many think that even though he is only 18 he can win on the PGA Tour in 2010. Tied with him is past champion Ernie Els, Luke Donald and David Duval who played his first 10 holes in five under but finished up with three bogeys for a 68.

Photo: © Chris Condon/PGA Tour Despite a disappointing first round 72, Mickelson still was signing autographs afterwards.

Three big surprises in the first round was defending champion Phil Mickelson, Robert Allenby, Davis Love III and Padraig Harrington shooting 72nd. For Mickelson he had another terrible day with the putter taking 32 putts. The big problem was he got it to 3 under after 11, but played his final 7 holes in four over. Still you never know what Phil is going to do as last year he was all over the map shooting 63-72-62-72 so anything is possible.

Joshua Wooding, a 2007 USC graduate got into the event on a special exemption, sponsored by Northern Trust, which provides a playing opportunity for a top golfer who represents the advancement of diversity in golf and wouldn’t otherwise be eligible to compete in the 2010 tournament. Wooding birdied his first hole of the day and then scored 16 consecutive pars before recording a bogey on his final hole to finish at even-par T55.

Thursday saw a lot of good scoring as 37 players broke 70 and 54 players were under par on a perfect day. Unfortunately that could change on Friday as some cold, wet weather will be around from Friday and Saturday as both days are predicted to have 70% chance of rain.

0 comments
_________________________

Click here to signup or login below.
Email:
Password: