Fabulous 50s?

Can it happen at Riviera? David Duval shot a 59 four years ago at the Palmer Course when he won the Bob Hope, and there were three 61s in this year’s edition of the Hope, so is there a chance of somebody going really, really low at this week’s Nissan Open?

Like a 58?

“No,” says Byron Nelson, who won the Los Angeles Open at Riviera in 1946 and is as good an expert as anyone. “I don’t say that anything can’t happen in golf, but not on this golf course. There’s too many holes that are difficult. They’ll shoot some good scores though.”

It’s true, Riviera has given up some good scores over the years, but not really anything approaching a 58. Even though he bogeyed the 18th, Ted Tryba still shot a 61 in 1999, and that’s the record.

Three others shot 62 -- Larry Mize in 1985, Fred Couples in 1992 and Kenny Perry in 1995. Couples was the only one who won the tournament.

Lanny Wadkins’ 20-under 264 in 1985 is the low score in the history of the tournament, which has been held every year since 1926 except for 1943, during World War II.

If there’s anything we have learned so far on this low-scoring start to the PGA Tour season, it’s that low scores are possible, given the right conditions.

Expect tucked pins and firm greens to be the standard for the week.

“The greens are not easy there,” Nelson said. “That always has something to do with the scores. They’re hard to read.”

Where to score

No. 1: Start from the beginning, from the elevated tee, some 75 feet above a fairway that’s as big as a polo field .

The 503-yard par-five is the easiest hole on the course, where birdie is the norm and eagle a real possibility.

No. 11: It’s 564 yards and it has eucalyptus trees on the right, but it’s reachable for many of the players.

No. 17: At 576 yards, it’s the longest at Riviera. The two-tiered green slopes back to front, but it’s definitely a place to birdie.

No. 10: It was the fourth-easiest hole in 2002 -- only 315 yards and a par four. You can drive the green if it’s downwind and you hit it like John Daly ... or Tiger Woods.

No. 8: Driver and a wedge and you’re there at this 433-yard par four.

No. 7: It’s 408 yards and mostly friendly.

Swing holes

No. 3: If it’s played into the wind, it’s more difficult, but at 434 yards, birdies are in season.

No. 14: It’s the first par three to make the list, at 176 yards with a wide green. If you get it close, it’s a birdie place.

No. 6: The par three with the bunker in the middle of the green. It’s 199 yards and it’s a birdie opportunity if you land the ball on the correct side of the green.

No. 16: The shortest hole on the course at 166 yards.

No. 18: Riviera’s signature hole can still be had, even though the par-four, 451-yarder played to a 4.096 average last year.

No. 13: At 459 yards, you don’t want to play it into the wind as the fairway doglegs left.

Good luck

No. 15: It was tough enough last year, and now it’s 44 yards longer, at 487 yards.

No. 5: Out of bounds on the right, trees left, sloping fairway, sloping green, yes, it’s trouble.

No. 9: Last year they brought the fairway cross bunkers into play on this 458-yarder.

No. 2: It’s not fair to follow the easiest hole on the course with one of the toughest, but that’s what his one is at 463 yards. The green is only 25 feet wide and it’s surrounded by sand.

No. 4: Ben Hogan called this the greatest par three in the U.S. and it’s 236 yards of problems, especially into the wind.

No. 12: They put two new tees in last year, and this par four can be either 460 yards or 479 yards.

So a 58, or even a 59, is not something anyone should expect.

“Why do I know that?” Nelson said. “Well, nobody has ever shot a 58, so I would have to think it would be hard ... real hard.”