AT&T_Pebble_Beach_National_Pro-Am

AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am

AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am

Golf tournament in Pebble Beach, California, United States


The AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am is a professional golf tournament on the PGA Tour, held annually at Pebble Beach, California, near Carmel. The tournament is usually held during the month of February on two different courses, currently Pebble Beach Golf Links, Spyglass Hill Golf Course and previously, Monterey Peninsula Country Club.

Quick Facts Tournament information, Location ...

The event was originally known as the Bing Crosby National Pro-Amateur, or just the Crosby Clambake. After Crosby's death in 1977,[1] the tournament was hosted by his family for eight years.[2] The Crosby name was dropped after the 1985 event,[3][4] and AT&T Corporation became the title sponsor in 1986.[5] It is organized by the Monterey Peninsula Foundation.[6]

History

Founded in 1937, the first National Pro-Am Golf Championship was hosted by entertainer Bing Crosby and Larry Crosby in southern California at Rancho Santa Fe Golf Club in San Diego County, the event's location prior to World War II.[4] Sam Snead won the first tournament, then just 18 holes, with a winner's share of $500.[7] A second round was added in 1938 and was played through 1942.[7][8][9]

After the war, it resumed in 1947 as a 54-hole event, up the coast on golf courses near Monterey,[10][11] where it has been played ever since. Beginning that year, it was played at Pebble Beach Golf Links, Cypress Point Club, and Monterey Peninsula Country Club through 1966. The tournament became a 72-hole event in 1958.[12][13]

In 1967,[14][15][16] the new Spyglass Hill replaced Monterey Peninsula CC as the third course (with the exception of 1977, when it returned to MPCC). After 1990, private Cypress Point was dropped by the PGA Tour because it would not admit an African-American member,[17] and was replaced by Poppy Hills in 1991,[18][19] which hosted through 2009. Poppy Hills was not well received by the players,[18][19] primarily due to poor drainage, and MPCC returned to the rotation in 2010.

Notable professionals in recent years have included Tiger Woods, Phil Mickelson, Mark O'Meara, Davis Love III, Jordan Spieth, and Vijay Singh. Notable celebrities have included fan favorite Bill Murray, Glenn Frey, Kevin Costner, Steve Young, George Lopez, Tom Brady, Bill Belichick, Kenny G, Justin Timberlake, Ray Romano, Clay Walker, and Carson Daly. Past celebrities included many Hollywood legends, some of whom were accomplished amateur golfers. Jim Backus, best known as the voice of Mr. Magoo and as Thurston Howell III on Gilligan's Island, made the 36-hole pro-am cut in 1964.

Gene Littler holds a unique record in this event. When he won the 1975 event, it marked the only time that a player had won this particular event as a professional after having previously been the amateur on the winning pro-am team which Littler did as a 23-year-old amateur in 1954.[20]

Current playing format

Singer Justin Timberlake at the 2006 AT&T Pebble Beach National Pro-Am.

The starting field consists of 80 professionals and 80 amateurs. Each professional is paired with an amateur partner. On the first two days, 80 two-person teams will play a Better ball format with one round on Pebble Beach and the other round at Spyglass Hill. The pros also play an individual stroke play format. On the last two days, only the pros will advance to the third and final rounds held at Pebble Beach.[21] In addition, there will be less celebrities in the pro-am field as well. [22]

Prior playing format

Previously, the starting field consisted of 156 professionals and 156 amateurs. Each professional is paired with an amateur player. On the first three days, 156 two-man teams will play a better ball format with one round on each of the three courses. The pros also play an individual stroke play format. On the final day, those professionals and pro-am teams making the 54-hole cut will play on the Pebble Beach Golf Links.

  • Individual pro cut: At 54 holes, the low 60 scorers plus any ties. Players between 61st and 70th (and ties) will receive both official money and FedEx Cup points, as the cut for this tournament ensures the field is smaller than a standard tournament cut of 70 to accommodate the pro-am teams playing on the last day. They are indicated as MDF (made cut, did not finish); this designation is used in other PGA Tour events when more than 78 players make the cut and the field is reduced to 70 and ties after the third round.
  • Pro-Am cut: At 54 holes, the low 25 teams, plus any ties.

Only professionals may compete in the individual competition part of the tournament. Amateurs are restricted to playing only in the pro-amateur team competition. The local Pebble Beach tournament officials organize the pairing of professionals with amateurs, while the PGA Tour manages the assignment of the pros' tee times.

Professional field

The professional field consists of 80 players selected using the standard eligibility rankings except that the following shall first be eligible:[23][24]

  1. AT&T Pebble Beach winners prior to 2000 and in the last five seasons
  2. The Players Championship and major championship winners prior to 2000 and in the last five years

There is no open qualifying for this tournament.

Format

Conducted as a planned 72-hole pro-am event, 1958–present. Exceptions are as follows:

  • 18 holes: 1937
  • 36 holes (planned): 1938 to 1942
  • 36 holes, due to bad weather: 1952
  • 54 holes (planned): 1947 to 1951, 1953 to 1957
  • 54 holes, due to bad weather: 1974, 1981, 1986, 1998, 1999, 2009 and 2024
    • In 1996, the first 36 holes were played as scheduled on Thursday and Friday. Rain on Saturday and Sunday prevented the completion of the tournament and it was canceled (54 holes required to be official due to three course setup).[25][26]
    • In 1998, weather conditions prevented the tournament from being finished on schedule (9 holes were played Thursday, 9 on Friday, 18 on Saturday, rain Sunday and Monday). The third round was delayed until August to prevent cancellation similar to 1996. 43 of 168 players withdrew rather than return for the final round.
  • No pro-am: 2021
    • In 2021, the pro-am section of the tournament was canceled due to safety concerns in relation to the COVID-19 pandemic; as a result Monterey Peninsula was also removed from the course rotation.[27]
    • In 2023, the pro-am competition was shortened to 54 holes due to high winds on Saturday, February 4; professionals only competed in the final round on Monday, February 5.

Criticism

Despite being one of the most iconic events on the PGA Tour, many top players tend to skip the event, citing long rounds, celebrity distractions, sketchy weather and the bumpy poa annua greens. In addition, the schedule also made it difficult for players to compete in the event as it was usually the same week as the Saudi International, which also featured a strong field (mainly catered for by large appearance fees). The few top players who did compete regularly at Pebble Beach such as Jordan Spieth, were contractually obligated to compete there due to sponsorship reasons.[28]

Tournament hosts

More information Venue, Years ...

Winners

More information Year, Winner ...

Source:[82]

Multiple winners

Thirteen players have won this tournament more than once through 2022.

In addition, Nicklaus won the U.S. Open at Pebble Beach in 1972, Watson in 1982.

Two others have won an AT&T and a U.S. Open at Pebble Beach; Tom Kite (1983 & 1992), and Tiger Woods (2000 & 2000).

Notes

  1. Shortened to 54 holes due to weather.
  2. Shortened to 36 holes due to weather.
  3. Four-way tie in 1950, no playoff, each won $1237.50
  4. Tie in 1947, no playoff, each won $1625
  5. Won by amateur in 1942, top two professionals each took $700
  6. Shortened to 18 holes due to weather.

References

  1. "Bing leaves 'clambake' to sports world". Eugene Register-Guard. (Oregon). Associated Press. October 15, 1977. p. 2D.
  2. "Crosby tourney will continue". Gettysburg Times. (Pennsylvania). Associated Press. October 17, 1977. p. 12.
  3. "Crosby family ends ties to familiar golf tourney". Lawrence Journal-World. (Kansas). Associated Press. April 23, 1985. p. 11.
  4. "Exploitation blamed for Crosby cancellation". Times Daily. (Florence, Alabama). Associated Press. April 24, 1985. p. 6D.
  5. "Pebble Beach key: weather, draw". Ocala Star-Banner. (Florida). Associated Press. January 30, 1986. p. 4B.
  6. "Golfers ready for opening of Crosby's meet". Sarasota Herald-Tribune. (Florida). Associated Press. January 24, 1941. p. 9.
  7. "Sam Snead repeats to win Crosby tournament". Lawrence Daily Journal-World. (Kansas). Associated Press. January 17, 1938. p. 8.
  8. "To Crosby fiesta". Lawrence Daily Journal-World. (Kansas). Associated Press. January 29, 1942. p. 8.
  9. "Fazio protects 'Bing' golf lead". Spokesman-Review. (Spokane, Washington). Associated Press. January 13, 1947. p. 7.
  10. "Fazio and Furgol split top Crosby golf prize". Milwaukee Sentinel. Associated Press. January 13, 1947. p. 5, part 2.
  11. "Toughest golf hole stymies great in Crosby's Open play". Spokane Daily Chronicle. (Washington). Associated Press. January 10, 1958. p. 12.
  12. "Casper is winner of Crosby event". Spokane Daily Chronicle. (Washington). Associated Press. January 13, 1958. p. 18.
  13. "Pebble Beach: new course". Eugene Register-Guard. (Oregon). AP, UPI reports. June 23, 1966. p. 1D.
  14. "Jack breaks Spyglass par". Eugene Register-Guard. (Oregon). Associated Press. January 19, 1967. p. 2D.
  15. Stevenson, Jack (January 20, 1967). "Pros humble Spyglass links". Eugene Register-Guard. (Oregon). Associated Press. p. 2B.
  16. Diaz, Jamie (September 18, 1990). "Cypress Point Drops PGA Tour Event Instead of Changing Its Rules". The News York Times.
  17. "Poppy Hills perplexes pros". Eugene Register-Guard. (Oregon). Associated Press. February 1, 1991. p. 2B.
  18. Garrity, John (February 11, 1991). "The winner was a Zinger". Sports Illustrated. p. 50.
  19. Shain, Jeff (February 1, 2013). "AT&T Pebble Beach – First Look". PGA Tour. Retrieved February 2, 2013.
  20. "2015–16 PGA Tour Player Handbook & Tournament Regulations" (PDF). October 5, 2015. Archived from the original (PDF) on April 12, 2016.
  21. "Pebble Beach a washout". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Associated Press. February 5, 1996. p. D6.
  22. "Wet rounds force the cancellation of Pebble Beach tournament". Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. Associated Press. February 5, 1996. p. 10C.
  23. Beall, Joel (January 14, 2021). "AT&T Pebble Beach cancels traditional pro-am format due to COVID-19". Golf Digest. Retrieved January 14, 2021.
  24. "Massengale Nips Palmer For Crosby Golf Title". The Gazette. Montreal, Quebec, Canada. Associated Press. January 24, 1966. p. 36. Retrieved February 11, 2010.
  25. "Crosby Golf Show Opens; Demaret Aces". Eugene Register-Guard. Eugene, Oregon. Associated Press. January 18, 1961. p. 3D. Retrieved February 11, 2010.
  26. "Art Wall In Crosby Golf Lead". Schenectady Gazette. Schenectady, New York. Associated Press. January 17, 1959. p. 21. Retrieved February 11, 2010.
  27. "Bill Maxwell Holds Two-Stroke Margin". Ottawa Citizen. Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. January 12, 1957. p. 15. Retrieved February 11, 2010.
  28. "Cary Middlecoff Shatters Bing Crosby Golfing Mark". Ottawa Citizen. Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. Associated Press. January 16, 1956. p. 12. Retrieved February 11, 2010.
  29. "Barber, Leonard Share Golf Lead". The Day. New London, Connecticut. Associated Press. January 15, 1955. p. 11. Retrieved February 11, 2010.
  30. "Crosby Lead To Mangrum". The Milwaukee Sentinel. Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Associated Press. January 11, 1953. p. B1. Retrieved February 11, 2010.
  31. "Demaret Wins Crosby Golf". The Day. New London, Connecticut. Associated Press. January 14, 1952. p. 12. Retrieved February 11, 2010.
  32. "John Dawson. amateur, wins Crosby golf". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Associated Press. February 2, 1942. p. 14.
  33. Wagoner, Ronald (February 2, 1942). "Dawson's Record 133 Wins Crosby Golf, But No Cash!". Pittsburgh Press. United Press. p. 20.
  34. "Oliver Sets Record For Crosby Golf". Reading Eagle. Reading, Pennsylvania. Associated Press. January 29, 1940. p. 14. Retrieved February 11, 2010.
  35. "Sam Snead Wins His Second Bing Crosby Tourney". The Modesto Bee. Modesto, California. United Press. January 17, 1938. p. 8.
  36. "Parks Sixth In Tourney". The Pittsburgh Press. Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. February 8, 1937. p. 27. Retrieved February 10, 2010.
  37. AT&T Pebble Beach National Pro-Am - Winners Archived February 16, 2009, at the Wayback Machine - at golfobserver.com (since 1970)

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