Riviera Country Club, home of the Genesis Invitational, is one of the most beloved golf courses on the planet among fans and players alike.
It’s also where Tiger Woods made his PGA Tour debut at age 16, and the greatest golfer of all time is currently the tournament host for the Genesis Invitational.
advertisement
Ironically, however, Riviera is a regular stop on the PGA Tour, where Woods never won. It wasn’t necessarily his bogey course. He often played well there. But for some reason, Woods just couldn’t string four rounds together like he could literally anywhere else.
Although it’s a difficult course that strategically challenges golfers unlike any other PGA Tour venue, Woods himself says there’s a very simple reason he hasn’t won at Riviera.
Photo by Ben Jared/PGA Tour via Getty Images
Why Tiger Woods didn’t win at Riviera
Riviera requires players to be precise with their mid- to long-irons, which has typically been Woods’ strength. He was one of the most creative and accurate shot shapers of all time. But the problem wasn’t getting to the undulating greens. I was laying pore glass.
advertisement
Woods explained before the 2024 tournament, “I traditionally don’t putt well here, which is nice for Fader. Most right-handed holes run left to right. I’ve been able to drive well here.”
“There are small greens, and traditionally my iron game has been pretty good throughout my career, but my putter has never been hot on this course. They’re generally bumpy and porous, so it was a little tricky.”
That’s a bit of a mystery. That’s because Woods won the 2000 U.S. Open at Pebble Beach by a record margin, and the greens on that iconic course also feature pore grass.
This is one of the most interesting weaknesses in the history of this sport, and one that just doesn’t match up.
advertisement
History of Tiger Woods’ Pore Greens
Woods’ dominance on Poa Anua greens is one of the most statistically significant trends in the history of golf. Although many experts dislike the tendency of pores to grow unevenly and create uneven surfaces, Woods typically took advantage of those imperfections to separate himself from the field.
His history on the West Coast is defined by two major strongholds: Torrey Pines and Pebble Beach. At Torrey Pines alone, Tiger has won eight times, including his legendary 2008 U.S. Open championship, which he played with a broken leg.
At Pebble Beach, he recorded one of the best performances in golf history at the 2000 U.S. Open, winning by 15 strokes over 72 holes on the notoriously difficult greens, with an astonishing three-putt and zero.
advertisement
From 2002 to 2005, Woods famously made 1,536 of 1,540 putts from inside 3 feet. This level of consistency was unprecedented at Poa, where spike marks and uneven growth make short putts a draw.
So why he couldn’t master Pore Green on the Riviera is a complete mystery. He clearly had no problems elsewhere. Perhaps this is one of golf’s great coincidences, one that Woods continues to wrestle with.
