February 17, 2016
The PGA Tour at Riviera is must-see TV for Lanny Wadkins because it's personal.
The most prominent nickname for Riviera remains ''Hogan's Alley'' from when Ben Hogan won three times in two years, capping it off with the 1948 U.S. Open. Wadkins, however, has his own slice of history on the fabled course off Sunset Boulevard.
''I do watch it every year because I have that record,'' he said.
It's a record that speaks to why Riviera, which George Thomas and William Bell designed 90 years ago, commands so much respect.
In an era where players are better and longer- and there are more of them than ever - no one has touched the 20-under 264 that Wadkins shot in 1985. That record has stood the longest of any PGA Tour course on the schedule.
No one has come particularly close in the last 25 years.
Mike Weir shot 267 in 2004. Steve Elkington also had a 267 in the 1995 PGA Championship in August, when the greens were so receptive that two players tied the major championship record of 63.
What is it about Riviera that a record could last that long?
''I can't put my finger on it,'' Weir said. ''It seems like it has your attention on every shot to be on the correct side of the fairway, the correct spot beneath the hole.''
James Hahn won in a playoff at Riviera last year at 6-under 278. Told the scoring record, he wanted to know who shot it.
''Is he in the Hall o
