Woods Skips LA (Again) To Spend More Time With His Appearance Fee

Jill Painter reports on next week's Northern Trust Open--the seventh major to this website--and the fifth straight year of no-Tiger Woods in his former hometown event. (Returning to his hometown for Tiger has been redefined as southwestern Ventura County, aka Westlake Village, only two hours from where he grew up!)

"You always hold out a little hope," said Mike Bone, the tournament's general manager.

Woods shot a 66 at the Dubai Desert Classic on Friday. He has not normally played Dubai and then Los Angeles.

Woods hasn't won at Riviera in 11 attempts, the most times he's played an event without winning. Two of those were amateur appearances in 1992 and 1993, when he missed the cut.

Woods was 16 when he received his first sponsor's exemption to play in the event at Riviera.

Northern Trust Open tournament director Jerry West has known Woods since Woods was 16 and they had two conversations while Woods was hosting the Chevron World Challenge at Sherwood Country Club in December.

Phil Mickelson, Rickie Fowler, defending champion Steve Stricker, Jhonattan Vegas, Mark Wilson and Fred Couples will play at Riviera.