#10 at Riviera is a much talked about short par-4. At 315 yards it is reachable by many longer players today. However, trying to drive the putting surface isn't always the smartest play. For those of you that have never been to Riviera or seen the hole, I hope this gives you a better idea of why some think so highly of it.
First of all lets take a look at a view of the hole from the clubhouse...
With my disturbingly bad painting skills I have painted numerous different shot possibilities from this view. Green=good, Yellow=playable, and Red=little if no chance.
As you can see you want to keep the ball out of the hazards first. Secondly, any drive that ends up in the right rough is in big trouble. Ideally, a tee shot that can be placed on the putiing surface, just left of the putting surface, or over the back left of the putting surface is ideal. The safest, most prudent tee shot, ala Weir, is down the left side of the fairway just short of the long bunker left. This shot is generally played with a 2-iron or 3-wood for the scratch player.
Here are what the angles look like for different tee shots...
This is a safe, layup tee shot played toward the green but well short (approx. 100 yards). Not ideal, but playable.
This is a Tee shot missed into the right rough. As you can see with a shallow green sloping away from you, you have little chance of holding the green, even with a wedge.
This is a tee shot missed into the bunker made famous by Charles Howell that fronts the alternate green well right of the regular green. The shot he hit out of this trap would have gone down in LA Open history had he made the putt. They would have put a plaque in that bunker for him.
This is a layed up tee shot placed in perfect position. This is where Weir hits his tee shot. Look at how much smarter it is to play left with a lay up shot.
Here is the view of a perfectly driven tee shot with a driver that doesn't make the putting surface.
Here is a drive that goes a little past the green over the left side. This is another great spot to drive it if you can pull it off, as you are now chipping or pitching back into the slope.
Here is a view from the back right of the green looking back toward the front of the green to give a different perspective. Look at how narrow this green is. It is truly a pleasure to be challenged with a hole like this on a daily basis.
Here I am hitting a tee shot on #10. Just another ass shot. As you can see I hit driver. I made par from 5 yards short of the green. It's a tough pitch shot from there.
I hope this helps those of you that have never seen the hole understand it a little better.
Remember, these are my opinions and others may feel differently about the strategy of the hole. That's what makes the hole so great..... OPTIONS!!!
Jeff F.