Donald opens defense of US PGA money title

Luke Donald opens his US PGA Tour season at the Northern Trust Open on Thursday hoping he can replicate -- or even improve on -- the form that catapulted him to No. 1 in the world in 2011. The 34-year-old Englishman's remarkable consistency saw him become the first player to top both the US and European tour money lists in the same year. "I'm looking forward to -- hoping to do -- something very similar to last year and even build on it," said Donald, who would still like to add that first major title his resume lacks. "I'm very excited about my game." Donald is among 11 of the world's top 20 gathered for the $6.6 million tournament at Riviera Country Club, a par-71 course nestled in the hills west of downtown Los Angeles and long associated with golf and Hollywood royalty. Nicknamed "Hogan's Alley" after the two Los Angeles Opens and the 1948 US Open won here by Ben Hogan, the course exerts strong appeal to today's pros. "I've played Riviera a lot over the years and it's one of those classic old golf courses that I could never tire of playing," said South African Ernie Els. "Riviera is a real ball striker's golf course." "Always excited to be here at Riviera," Donald agreed. "I think it's one of the great classic courses that we play all year." Donald finished second at Riviera in 2010, his third straight top-10 finish in the event. But he missed the cut here last year as his first US tournament of 2011 gave no hint of the stellar season to come. "Maybe I was just a little bit tournament rusty," said Donald, who jump-started his season the following week with his victory at the World Golf Championships Match Play Championship. Donald will play the first two rounds alongside Australian Adam Scott, ranked eighth in the world, and American Nick Watney. Scott will be teeing it up for the first time in 2012. During his extended break, the longest of his pro career between tournaments, he had his troublesome tonsils removed and reconnected with family and friends. "It has a long time," he said. "But it doesn't feel that long ago that I was playing in Australia to be perfectly honest. "It goes by pretty quick when you're having fun. But I think I needed it. I've played a lot of golf around the world for the last 12 years and to be able to spend three months at home for a change was really, really nice. "Now I'm refreshed and ready to go for this year." Scott has had success at Riviera, but his top finish in 2005's rain-soaked edition doesn't count as an official US PGA Tour victory since the tournament was shortened to 36 holes. Groups for the first two rounds include a marquee trio of Phil Mickelson, Kyle Stanley and Brandt Snedeker -- who all rallied from big final-round deficits to win titles in the past three weeks as third-round leaders collapsed. Mickelson, who won back-to-back titles at Riviera in 2008-09, came from six off the pace at Pebble Beach on Sunday, overtaking overnight leader Charlie Wi and also holding off a battling Tiger Woods. Defending champion Aaron Baddeley of Australia will play the first two rounds with Americans Dustin Johnson and Bubba Watson. "It's always great to be able to come back somewhere where you've won before because you have so many great memories of the shots that you hit the previous year and the putts you made," Baddeley said. "It's definitely exciting to come back and sort of relive those moments."