Feb. 18, 2009 -- PGA.com: Todd, you've said before that "Golf is the star" at Riviera, what did you mean by that?

Yoshitake: There are many high profile "stars" from all industries; entertainment, business, politics, medicine, sports, etc. that show up to the first tee on a daily basis and at the Northern Trust Open. They are all attracted by one thing: the golf course. The timeless design and the championships that have been contested on it over the years create an aura that is the star here. Players get a chance to walk the same fairways, virtually unchanged, as Hogan, Snead, Nelson, Palmer, Nicklaus, and Woods, all of the game's greats.

The opening hole at Riviera Country Club is one of the great starting holes on the PGA Tour. (Photo: Getty Images)

The course really hasn't changed all that much since George C. Thomas designed it in the 1920s, so when you play golf here, you really are walking back in time to a great extent. If you come out here, and you're out on the course, with the canyon walls and trees, you're just out there with golf and history around you. No cars, no noise, no office buildings in sight. It's like being on a stage of sorts.

PGA.com: Riviera has always drawn very tough and, more specifically, very international fields, for its tournaments. What brings so many of the biggest names from across the world to gather at your golf course?

Yoshitake: I think it's a few things. Players want to play great courses. It's a course that rewards great shots as great shots and punishes poor shots as poor shots. The players really appreciate that aspect of the course. And of course, the players love the history here. Yes, they want to win, they want to earn money, but they also want to cement their place in golf history. If you win here, you are going to be mentioned with some of the all-time greats. That's a strong incentive right there.

PGA.com: Can you tell us something about Riviera that we didn't know?

Yoshitake: Well, obviously you could write books about our history. The nickname "Hogan's Alley" came from his great wins in the 1947 and 1948 LA Opens and the 1948 US Open?three victories in 18 months. Hogan chose this course and this event to stage his comeback in 1950 from his near fatal accident. Babe Didrikson Zaharias played the LA Open here (men's PGA tour event) and made the cut in 1945! We've also been the setting for some great films. It's probably not too surprising with our proximity to Hollywood, but a number of films including "Follow the Sun" the Ben Hogan life story, "Pat and Mike," which starred Katherine Hepburn and Spencer Tracy, and "The Caddy," which had Dean Martin and Jerry Lewis and also had a brief appearance by -- Ben Hogan.

PGA.com: Staying on the subject of international players, are you sensing any additional buzz with the debut of Ryo Ishikawa, who has the potential to be one of golf's next big stars?

Yoshitake: I have had a chance to watch him over the last few days. He is as good as advertised. He's a young man, just 17, but he has tremendous poise and seemingly endless potential. I am excited to see him play, as I'm sure the fans of the Tour are, too.

PGA.com: How is the course looking in preparation for this week's event?

Yoshitake: We have had some steady rain here the last few days but the weather is clear now and the forecast says it will stay clear throughout the remainder of the week. And the course is in great shape, it looks fantastic. The greens, the fairways, everything is tremendous. It will be a great week.

PGA.com: If you were here to watch the tournament as a fan, where would you set up to watch golf or would you wander around?

Yoshitake: Probably a little bit of both. I'd want to see the course so I'd definitely walk around and take in the great views, but my favorite place to sit and watch golf is behind the 10th green. Last year I saw one player drive the green on the par four and then putt his eagle attempt into a bunker. There's a lot of action to take in there. Also, you get a great view of players teeing off on the 11th hole and you can see the approach shots coming in on no. 13. Now if you want just great scenery, I'd have to say that the 12th hole is the most scenic on the course. And there is the famous Bogey's Tree, named not because of bad scores if you get too close to it, but that's where Humphrey Bogart would sit and watch golf.

PGA.com: Do you ever take time to walk outside, look around and think "Hey, I'm the Director of Golf at Riviera Country Club!" and what that means in terms of your career legacy?

Yoshitake: I'm very blessed and thankful for the job I am allowed to do here. I enjoy the members, the guests and other people I get to meet and work with on a daily basis. Our staff feels like we have a calling here to produce a service as great as this venue deserves. Like I said earlier, at Riviera, golf is always the star.