February 19, 2015
Danny Moloshok/AP
Vijay Singh of Fiji tees off on the 12th hole during the first round of the Northern Trust Open at Riviera Country Club in Los Angeles on Thursday.
LOS ANGELES — Retief Goosen and Vijay Singh, among the top five players in the world a decade ago, were part of a five-way tie for the lead in the Northern Trust Open in what amounted to "throwback Thursday" at Riviera.
The 51-year-old Singh, who plays the occasional Champions Tour event, picked up four birdies on the back nine for a 5-under 66, his lowest opening round on the PGA Tour since the 2012 McGladrey Classic. The three-time major champion and former world No. 1 has not won since 2008.
Goosen, a two-time U.S. Open champion who turned 47 this month, was slowed by a pair of sloppy bogeys early on the back nine until he made a pair of late birdies to join Singh at 66. Goosen hasn't won since 2009.
"I'm finally not hurting as much as I did the last five years," Singh said. "That's a big part of playing good golf. You're not hurting, you can go out and play and you're comfortable."
They played in the game group with 28-year-old Brian Harman, who shot a 78.
"It was nice to see the two old boys play pretty good," Goosen said.
Pebble Beach runner-up Nick Watney, competing for the fifth straight week, kept up his form with an eagle on the opening hole on his way to a 66. James Hahn and Daniel Summerhays joined them in the lead among early starters on an overcast morning that turned into mild sunshine, typical of the weather on this wondrous West Coast Swing.
Pebble Beach winner Brandt Snedeker and defending champion Bubba Watson were among the late starters.
Riviera is in superb shape this year and conditions were ideal, which speaks to the golf course. No one managed better than 66, while three players failed to break 80. One of them was Scott Piercy, who became this year's face of the par-4 10th hole. He began his round by going from the front bunker to the back bunker to the front bunker to the back bunker before a great putt for double bogey.
Carlos Ortiz of Mexico, who had a 67, summed up the 312-yard hole this way: "I've never seen a par 4 that short that hard."
Singh didn't make everything, but he made enough. He moved into a share of the lead with a 35-footer from just off the 15th green, followed by a 15-foot birdie putt on the par-3 16th hole. He finished strong except for missing a pair of birdie putts inside 12 feet.
"I'm finally not hurting as much as I did the last five years," Singh said. "That's a big part of playing good golf. You're not hurting, you can go out and play and you're comfortable. Right now, nothing hurts. The golf swing feels good, and I'm happy to be playing.
"For all his birdies, Goosen was most pleased with a pair of par saves — from 8 feet on No. 2 and 10 feet on No. 8. After a perfect wedge to 3 feet on the 10th hole for birdie, he went for the green in two on the par-5 11th hole and paid for it by missing well left and drawing a tough life. He couldn't hold the green with his long pitch and failed to get up-and-down, making bogey. Then, he three-putted from 20 feet for bogey.
Two late birdies gave him a score he felt he deserved.
Summerhays and Hahn each joined the leaders late by finishing their rounds with three straight birdies. Watney ran off three straight birdies on his front nine and made the turn in 30, but he played the back nine in even par. Still, he was happy to be in at 66.
Watney had the lead briefly on the front nine at Pebble Beach last week until a pair of bogeys, and he never caught up to Snedeker. Still, it was a progress, and he might be on his way to getting yet another chance.
"I was disappointed for maybe 12 hours," Watney said about Pebble Beach. "But overall, it was almost all positive and onto the next week."Geoff Ogilvy and Justin Thomas were among those at 68, while Jordan Spieth rallied for a 69 with a 31 on his front nine.
DIVOTS: Davis Love III, who is to be introduced as Ryder Cup captain next week, is carrying a red, white and blue bag with "USA" on each side. That would be his bag from the Presidents Cup. Love no longer has a bag deal with Bridgestone. ... Fred Couples says his disappointment over not being selected Ryder Cup captain was eased by hearing that the job was going back to Love. ... Wake Forest freshman Will Zalatoris, who earned a spot Monday in the Collegiate Showcase qualifier, opened with a 76.
