Feb. 18, 2007 -- The Los Angeles Open, now the Northern Trust Open, is steeped in history of great champions and great championships. This tradition-rich tournament has always produced outstanding winners and its roster of champions is a virtual golf Hall-of-Fame. And it's no accident. Riviera Country Club was designed to provide a superb test of golf -- and the Los Angeles Open, and even major championships that have been held on the grounds, know that whoever comes out on top on such a demanding layout is a worthy victor indeed.

Phil Mickelson was able to win despite finding himself in tough spots throughout the day. (WireImage.com)

This year's win by Phil Mickelson at the Northern Trust Open, his 33rd PGA Tour victory, was a victory of patience and preparation. And though that might not be what you first think of when you think of Phil, it makes perfect sense when you look at the history of Riviera. When you observe the quality of the players who have won at Rivera, and other classic courses like this, you see a common thread in these players -- they are all shot makers and have patience as a very important trait. Mickelson now joins an amazing group of winners at Rivera that includes Ben Hogan, Tom Watson and Corey Pavin.

You usually think of Phil as being able to overpower a course, but his patience this week was the difference I saw for this victory. With Rivera being a tight golf course with small greens, it's important to note that Phil only made two bogies per round. The design of Riviera means every player is going to miss greens, but Phil and the help of his famous short game really came through. To stay patient in these moments instead of allowing frustration to take hold was critical to the end result.

It takes a total game to win at Riviera. Unlike some Tour venues, distance is not as critical, but shot-making really is. Consider, neither Jack Nicklaus nor Tiger Woods have won at Rivera, but when you see Corey Pavin as a two-time champion, you learn that bombing shots off the tee isn't the key to success.

Phil likely drew patience from his travails the previous two weeks -- with a playoff loss in Phoenix and missing the cut at Pebble Beach after carding an incredible 11 on the 14th hole.

As Lefty was one shot behind with 9-holes to play, it appeared that a steady finish by one of the players would be the script for the eventual champion. Jeff Quinney, the underdog, would bogey 13-14-15 and 17 to fall to a three-stroke deficit but a nice 2nd place finish. Quinney would three-putt two of those holes after going 214 holes without a three-putt green. Quinney had a streak of sinking amazing putts in the middle of the round, but that part of his game would desert him in the heat of battle. Phil was one-under par on the back nine to end up with a two-stroke victory.

Phil has been known for his tireless preparation for golf events, and this week he called his friend Amy Alcott, the former LPGA player, who is a member at Rivera. Phil took the time to listen to Amy about some of the tricky putts he would encounter and this extra preparation was another part of him winning.

Patience came to mind again as I recalled the fact that both Quinney and Mickelson are U.S. Amateur champions, a very long, grueling event where patience is so key in winning.

We've seen Phil Mickelson take many risks in rounds of golf to a point where there was a series of ads by Ford with the tag-line, "What will Phil do next?" By the win at the Northern Trust Open at the famed Rivera Country Club, we may have seen the maturing of Phil Mickelson as he joins an impressive group of champions. What made the need for patience even more important in this event was how badly Phil wanted to win this event. The L.A. Open was one of the first tour events Mickelson played in and the victory has eluded him for years. It was the last of the West Coast swing events that he had not won, so congratulations to Phil.

As you play golf this spring, have the importance of patience be your lesson learned in this case. Not just with your shot selection but I feel that a good golf swing is one of patience and good rhythm and tempo. This can begin with your pre-shot routine and staying nice and calm before you make your swing.

Enjoy your golf and take what the round gives you, don't try to overpower a golf course, it doesn't work well for a player like Phil Mickelson and it will likely not work well for you.

John Abendroth, PGA, is a former PGA Tour player and NCAA All-American from Weber State University in Ogden Utah. He is co-founder and Director of Golf Operations for Celtic Golf Management in Northern California (www.plumaspinesgolf.com). John has been a co-host of Hooked on Golf (KNBR radio San Francisco, Fox Sports Bay Area, and www.hookedongolf.com) since 1994. For more information or to reach John, john@hookedongolf.com or www.hookedongolf.com.