Tiger likes Riviera but it doesn't seem to like him

Even at his best, Woods was no match for Riviera.

speed bump

Woods had one stretch four years ago when he won or finished second in 10 out of 11 tournaments. The exception, of course, was Riviera. He tied for 18th.

Riviera is one of the most famous courses on the PGA Tour, dropped among hillside estates off Sunset Boulevard.

Ben Hogan won there four times, twice in one year. He won the Los Angeles Open in 1948, and returned that summer to capture his first US Open.

Few other courses require players to shape the ball off the tee. Few other courses have a bunker in the middle of the green (No. 6). The small greens and subtle contours are one reason scoring records don't come easily at Riviera.

"You don't have to have pot bunkers that are two stories deep off the tees," Woods said. "If the greens are small and hard, you'll have a tough time getting it close."

That's one reason the 72-hole scoring record at Riviera -- 20-under 264 by Lanny Wadkins -- has stood for the last 18 years, a rarity these days.

Even rarer is a course Woods can't seem to master.