Dan Jenkins taught me that there are actually four Hogan’s alleys:
1. Pinehurst No. 2, (where he won three North and South Opens);
2. Riviera, where he won the 1947 and 1948 L.A. Open, and then returned to win the ’48 U.S. Open;
3. Colonial, where he won five Colonial National Invitationals; and
4. The only Hogan’s Alley that consists of one hole, the par-5 sixth at Carnoustie.
Riviera has hosted two PGA’s along with that historic Open. Hal Sutton held off Jack Nicklaus in 1983, and Steve Elkington stole his only major from Colin Montgomerie.
While I normally love Steve Elling’s work, he has this piece about how Riviera is just too small to host a 21st century major with 40,00-50,000 people on-sit every day. he says have it L.A. Country Club instead.
I don’t agree. Is there really any need to sardine that many people on site? Do we really need the over kill of all those corporate tents cluttering up the landscape? How ever did we survive without the Cristal Champagne and fresh peach with caviar Bank of America tent?
Torrey was a disaster form a spectator standpoint: you couldn’t move, hence on of my favorite articles:
Torrey: No fairways? No greens? No problem! (Also…No Room!!)
Help us out, USGA…give us some leg an d elbow room!
