Riviera Country Club

The Nissan Open returns to Riviera Country Club after a one-year break. (Last year, the tournament switched to Valencia Country Club from its regular site since 1984 because the U.S. Senior Open was played at the Pacific Palisades course.)

Riviera’s layout is a favorite among many touring players, and two of the holes that stand out are the par-three fourth hole and the par-four 18th. In its March issue, Golf Digest ranked the top 99 holes in the country and listed the fourth as the third-best par three in the United States and ranked the 18th as the 26th-best par four. Here’s a look at those two holes:

No. 4:

Ben Hogan, who won two L.A. Opens and one U.S. Open at Riviera, called this hole the “greatest par-three hole in America.” Weekend golfers might come away with a different feeling after finding themselves imprisoned in the deep bunker short of the green. Pros will hit long irons or fairway woods to this green and rarely gripe about making a par.

No. 18:

Generally recognized as one of the exceptional finishing holes played on the tour, this hole starts with a blind, uphill tee shot that can leave a long iron to the green. In 1974, Dave Stockton’s tee shot left him with a downhill lie in the left rough, 247 yards to the pin. He hit a three-wood to 12 feet and made the birdie putt to defeat Sam Snead and John Mahaffey by a shot. A commemorative plaque sits in the rough on the spot where he hit the shot.

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: 9 shots--Mac Smith, 1929 (Last 25 years: 7 shots--Lanny Wadkins, 1985; Doug Tewell, 1986)

No. 4

Ben Hogan, who won two L.A. Opens and one U.S. Open at Riviera, called this hole the “greatest par-three hole in America.” Weekend golfers might come away with a different feeling after finding themselves imprisoned in the deep bunker short of the green. Pros will hit long irons or fairway woods to this green and rarely gripe about making a par.

No. 18

Generally recognized as one of the exceptional finishing holes played on the tour, this hole starts with a blind, uphill tee shot that can leave a long iron to the green. In 1974, Dave Stockton’s tee shot left him with a downhill lie in the left rough, 247 yards to the pin. He hit a three-wood to 12 feet and made the birdie putt to defeat Sam Snead and John Mahaffey by a shot. A commemorative plaque sits in the rough on the spot where he hit the shot.

*

When: Today through Sunday, Riviera Country Club, Pacific Palisades.

Purse: $2.8 million.

Defending champion: Billy Mayfair.

TV: Today-Friday, USA, 4-6 p.m. (delayed); Saturday, Channel 2, 1-3 p.m.; Sunday, Channel 2, 1-3:30 p.m.

Tickets: Daily ticket $20, Daily senior ticket (55 and over) $15, Daily youth ticket (17 and under) $10.

Details: (800) 752-OPEN.