NORTHERN TRUST OPEN PREVIEW

Mickelson Aims for Third Straight Riviera Title Next Week

When Phil Mickelson arrives at Riviera Country Club in Pacific Palisades next week to defend his Northern Trust Open championship, he will be playing not only for his 38th PGA Tour victory and the $1.134-million winner’s check, but also for his place in the history books. No player in the 84-year history of the event long called the L.A. Open and, more recently, the Nissan Open, has ever won three times in a row. That is the daunting task facing Mickelson, but the 39-year-old known as “Lefty” seems more than ready for the challenge. The list of champions at the hallowed course off Capri Drive includes such all-time great golfers as Byron Nelson, Sam Snead, Ben Hogan, Lloyd Mangrum, Arnold Palmer, Billy Casper, Johnny Miller, Tom Watson and Nick Faldo. No one, however, has been able to three-peat. In fact, only seven players have managed to win the tournament back-to-back, including Mickelson last year when he sank a 6-foot putt at the famed 18th green to beat Steve Stricker by one stroke. Mickelson’s current three-year run (second, first, first) matches Hogan’s magical run at Riviera from 1946-48, after which the course was nicknamed “Hogan’s Alley” in recognition of his mastery. “Well, I don’t think I’ve emulated Ben’s style of how he played Riviera,” Mickelson said after finishing the tournament at 15 under par last February. “He seemed to drive it in the fairway a little bit more and what have you, but I love this golf course and I’ve been fortunate to play well here the last few years.” Mickelson combined a pair of spectacular rounds (including a 62 on Saturday, one stroke off the course record set by Ted Tryba in 1999) with two mediocre rounds for a 269 total–three shots better than his winning score in 2008. “I’m pleased to be sitting here as the champion,” he said after the final round. “I started with a four shot lead and I won by one so obviously a lot of people beat me today. I was able to just hold on enough.” At first, Mickelson looked as if he might run away with the trophy after sinking a putt for an eagle on the first hole Sunday to increase his lead to seven shots, but after pulling an 8-iron and bogeying No. 2 he gradually watched his lead dwindle on the front nine. Applying pressure all day were Mickelson’s playing partners, past Riviera champion Fred Couples (who hoisted the trophy in 1990 and 1992) and Argentinian Andres Romero. They tied for third with K.J. Choi at 13-under, though much of the pre-tournament hype focused on 17-year-old Japanese sensation Ryo Ishikawa, who was playing his first PGA Tour event but missed the cut. Two years ago, Mickelson tapped in a short par putt on the 18th hole for a two-stroke triumph over Jeff Quinney. That erased the memory of the 2007 Nissan Open (the tournament’s previous name) when “Lefty” bogeyed the last hole and wound up losing in a playoff to Charles Howell III. “The names that are on this trophy are pretty cool and bring some element of history to this tournament,” said Mickelson, a San Diego native who now resides in Rancho Santa Fe. “Riviera is a very special place, a fun, challenging golf course that has withstood the test of time.” Conquering Riviera last year was one of the bright spots in a difficult year for Mickelson, who took a break from the sport after his wife Amy was diagnosed with breast cancer in May. Then, in July, it was announced that his mother Mary was diagnosed with the same disease, causing him to miss the British Open. Yet, he returned to the pro circuit with a flourish, winning The Tour Championship for the second time and finishing second to Tiger Woods in the FedEx Cup standings. Mickelson makes his 2010 debut Thursday-Sunday in the San Diego Open at Torrey Pines, where he hopes to add to his PGA win total and come north to Riviera confident that he can defend his title… and make a little history in the process. sports@palipost.com Repeat Winners at Northern Trust Open 2008-09 Phil Mickelson 2003-04 Mike Weir 1994-95 Corey Pavin 1966-67 Arnold Palmer 1964-65 Paul Harney 1947-48 Ben Hogan 1928-29 MacDonald Smith