Brennans Caddy Report-Nissan Open

Just for the record, I do think that all this talk about Wayne Gretzky being involved in the gambling scandal is ridiculous.  I hope that it all gets out in the open sooner rather than later so he doesn't have to be in the middle of it for much longer.  I know that he will clear his name from this when its all said and done and in the meantime, hopefully the Canadian team has a great run!
 
Well last week at Pebble Beach didn't turn out the way any of us had hoped for.  Overall, third place is a pretty good finish, however it was very disappointing to finish the way we did, especially when we had such a good chance to win.  In the game of golf, fortunately or unfortunately luck is or isn't on your side.  And Mike didn't get many lucky bounces or breaks on Sunday, and on top of that he didn't get the ball in the hole to save par when he needed too. 

I will say though that Mike's wedge play and putting in the first three rounds last week was as good as I have seen it since the 2003 Masters.  Let's just hope that Mike can keep building on the good things he is already doing.  When his short game and good ball striking eventually come together, it will be a lot of fun.  And I know Mike is close to finding the magic combination.
 
There couldn't be a better place for us to be this week than here at the Riviera CC in Pacific Palisades, California.  Mike has won this event twice (back-to-back wins in 2003 and 2004) and has played some of his best golf here.  He is very comfortable with Riviera and has great feelings about this place.  This is definitely one of the best courses we play on tour all year.  I really hope and expect to have another solid week and continue on the good play that Mike has showed so far this season.
 
The course this year is the best condition I have ever seen it in.   In the last three years, the course has played soft and wet. This year there has been warm temperatures and no rain in the last few and Riv (as Riviera is known out here) is incredible..  The fairways are somewhat firm allowing the ball to roll a bit off the tee shots and the greens are rolling great.  Overall, the Riv is just a great, old-fashioned, tree lined golf course that all tour players love to play and would love to play more often.

There is not a lot of rough due to the lack of rain, and actually this is the only thing I can even think of that might be wrong with the course.  I always like to see the rough up high as it puts a premium on hitting the ball in the fairway.  Tiger and Ernie and some of these new kids are hitting the ball so far that they tend to have an advantage when they are not penalized with rough.  The bottom line every week however comes down to getting the ball in the hole so putting remains a premium here at Rivieria. 

The only changes to the course this year are some changes on greens three, nine and twelve.  These three greens have been leveled out and put back to their original shapes.  The changes will make greens 3, 9 and 12 a little bit easier to hit and more fair when hitting longer approach shots. 

The signature hole at Riviera is number 18.  An uphill, dogleg right that can play really long as it did in the 6-man playoff four years ago.  It just has a great setting for the final hole with all the people gathered on the hillside in large numbers. 
 
I think this will be a great week for Mike to continue to play consistently and put some good scores together.  Mike has shown some good improvement in his game and if we can put two good weeks together to finish the west coast it would be great.  His game is in good shape and I would expect nothing different than another good finish this week from him.

I predict the winning score this week to be 16-under par.

Thanks for reading,

Brennan Little

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