Tiger Woods' PGA Tour Debut At Riviera In 1992

Woods made his PGA Tour debut at Riviera in 1992 at the age of 16

Tiger Woods' PGA Tour Debut At Riviera In 1992

Tiger Woods returns to Riviera again this week and it's a special tournament to him for a number of reasons...

Tiger Woods' PGA Tour Debut At Riviera In 1992

Tiger Woods makes his second start of 2020 this week at the Genesis Invitational at Riviera.

The 14-time major winner last played on the PGA Tour in January at the Farmers Insurance Open and came away with a T9th finish.

27 Feb 1992: Tiger Woods watches his shot during the 1992 Los Angeles Open at the Riviera Country Club in Pacific Palisades, California. Mandatory Credit: Gary Newkirk /Allsport

He returns to Riviera this week once again and his company, TGR Live, are running the event which benefits his foundation.

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Feb 1992: Tiger Woods plays a bunker shot during the Nissan Open at the Riviera Country Club in Pacific Palisades, CA. (Photo by Robert Beck/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

However, the Genesis Open at Riviera is more than just any other tournament for Tiger.

Woods was born in Cypress, California, just south of Los Angeles, and attended the Genesis Open, or Nissan Los Angeles Open as it was known back then, as a child with his father.

Feb 1992: Tiger Woods plays a fairway shot during the Nissan Open at the Riviera Country Club in Pacific Palisades, CA. (Photo by Robert Beck/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

He attempted to qualify for the tournament at the age of 15 and just missed out.

He shot 7-under-par to miss out by three strokes.

Feb 1992: Tiger Woods tees off during the Nissan Open at the Riviera Country Club in Pacific Palisades, CA. (Photo by Robert Beck/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

However, he made it the following year in 1992.

Woods made his first ever PGA Tour start there as a 16-year-old amateur, where he shot 72, 75 to miss the cut by five.

Feb 1992: Tiger Woods celebrates a putt during the Nissan Open at the Riviera Country Club in Pacific Palisades, CA. (Photo by Robert Beck/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

Woods said in a 2018 blog post that he was happy with his first two rounds back in 1992.

"Then I looked at the scoreboard and I’m 17 strokes behind Davis Love III," he wrote.

Feb 1992: Tiger Woods sinks a putt during the Nissan Open at the Riviera Country Club in Pacific Palisades, CA. (Photo by Robert Beck/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

"It was eye-opening knowing that I was really not that good.

"I thought I could play the game, but obviously I wasn’t worth a lick compared to these guys and had a long way to go."

Despite Riviera being a special place for Woods, he has never won there in 11 starts as a professional.

Feb 1992: Earl Woods watches his son Tiger Woods during the Nissan Open at the Riviera Country Club in Pacific Palisades, CA. (Photo by Robert Beck/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

With his record worldwide, you'd think that must slightly bug him.

"I’ve had several chances to win at Riviera, but just haven’t gotten it done. Obviously, it would mean a lot to me, even more now as tournament host," he said.

How do you think he will get on this week? Let us know your predictions on our social channels.

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Elliott Heath
News Editor

Elliott Heath is our News Editor and has been with Golf Monthly since early 2016 after graduating with a degree in Sports Journalism. He manages the Golf Monthly news team as well as our large Facebook, Twitter and Instagram pages. He covered the 2022 Masters from Augusta National as well as five Open Championships on-site including the 150th at St Andrews. His first Open was in 2017 at Royal Birkdale, when he walked inside the ropes with Jordan Spieth during the Texan's memorable Claret Jug triumph. He has played 35 of our Top 100 golf courses, with his favourites being both Sunningdales, Woodhall Spa, Western Gailes, Old Head and Turnberry. He has been obsessed with the sport since the age of 8 and currently plays off of a six handicap. His golfing highlights are making albatross on the 9th hole on the Hotchkin Course at Woodhall Spa, shooting an under-par round, playing in the Aramco Team Series on the Ladies European Tour and making his one and only hole-in-one at the age of 15 - a long time ago now!

Elliott is currently playing:

Driver: Titleist TSR4

3 wood: Titleist TSi2

Hybrids: Titleist 816 H1

Irons: Mizuno MP5 5-PW

Wedges: Cleveland RTX ZipCore 50, 54, 58

Putter: Odyssey White Hot OG #5

Ball: Srixon Z Star XV