The AT&T Pebble Beach National Pro-Am tees off this weekend, as the world’s best golfers compete for a $6.1 million total purse and a
$1.08 million winner’s share, while some of the country’s top celebrity duffers and scratch golf amateurs try to hold their own on the links. For the first three rounds this week, PGA pros are paired with amateur celebrities on three different courses — the 6,816-yard, Par-72 Pebble Beach Golf Links the 6,833-yard, Par-72 Poppy Hills Golf Course and the 6,858-yard, Par-72 Spyglass Hill Golf Course. After three rounds, the top 60 pros, along with the top 25 pro-am teams, will make the cut to play on Sunday at historic Pebble Beach GC. The idea for the AT&T Pebble Beach National Pro-Am was Bing Crosby’s brainchild back in 1937, when Sam Snead won at Racho Santa Fe, near Del Mar in the San Diego area. When “Slammin’ Sammy” was presented with a $500 winner’s check in front of a small gathering of Crosby’s friends, the legendary golfer famously told the host — “If you don’t mind, Mr. Crosby, I’d rather have cash.” Today, the winner’s share is $1.08 million and the site has changed. But the spirit of Crosby lives on. A star-studded field of actors, musicians, comedians and athletes from all sports are paired up with the top pros in the world for a few rounds of golf that entertain fans and raise money for charity. This year’s celebrity field includes regulars like comedy icon Bill Murray (who starred in the golf classic Caddyshack), pop star Justin Timberlake (who hosts the PGA Tour’s event in Las Vegas) and late night talk show host Carson Daly (who played junior golf with none other than Tiger Woods). Laser-rocket-armed NFL quarterback Peyton Manning and mall cop comedian Kevin James are also among a group of amateurs enjoying the festivities in southern California. “Going long on the first play of the game,” joked Manning, on the tee box during a practice round on Wednesday. The amateurs will be joined by a list of professionals including two-time reigning British Open Championship and PGA Championship winner Padraig Harrington, Vijay Singh, Retief Goosen, Kenny Perry, K.J. Choi, Fred Couples, Davis Love III, Mike Weir and last week’s Buick Invitational at Torrey Pines winner Nick Watney.
But the crowd favorite — as is the case at many of the West Coast Swing stops — could be Phil Mickelson, who is a three-time winner at Pebble Beach (2007, ’05 and ’98). Lefty, however, has struggled to start the season, missing the cut at the FBR Open two weeks ago and struggling at the Buick Invitational last week.