Nissan Open Facts

* WHEN, WHERE: Today through Sunday; Riviera Country Club, 1250 Capri Drive, Pacific Palisades.

* PRIZE MONEY: $1.4 million, $252,000 to winner.

* DEFENDING CHAMPION: Craig Stadler. His six-under-par 278 was one shot ahead of Couples, Mark Brooks, Scott Simpson and Mark Wiebe.

* TV: USA Network: today-Friday, 4-6 p.m. (delayed, although DirecTV and some satellite feeds may be live at 1); Channel 2: Saturday, noon-3 p.m., Sunday, 1-3 p.m.

* TICKETS: Daily grounds pass $20, daily youth pass $10, daily senior pass $15, season pass $60, discount book of 12 daily passes $180, bronze parking pass at Veterans Administration Hospital $50. Tickets available by calling 213 482-1311 or all Ticketmaster outlets.

* PARKING: Shuttle service to and from the Longworth Drive entrance of Riviera from V.A. Hospital parking lot. Take Santa Monica Boulevard west from San Diego Freeway (405) to Sawtelle Boulevard. Turn right on Sawtelle and enter the hospital parking lot at the Ohio Avenue entrance.

PRIME SPECTATOR VIEWING AREAS

* The natural amphitheater around the 18th green.

* Elevated tee on No. 1 provides spectacular view if you can get there early.

* A triangle formed by the greens at No. 3 and 17 and tees at No. 4 and 18.

* At far end of the course, fans can see play at the 16th green, and also catch shots on No. 6, the par three with the trap in the middle of the green.

RIVIERA RECORDS

* 72 HOLES: 264 (20 under)--Lanny Wadkins (63-70-67-64) 1985.

* 18 HOLES: 62--Larry Mize 1985, Fred Couples 1990, Kenny Perry 1995.

* BEST FIRST ROUND: 63--Lanny Wadkins 1985, Michael Allen 1990.

* BEST FINISH BY WINNER: 63--Doug Tewell 1986.

* HIGH FINISH BY WINNER: 72--Tom Purtzer 1977.

* LARGEST WINNING MARGIN: 7 shots--Lanny Wadkins (1985), Doug Tewell (1986).

* HISTORY: Along with Riviera (35 times), the tournament has been played at Los Angeles Country Club (five times), El Caballero Country Club (once), Wilshire Country Club (four times), Hillcrest Country Club (twice), Griffith Park Golf Course (three times), Fox Hills Country Club (once), Inglewood Country Club (once), Rancho Park Golf Course (17 times) and Brookside Golf Course (once).

PAST WINNERS

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Year Winner Score Course 1926 Harry Cooper 279 Los Angeles CC 1927 Bobby Cruickshank 282 El Caballero CC 1928 Mac Smith 284 Wilshire CC 1929 Mac Smith 285 Riviera CC 1930 Densmore Shute 296 Riviera CC 1931 Ed Dudley 285 Wilshire CC 1932 Mac Smith 281 Hillcrest CC 1933 Craig Wood 281 Wilshire CC 1934 Mac Smith 284 Los Angeles CC 1935 Vic Ghezzi 285 Los Angeles CC 1936 Jimmy Hines 286 Los Angeles CC 1937 Harry Cooper 274 Griffith Park 1938 Jimmy Thompson 273 Griffith Park 1939 Jimmy Demaret 274 Griffith Park 1940 Lawson Little 282 Los Angeles CC 1941 Johnny Bulla 281 Riviera CC 1942 Ben Hogan 282 Hillcrest CC 1943 No Tournament 1944 Harold McSpaden 278 Wilshire CC 1945 Sam Snead 283 Riviera CC 1946 Byron Nelson 284 Riviera CC 1947 Ben Hogan 280 Riviera CC 1948 Ben Hogan 275 Riviera CC 1949 Lloyd Mangrum 280 Riviera CC 1950 Sam Snead 280 Riviera CC 1951 Lloyd Mangrum 280 Riviera CC 1952 Tommy Bolt 289 Riviera CC 1953 Lloyd Mangrum 280 Riviera CC 1954 Fred Wampler 281 Fox Hills CC 1955 Gene Littler 276 Inglewood CC 1956 Lloyd Mangrum 272 Rancho Park 1957 Doug Ford 280 Rancho Park 1958 Frank Stranahan 275 Rancho Park 1959 Ken Venturi 278 Rancho Park 1960 Dow Finsterwald 280 Rancho Park 1961 Bob Goalby 275 Rancho Park 1962 Phil Rodgers 268 Rancho Park 1963 Arnold Palmer 274 Rancho Park 1964 Paul Harney 280 Rancho Park 1965 Paul Harney 276 Rancho Park 1966 Arnold Palmer 273 Rancho Park 1967 Arnold Palmer 269 Rancho Park 1968 Billy Casper 275 Brookside 1969 Charlie Sifford 276 Rancho Park 1970 Billy Casper 276 Rancho Park 1971 Bob Lunn 274 Rancho Park 1972 George Archer 270 Rancho Park 1973 Rod Funseth 276 Riviera CC 1974 Dave Stockton 276 Riviera CC 1975 Pat Fitzsimons 275 Riviera CC 1976 Hale Irwin 272 Riviera CC 1977 Tom Purtzer 273 Riviera CC 1978 Gil Morgan 278 Riviera CC 1979 Lanny Wadkins 276 Riviera CC 1980 Tom Watson 276 Riviera CC 1981 Johnny Miller 270 Riviera CC 1982 Tom Watson 271 Riviera CC 1983 Gil Morgan 270 Rancho Park 1984 David Edwards 279 Riviera CC 1985 Lanny Wadkins 264 Riviera CC 1986 Doug Tewell 270 Riviera CC 1987 T.C. Chen 275 Riviera CC 1988 Chip Beck 267 Riviera CC 1989 Mark Calcavecchia 272 Riviera CC 1990 Fred Couples 266 Riviera CC 1991 Ted Schulz 272 Riviera CC 1992 Fred Couples 269 Riviera CC 1993 Tom Kite 206 Riviera CC 1994 Corey Pavin 271 Riviera CC 1995 Corey Pavin 268 Riviera CC 1996 Craig Stadler 278 Riviera CC

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