Number 10 at Riviera has received its fair share of criticism (and praise) from golf’s top players in recent years.
said Rory McIlroy the par-4 of 315 meters ‘stinks’. Max Homa said yes “Either the best hole in the world or the worst.” Jon Rahm said it could be his “favorite hole” on the course. Collin Morikawa called it the “hardest hole” on the famed property. Tony Finau went the other way and praised the “great” hole.
Friday at the Genesis invited, another star added his name to one side of the debate over George C. Thomas’s famous short par-4.
After an easy par at No. 10 in Thursday’s opening round, 2022 US Open champion Matthew Fitzpatrick had a different experience on Friday.
The pin placement on the opening round was back right, allowing Fitzpatrick to make a stress-free birdie. But on Friday the in was in the center and just three paces from the left edge. Fitzpatrick lost his tee shot to the right, leaving him 47 yards short of the pin. After reviewing his options with his caddy, Fitzpatrick decided to play his second shot well to the left of the pin. The thought was that Fitzpatrick would give himself a long birdie putt, or the ball would roll down into the staging area and he would have a chance to get up and down for par. But he missed his spot and ended up dumping his second into the green-side bunker. His third shot was no easier than his second. He shot over the green into the staging area. He pitched and ultimately tapped in for a bogey, one of only two bogeys he made as he fired a five-under 66.
“It was a great round. I felt like I played really solid. Just bogeyed 10, the world’s most impossible golf hole. I’ll leave it at that,” Fitzpatrick said after his round.
“I don’t really want to talk about it too much, I just get excited about it. But it’s touched and hope, let’s leave it at that.”
Fitzpatrick wasn’t the only one of his trio who was bitten by Riviera’s short par-4. Both Aaron Rai and Garrick Higgo also made bogey.
“We all made a bogey. I said, ‘great bogeys, guys,'” Fitzpatrick said. “Everyone could laugh, and that was good.”
In 2023, McIlroy said he believes the kikuyu grass running to and around the green is the problem. He suggested re-grazing that area to allow the ball to run up, or softening the green a bit. As it stands, McIlroy believes there is no skill at the hole.
According to Fitzpatrick, number 10 in Riviera breaks one of the most important rules for a hole.
“I just don’t think it’s a fair golf course, so I’ll leave it at that,” Fitzpatrick said.
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