OB Sports Golf & Leisure

OB SPORTS GOLF & LEISURE x WINTER 2014 x obsports.com perspective, it's making sure we're as successful as possible so we can grow our charity giving. It's also to the make this event as significant as possible in this market. There are lots of things happening in Southern California, so you have to stand out. What are your goals for this year's tournament? It's really important for us that we have meaningful experiences that appeal to everyone, more venues, more activities, like the concert follow- ing Saturday's round and a special mil- lennial area focused on fashion and local restaurants. Any player on your wish list you'd like to see at this year's tourna- ment? Well, you always want the best players in the world, so it'd be great to see Rory McIlroy. And Tiger Woods is always a plus. But we always get a really strong field. Of the top 50 players in the world last year, 32 played here. What's it like following in the foot- steps of Jerry West? You don't follow in the footsteps of Jerry West. No one could do that. But I think I've been very fortunate in meeting him and hearing him tell me about the job. I was im- pressed with how involved he was here and how much it means to the community. He also said his door was open if we ever needed anything from him that he could offer. What do you like about playing Riviera Country Club? It's one of the top 10 courses I've ever played, and I've been lucky to play some great ones, like Augusta and Shinnecock Hills. But Riviera was one of our home courses at UCLA and it's so interesting day in and day out because of its sub- tleties and the strategy required. What was the highlight – or high- lights – of your career as a college golf coach? Oh boy, all three coach- ing jobs were so different. One high- light was getting started at age 27 at the University of Washington. It was a com- plete rebuild from the ground up and I had a really clean canvas there to paint. What was your philosophy as golf coach that helped lead to your suc- cess? First of all, I would never ask my players to work harder than myself. Second, there isn't one way to approach the game of golf, it's different for each player. And coaching is as much art as it is science, so tailoring your communica- tion style to each student-athlete is so important. The balance is to stick to the baseline values of a team that is going to exist year in and year out and to get the most from each individual player. Is there anything you learned as fi CLICK HERE FOR NORTHERN TRUST OPEN FACTS SHORT SHOTS ›› BIGGEST CHALLENGE IN RUNNING A PGA TOUR EVENT: Providing a consistent experience across the board for every- one, whether it's our vol- unteers, a hospitality client or someone attending their first PGA Tour event. ›› ONE THING ABOUT YOUR JOB MOST PEO- PLE DON'T KNOW: Our full-time staff of eight works year-round out of a temporary trailer in the Riviera parking lot. ›› DREAM FOURSOME: My father, Ben Hogan, Bobby Jones and myself. ›› FAVORITE NORTHERN TRUST CHAMPION: John Merrick from two years ago, since I coached him at UCLA and it was the first and only time that a former player I coached had won on the PGA Tour. – O.D. VINCENT Vincent coached at UCLA. PHOTO COURTESY UCLA ATHLETICS

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