posted February 12, 2007 at 14:28 EST in Golf Articles

2007 Nissan Open, Riviera Country Club, Pacific Palisades, Calif. February 12-18, 2007

Depending on your perspective, there is either more or less drama on tour this weekend given Tiger Woods’ announcement two weeks ago that he would not be playing in the Nissan Open this weekend. While the world misses the chance to see whether he can compile his eighth consecutive PGA-Tour victory, the win appears available to a large number of very capable players.

 

Fresh off of his five-stroke victory just up the road at Pebble Beach, it is hard not to like the new Fit-Phil’s chances to pick up his second consecutive tour-victory this weekend at Riviera Country Club, just outside of Los Angeles. Michelson’s six-under 66 in the fourth-round at Pebble Beach served notice that he can finish tournaments with fire in his eyes and plenty of gas in his newly-conditioned tank.

Rory Sabbatini is the defending champion. His win was no fluke as he missed winning the 2002 tournament by only one-stroke.

Mike Weir won in 2003 and 2004, the former in a playoff win over Charles Howell, III. Weir’s game matched up well for the tight Riviera track.

Another name to keep in mind is Adam Scott. The winner in 2005, he lost last year to Sabbatini by one a single stroke.

Entering this week, Vijay Singh leads the FedEx Cup standings with 6,088 points on the strength of his two Top-10 finishes and his win in the season-opening Mercedes-Benz Championship. He switched places in the standings with John Rollins, who dropped to 2nd-place in the Cup race with 5,872 points. Rollins has two Top-25 finishes to go along with 2nd-place finishes at both the Bob Hope Classic in Palm Springs and the FBR Open in Scottsdale.

Howell is another name to consider this weekend given his runner-up performance at Riviera in 2003 and his current 3rd-place ranking in this year’s FedEx Cup. He already has two second-place finishes to his credit this season (Sony Open and Buick Invitational) and is ready to notch his first win of 2007.

 

Finally, consider Joe Durant’s chances this weekend. Given the tight layout of Riviera, Durant’s 78.4% greens-in-regulation stat this season suggests he will do well in the quest to avoid trouble in Los Angeles.

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