Phil Returns, Dufner Defends: It's The 2017 CareerBuilder Challenge Preview
Happy hump day, folks. You know what Wednesdays mean — Tour stop preview time. This week we’ve got the Careerbuilder Challenge to kick off the West Coast swing. But first I must address something.
Since the US Open at Oakmont I’ve been writing a tourney preview for every legit Tour/golf event. Last week I did not. There are several reasons for this. 1) The office was a fucking zoo and I had little time, especially Wednesday; 2) Trent and I are workshopping some things to revolutionize Barstool’s golf coverage going forward, and much of what we are working on required our attention on Wednesday; 3) These previews take significantly longer to write than basically any of my other blogs and they get noticeably less clicks. I don’t do them for traffic – I do them because I’m obsessed with golf, genuinely enjoy writing about it, and know golf Stoolies enjoy these. The preview simply got out-prioritized last week.
That’s on me. I apologize. It won’t happen again. Let’s move on.
The Tourney
The Careerbuilder, like I mentioned above, kicks off the West Coast swing. After this we’ve got Torrey, the Waste Management in Scottsdale, then Pebble and Riviera.
We’re west coasting it but more importantly we’re back to the scene of Dufdaddy’s rock shot.
Kinda makes it move.
History
After that heroism, Dufner went on to beat David Lingmerth on the second playoff hole. It was his first CareerBuilder title, fourth win on Tour, and last win since.
From 1965 through 2011 the tournament was most famously The Bob Hope Classic (or some variation of this name with different sponsors). Its pro-am gained notoriety for its huge celeb draws (Eisenhower was the first POTUS to play in the tourney).
Now the Pebble Beach Pro-Am serves as the Tour’s biggest celebrity draw (still waiting for an invite).
The Track
For the CareerBuilder they do a 3-course rotation, all at PGA West, but the Stadium Course is the main attraction. It’s the one they’ll play on Sunday and the one we really care about.
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The Stadium Course is a 7,300-yard, 76.1 rating/150 slope (!!) Pete Dye design. Completed and introduced to the Tour in 1986, the course was HATED by pros. So much so that they refused to play it in following years, resulting in a course ban that lasted through 2015. Last year was its first out of the sin bin.
Some call this place Pete Dye’s “sequel” to Sawgrass. Let’s check out a few holes.
11th, 617-yard par 5
It’s long. It’s got cool rolling fairways. I enjoy long par-5s and this one’s a straightforward beast. There are no gimmicks. You just rip a couple big shots and hope you find yourself in a good spot for a birdie chance. Bit of an old school 5-par feel.
17th, 168-yard par 3
A sister course to Sawgrass, it’s no surprise PGA West’s Stadium Course’s 17th is an island green. At 168 it’s a little longer, but also elevated. This is where Duf heroically got up and down from the rocks. Phenomenal little hole down the stretch.
18th, 439-yard par 4
Water left. Bunkers right. It’s got those lovely rocks lining the hazard. The 18th is a riveting finishing hole, playing as the course’s fourth toughest last year. Love this hole. Love this finish.
The Field
Phil is back.
Phil Mickelson WILL make his 2017 debut @cbgolfchallenge according to a source, a bit “rusty” but feels good enough to give it a go…(1/2)
— George Savaricas (@GeorgeSavaricas) January 18, 2017
In his first start of the year, after resting for several months following a second sports hernia operation, everybody’s favorite vertical jump connoisseur is back. Phil was listed as a game-time decision for most of the week, but turns out he’s giving it a run.
No JT this week. If you were thinking “omg JT here we go again bay-bee,” too bad. He’ll be back at Phoenix.
Everybody’s favorite American hardo (hero) Patrick Reed IS teeing it up. Somebody asked him if he was happy red-hot Justin Thomas isn’t playing, to which he responded very Patrick Reed-ey:
“I wish he was (here). I’m not going to shy away from someone who is playing their best at the moment,” Reed told reporters. “That’s not who I am. I want to go up against the best players at the best time.”
That’s our American badass.
Predictions
Winning Score
Dufner and Lingmerth got into a playoff at 25-under last year. They were four ahead of the rest of the field, and this course was literally banned for decades because of its difficult, so I have to think they’re not going to go as low this year. We’ve seen back-to-back weeks of guys shredding tracks, so hopefully PGA West decides to defend itself.
19-under wins it. Heard it here first.
Winner
There’s one guy and one guy only that’s been on my radar for winning this week. No it’s not Trent writing this blog, yes it’s Zach Johnson who I think’s gonna win. Yes he missed the cut here last year but I don’t give a shit.
Zach finished T6 last week and I have a hunch. ZJ wins in La Quinta.
The Steven Bowditch Memorial DFL Award
Phil ain’t the only guy returning this week. Our boy, our hero, Mr. Reliable… Steven Bowditch is back!
Yes it’s as obvious as it seems — The Steven Bowditch Memorial DFL Award will go to Steven Bowditch this week.
Headlines
Rory!
Rory’s been firing at Brandel Chamblee today. Brandel basically said anyone hitting up on the ball with the driver is an idiot, and that all the longest, straightest legends hit down on the ball.
So Rory hit him with a solid “it’s 2017 bro.”
And a great “I’m the best so I know more than you.”
Pretty sure hitting up with your driver works @chambleebrandel pic.twitter.com/OLU3ZO815C — Rory McIlroy (@McIlroyRory) January 18, 2017
Love, love, love feisty Rory.
Tiger
Returns next week! Buy a shirt! (CLICK TO BUY)
Final Thoughts
The CareerBuilder isn’t the flagship event of the Tour. You shouldn’t be going nuts over this weekend. If there’s some drama come Sunday and maybe a big name like Phil or Duf is in the mix, great. Tune on in and go nuts. Or if you just want to vicariously live through some bros hanging in Cali duking it out for millions, go for it.
But I’m not gonna sit here and church this thing up. It’s the CareerBuilder Challenge. It is what it is.