Rough Will Be Ready at Riviera

The early forecast for Riviera Country Club this week calls for a chance of rain and the likelihood of high rough.

More than two inches of rain fell Friday and Saturday morning, but it hasn’t soaked the course that badly, according to Matt Morton, the greens superintendent.

“The course takes it real well,” he said. “I was a little nervous at first, but this course drains better than you can imagine.”

What may be of more interest to the players in this week’s Nissan Open is the kikuyu rough for which Riviera is known. A milder-than-expected winter has produced slightly warmer temperatures. That, together with the rain, has produced a thicker, denser, faster-growing rough.

Morton says he plans to cut the rough to three inches this morning and expects it to then grow as much as an inch during the week.

The same favorable growing conditions have given the kikuyu-grass fairways more depth and tightness.

“The players should have perfect lies out there,” said Todd Yoshitake, Riviera’s club pro. “It won’t play any longer because of the wetness, because right now, it’s pretty soft and there won’t be much roll.”

Otherwise, said Yoshitake, “the course is perfect.”

Morton said the PGA Tour’s tournament directors have set up the course so that the landing areas in most fairways are between 28 and 30 yards wide. Morton said the landing area at No. 1 is about 28 yards wide and the widest are at Nos. 13 and 17, which are both about 30 yards wide.

Although the PGA Tour doesn’t always play the back tees at No. 12 and No. 18, if stretched to its limit, the par-71 Riviera layout would measure 7,279 yards. Last year, its official yardage for the tournament was listed at 7,260.

The $4.8-million tournament begins Thursday with $864,000 going to the winner. Mike Weir is the two-time defending champion.