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Today will take you all the way through the 2nd hole of Justin Thomas,
Rory McIlroy, and Tiger Woods.
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Live Today and don't. Miss a shot this season.
Justin Thomas Iron Down the left side here 10.
Well, there's my first surprise of the day is Justin Thomas,
with his length and power laying up on the 10th hole.
But he has laid that up absolutely perfect for that angle back to that back pin.
Dennis, what's the environment like down there?
It is really amazing. I mean,
there's probably 2 or 300 people up by the green in the corner and it's completely packed up on the right hand side of the tee box here.
There's probably a better part of 1000 people already here on property,
and we're talking about before most people get up here in LA.
It's a lazy morning yellae usually,
but it is gorgeous out here right now.
The wind playing down breeze for the player,
so it's definitely gettable.
Next entity tournament host please welcome Tiger Woods.
1992 is a 16 year old amateur.
He made his PGA Tour debut.
Now at the age of 42 years old,
Tiger makes his second start of the season.
Just a layup.
It's going to just find out the left hand side should be good.
Boy, does he look good,
but he looks maybe a little bit better.
I guess we all did back in 1992.
Bonati from Cypress, CA amateur Tiger Woods.
On March 1st, 1992, a 16 year old kid named Tiger Woods made his PGA Tour debut at Riviera Country Club.
The crowd was so loud and it was like kind of definitely.
Since then, Tiger has given that crowd much mortar or about.
Pressure pot after seeing it up at the Genesis open for the first time as a pro in 1997,
Tiger racked up eight consecutive top 25 finishes,
loading 2 runner UPS come full circle.
You know to be a 16 year old teen up at a PGA Tour event to now.
Could have ever ever imagined he returns this week for the first time in 12 years.
This time as tournament host.
Hard to believe that Tiger does not have a win at the Genesis open couple of runner up finishes.
Worth noting in 1998 it wasn't here at Riviera down the road at Valencia.
Country Club's Riviera got ready to host the senior PGA Championship.
99 finished second to Ernie Els.
And now KJ, who laid up into the fairway bunker,
John.
Yeah, I think he was expecting that ball to be in the fairway,
but it chased into that bunker to get it.
There was a. A really good shot and looks like he's gonna walk off of here with a.
And easy for which? I guess in all things hasn't been that easy for a lot of players.
Finished 26 last week at Pebble Beach.
So his game may be starting to round into shape.
Does Riviera fit one specific style of player?
I mean it to me.
I would say no. I mean,
I think that it's it's really.
As I touched on earlier,
it's it's a second shot golf course.
Obviously it's important to hit the ball in the fairway to control the ball,
but it's not the recipe for success.
Around here, you have to be a great iron player and you have to put the ball really well to win around Riviera,
but I really don't think that it favors one particular player.
I mean, I think that anyone can get around,
it's just all about strategy and staying patient with it.
Billy Hurley.
Who just lossed a playoff to Jordan Spaeth to get on the player Advisory Committee?
I don't know if you had a chance to see that on Twitter yet.
The video is worth a look.
That was a pretty pretty funny.
Campaign, I guess that they had gone and Billy did a good job with that.
I saw the video the other day and and Jordan embraced it pretty well too when they talked to him about it,
he laughed about it and.
I just saw. Another Instagram photo about Jordan Spaeth winning the campaign for.
For the PAC chairman? Yeah,
not often. Do you see?
Two people running against each other in a campaign where one endorses the other.
That's pretty creative, though, by Billy Hurley nears KJ for four.
Oh well.
Not too surprising. Because this is one of the most difficult courses to putt from 3 feet.
Then we take a look.
Five out of the past seven years it has been the number one hardest course from 3 feet.
Tough to read. Sometimes poana can get bumpy.
What's the reason? Yeah, obviously early in the morning they should be in great shape.
But yes, as the day progresses you'll get the footprints.
The balls bounce a little bit and poana is a tough surface to put on.
It is a tough surface to read if you're not used to it or familiar with it.
But it's just you know,
these greens at Rivier. I feel like they have a lot of little subtle breaks and stuff where they where they cut these whole locations,
which makes it difficult to make these three footers.
Well, let's head down to the ground.
Dennis Paulson is with our first of two featured groups.
Perfect life for Tiger and perfect angle.
The problem is it's playing downwind.
This shot. You want a little bit more wind in your face,
but playing downwind? John, you mentioned the fact that you land short here.
You're dealing with the little saddle of the bunker and it's going to skip left.
Flight in this down needs a huge hop.
It's a big one, needs another one and that's looking good.
Wow, that's talented right there that was well controlled.
Yeah, that was a great shot by Tiger.
And like you said, Dennis.
I mean if he flew that about 5:00 or 10 more yards,
that ball kicks left in the bunker.
Tiger just here we see him again.
Just float flight at that nicely landed short of that little saddle that Dennis just talked about.
One hot check. Like a 14 time major winner,
Man can Justin Thomas Follow the leader?
Like this?
Well, I mean, I think really that's a product of leaving the ball in the right position off the tee even though they laid up,
JT got it all the way down to the end of the fairway.
Hit a little low, basically like Tiger did one hop kind of checks,
releases out like a putt judge perfectly.
Now McIlroy can't hit the green from here.
Didn't there was no chance.
I think he was trying to find a place to play his third from.
There was no chance at the green from where he was.
Well, when we were analyzing the whole earlier John,
you put two big Red X is right where McElroy was.
Yeah, that was really surprising to see him.
You know, I know we hit a 3 wood off the tee there and you know it's golf but to see him hit the ball to the right there.
I mean he knows that's the only place you can't hit it.
So just I guess a poor swing for him to start off his round but now.
Work cut out to get this ball up and down.
We've seen so many players leave these bunker shots in the bunker for their first try.
So Dennis, I'll ask you if you know where you can't hit it.
Isn't it gnawing at you in your brain?
At how do you block that out?
Well, and that's the whole thing.
I mean, you could take one part of this whole lot of play,
and there really isn't a place to miss here at #10 except for left over here by the bottle,
brush trees in short. But then you're not really going for the green and all depend upon the light and get to see the lie,
but this is actually very doable if he doesn't have a downhill lie.
Well done.
I guess his rights not so bad after all.
A little smile there. About McElroy.
He knows he really stole one with the birdie there on the 10th,
from where his tee shot was.
How is more than doable?
That was worth that is worth one more look.
Even McElroy knows.
I mean that was just executed perfectly.
I mean it the ball comes out chicks releases like apart here Edit Perfect just a ho hum Birdie.
Well, as if the crowds weren't excited enough,
that should get them pretty frothy.
A little chum in the water now birdies on the card.
And we'll skip back to the T as our first of two featured groups.
Waves up. Matt Coutcher, Phil Mickelson,
and Tommy Fleetwood.
See everybody guarding their eyes trying to look down the fairway.
Good indicator that the Sun now starting to rise and getting down in the canyons of Riviera.
Yeah, it's like they're they're trying to figure out if the group has gotten off the green yet to send these guys on their way.
They should be able to see that they're standing behind the green with their hands folded.
Everybody's out of the way and not sure what's going on here.
Maybe it hasn't been announcement yet.
Yeah, it looks like they're just confused as to whether or not they're waiting for him,
but looks like they got the green light here.
And the first to play.
2 * 3732 TV Guide the players and Mr.
Coutcher, Mr Mickelson, and Mr Fleetwood.
1st on the tee from Sea Island,
GA. Please welcome mat couture.
39 year old Matt Coutcher sits 83rd in the race for the FedEx Cup title.
And 18th in the world.
And coach are going with the driver.
There a predicted cucci would be a layup off this tenth tee.
So we've seen Tiger Woods and Justin Thomas layup and Coutcher.
Could this be the first one?
No.
So close. But yes, so far so wrong and now look at this shot that he's going to be facing downhill.
Lie a flop over the bunker.
I mean such a great tee shot to end up with that kind of result.
Two time champion went back to back.
Did Phil Mickelson in 08 and 09.
The chief in hand.
Plenty of firepower.
Good line now cutting a little bit,
that's long.
Mommy.
We can see the ball there,
so it may not be sitting too badly and.
We know Phil's got one of the best flop shots ever.
He's going to need it 'cause that's what he's going to hit you.
No other option.
Well, if you don't know much about Tommy Fleetwood,
get ready to have some fun.
A wonderful striker of the golf ball ranked 13th in the world.
Been a good player for a long time all the way back to his amateur career.
Great line.
French.
Oh little unlucky there. That ball just kind of.
Similar plug when it landed there instead of bouncing up on the green or just beyond.
Well, how about that? Would you have thought Matt Coutcher the most times driving the temple for Aaron badly as a champion here?
Maybe it's kucharz turn if the tent has anything to say about it.
2006 John. On Sunday you started with Eagle.
Drove it to 7 feet.
Tiger for birdie.
All right to left and this has got some pace.
This is a point that you gotta be careful that it can get away from.
Yeah, it's one of those few.
Spin this out on the high edge.
You can really kind of miss but this will be out of the hole.
There shouldn't be a lot in it.
It is a little downhill as wind aided.
Right now. The wind pretty fresh right now at 10.
McIlroy from the Bunker Woods from the center of the Green.
Two birdies.
Boy, his putting stroke John looked great at Torrey and he picks up right where he left off.
Yeah I mean, have you seen anybody ever in the game put on poana greens as good as Tiger Woods?
I mean that ball rolled end over in perfectly right in the center of the Cup.
Great start for Tiger Woods.
Now, Thomas. Not much in this,
just fermet this back up the Hill.
Alright, and all around good pipe all around good hole for this threesome.
Flushed it birdie birdie birdie.
We are off and running here at PGA Tour Live.
Stick with us so much more to come from Riviera.
Set for detonation. Justin Thomas.
Here on the 11th.
This is just bombs away here for for JT on the 11th hole I mean dead straight hole sometimes are the most difficult to hit but no problem there for
Justin Thomas so he should have a pretty good go with this green in two.
In our first look at Tiger Woods,
New Shaft, excuse me. It'll be McIlroy then Tiger.
This may have a vapor trail behind it.
After holing out for bunker he will be amped up.
And now our first look at Tiger Woods with Driver in hand Johnny replaced the shaft,
added some loft to his driver.
What does that do for him?
Well, it's going to give him a little more control.
Probably get a little bit more spin on the golf ball,
which you know. Spanish control.
I know you don't want too much,
so there's a fine line,
but. This is going to be the big club for Tiger.
He's done everything in his return.
Well except drive the ball and that looked a little late there to the right,
but he doesn't seem too anxious about it.
I will go so. We'll find that one,
but first, Phil Mickelson. Oh my goodness,
what does he have?
Well.
And as Phil looks, his over tries to figure out what to do.
Will watch Tommy Fleetwood now.
This is a great look here from behind Tommy.
That little knobby seal in the bunker.
That's the challenge here. Flying it beyond that and stopping it in time.
Just gotta stop.
OK, not too bad there.
That's a pretty easy putback up the Hill.
And now to fill.
That like something he can work with.
It really didn't look that bad to me.
And you know, these are the types of shots that Phil Mickelson loves to play.
I mean, he loves the challenge around the greens and.
You know he's right now,
just trying to visualize. I'm sure where to to try to carry the ball or land the ball,
but.
He is going to send this ball straight up in the air and if anybody anybody can pull this shot off,
this is the man you want hitting the shot for you.
Look like he caught that.
Obviously a little heavy. Big divot came out of there so.
In culture with a better lie,
but in the same predicament.
It's such a good tee shot to be.
To result in this type of angle and pitch.
Easy oh got a lot of spin on that ball that was well done there by coutcher well from 1 Olympic medalist to another.
We send it down to Dennis Paulson with a special guest.
Gentlemen, thanks a lot, Kyle Lowry.
When I stole his gun interview basketball player,
I figured I'd be talking to somebody up here just six feet.
But man, you're here for the All Star game this week and your golf geek.
Which is awesome. Yeah, I'm here for the All Star weekend,
but I got an opportunity to come here in West is great.
20 minutes. See a great group or finding a great group of guys.
This is fantastic. It's kind of a dream come true.
Were talking about before we got started here and you said man,
how could you get this many people quiet?
I don't have that happen and when I'm playing my game or this and we've got 20,000 people.
German Holland I think I play a lot better with that than how quiet is the fans are here.
Isn't that weird, you know,
as a tour player, my scariest moment ever was at the at Saint Andrews in 2000.
Were on the 18th hole and there's 30,000 people and I could hear a car across the street driving going.
Oh my God, they're all paying attention.
This is scary. That's pretty scary,
but you know these guys are professionals.
This is what they do.
They concentrate on their game.
For my game I need fans screaming hollering,
yelling, talking, trash because it makes it a lot easier for me.
Your golf game. You said you're 14 1/2 but you you actually have got the bug,
don't you? I love the game.
I play every opportunity I can on doing this season on the road.
You know, I think the game in the NBA,
the golf game has taken a bug to all the NBA players.
Is something competitive that we all love to do?
It's fun on. This is something we can get out there and I'll do together.
Thank you. Type here to be with me for a couple holes will be hanging out watching Tiger play some golf.
I can't wait. I'm excited.
Alright guys, back to you.
Now fill his third shot on the 10th.
Stay yeah, feel very fortunate there.
That ball that ball of his didn't roll back in his pitch.
Mark that it made in the sand so.
And as we watch Phil somehow try to figure out a way to save par.
We can report that Tiger Woods,
his drive never came out of the trees down the right side.
So he's going to RTI and replay the shot.
So what's the ruling if it stays in the tree?
Well, if you if you can identify the ball which these towering eucalyptus trees out.
Here at Riviera, you can tell how difficult it be to get up there and identify a golf ball.
Then it's deemed to be a loss ball.
So his only option is to go back to where he last played the previous shot with a penalty,
and Tigers playing his third.
So a little bit of a hip Anna hop for Tiger Woods on the first two holes birdies the 10th is first of the day and then loses a ball
in the trees here at 11.
Yeah. Much better swing there.
The second go around he you know,
looked a little late on that first swing left it out to the right,
but that swing definitely looked like he released the club nicely and was able to get it back in the fairway.
So see if he can maybe knock it on the green and make a bogey and get out of here.
Alright, Dennis and Kyler, down with Justin Thomas.
He's set to play his second year on the 11th.
Right down the center of the Faroe,
we're still back at the T guy so I'm not going to lie to you because I'm not.
I'm not going to be able to see him hit it to the green as a green is clear.
Tigers ballbot guys. Actually I think it would between the trees and got down in the Branca through there they couldn't find it in the long grass I ball had
to come out of the eucalyptus tree but that ball was 30 right of his target line.
Second one stripe is Thomas is set to play now.
Immediate reaction would indicate that he does not like it and for good reason.
Yeah, not his, not his best swing there,
but he's got a lot of green to work with.
I mean missing that to the right would be the mistake there.
So over there on the left side it's just all going to be loud dependent.
And somewhere in there is Roy McElroy.
But first. It will be Tiger.
In this, John would be his third shot.
This will be his fourth shot.
He played his third from the tee.
So this will be his fourth,
so you know if he could somehow.
Knock this honor up around the green.
He could still manage to.
Get outta here with a bogey.
I guess mathematically still ipars in play.
Work left to get that.
Went up and down just to save bogey so Tiger off the T hits the right trees and now with his fourth shot hits the left trees back to 10
with coach.
Yeah, I think great drive.
Tough result where that tee shot ended up,
but.
And easy for their. For Matt Coutcher,
I don't think he's going to be too disappointed.
Walking off at tee off that green with a par well so far the 10th Five Birdies 5 pars,
four bogeys and a double.
Can order anything on the menu here at the 10th,
can't you? Yes you can.
I mean, it's again. It's kind of what we touched on at the beginning of the show here talking about.
How good of a short,
driveable par 4. This really is and how difficult it can be.
Great look here by our camera crew.
They worked so hard to bring us the best shots from around the course.
Alright, great save there for Mikelsen.
Hard working power there for Phil.
Misleading stat that the 10th is one of the easiest greens at Riviera to put.
'cause nobody's hitting the green.
Yeah, I mean everybody like we see here Fleetwood putting from really only about 12 or 13 feet,
but he's just off the edge of the green so.
NAFTA mackroy at 11. Third shot.
Oh
that is where he did not want to hit that golf ball,
especially with the. Look like a little flight,
it kind of lob which they tried to to play to that back pin there on 11 so.
Well it started with so much promise three birdies on their first hold.
The day has turned to consternation.
Tiger is getting ready to hit his fifth.
McIlroy is long in three.
And Justin Thomas is way left.
Dennis and Kyle down with us.
Tiger is fifth shot now.
Yeah, this ball just got in the rough sitting down a little bit in the wind.
They really missed the weather today.
I mean there's a 5 or 6 miles an hour.
It's blowing what 8 to 12 right now.
Maybe right now. Dennis Easy and Tigers face out of the left.
This is all about control the ball in the ground.
Pretty well jobs right there.
We saw him hit a nice controlled wedge John on his 1st hole does it again here out of the kukuya.