The Monterey Tour: Full AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am Preview

Ahhhh the Monterey Peninsula. Perhaps the greatest piece of golf real estate on the planet. You could probably debate forever which is better — Monterey, Long Island, or the Scottish Coast — but we can all agree on one thing. It’s awesome. There is so much good golf here it’s almost incomprehensible. This week we’ve got Pebble Beach, Spyglass Hill, and Monterey Peninsula CC’s Shore Course. But in the area there’s also Cypress Point (the no. 3 course in America on Digest’s latest top-100), Spanish Bay, Poppy Hills, Bayonet, and more. I’ve played Pebble, Spy, and Spanish because I have the coolest job in the world and am nice to people and say yes to things.

I’m adding both Monterey CC tracks to the list next month.

The Tourney

This is by far the most prominent pro-am in the game of golf. From Tony Romo to Bill Murray to Wayne Gretzky to Toby Keith to Justin Verlander, dozens of celebrities flock to spice up the field at Pebble each year.

This year’s roster.

Aaron Rodgers – Quarterback, Green Bay Packers
Adrian Young – Musician
Alex Smith – Quarterback, Kansas City Chiefs
Alfonso Ribeiro – Actor
Bill Murray – Actor, comedian
Bret Baier – News anchor
Carson Daly – TV show host
Charles Kelley – Musician
Chris Harrison – TV show host
Chris O’Donnell – Actor
Clay Walker – Musician
Colt Ford – Musician
Darius Rucker – Musician
Jake Owen – Musician
Joe Don Rooney – Musician
Josh Duhamel – Actor
Justin Verlander – Pitcher, Houston Astros
Kelly Rohrbach – Actress, model
Larry Fitzgerald – Wide receiver, Arizona Cardinals
Larry the Cable Guy – Comedian
Pat Monahan – Musician
Ray Romano – Actor, comedian
Steve Young – Former NFL quarterback
Thomas Keller – Chef
Toby Keith – Musician
Tony Romo – Former NFL quarterback, CBS Personality
Wayne Gretzky – Former pro hockey player

Ever since 1937, the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am has stood as a staple of the Tour’s west coast swing. First won in San Diego by Sam Snead for a cool 500 bucks, the event’s carried some pedigree from the very beginning. It then moved up to Monterey after World War II, becoming a three-course tourney played at Pebble Beach Golf Links, Cypress Point Club, and Monterey Peninsula Country Club. After a bunch of different subs, rotations, flipping and flopping, we’ve now settled at Pebble, Spyglass, and Monterey Peninsula CC.

Tiger won here in dramatic fashion in 2000, just four months before winning the US Open by 15 shots at the same location.

The Tracks

Pebble

Pebble Beach is Pebble Beach. If you don’t know it by now you either 1) clicked on the wrong blog, or 2) did not own a video game console and the Tiger Woods game franchise in the 2000s. This course is as well-documented as any.

I played it for the first time in October and HERE IS A FULL, IN-DEPTH REVIEW.

You should be able to break 55 in the video game, 50 if you’re hot.

Spyglass

At just under 7,000 yards with a par 72, Spyglass isn’t particularly long. But it ain’t easy. The 75.5 rating and 144 slope speak nicely to that.

It’s a wildly unique course — the first 5 holes are along the Pacific coast, with the remaining 13 deep in the pines, with more of an Augusta feel than a Monterey one.

I first played here in October as well AND HERE IS A FULL REVIEW.

Monterey Peninsula CC

Monterey Peninsula is a private club with two tracks. In 2010, the Shore course officially became part of the AT&T pro-am. Players love it and tout its “artistic” holes and spectacular views. It’s not a bad place to play golf.

Here’s Zac Blair, who live-tweets every blade of grass he sees, delivering some fantastic looks at this place.

Clubhouse

It’s more of a small town than a “clubhouse” at Pebble, but it does provide for a nerv-ey little first tee scene.

Clubhouse grade = 6.4.

Weather

Pretty good!

The Field

STACKED field this year. We’ve got Jordan Spieth defending, who dropped this cocky ass quote about Ryder Cup putting earlier today.

Ummm, correct.

We’ve got Rory McIlroy making his American debut. Also of note: Dustin Johnson, Jon Rahm, Patrick Reed, Gary Woodland, Patrick Cantlay, Phil Mickelson, Adam Scott.

Oh and Jason Day, who has some very insightful opinions as to what and who is good for golf.

Savage Kevin Kisner is also pegging it. Kiz’s boy Beau (BMFH) will square off in Rough N Rowdy in Morgantown next week, with Kiz and the squad flying up on a jet, so you’ll be seeing more of him soon.

If you’re out on the grounds this week, show Kiz some love. He’s the fucking man.

Predictions

First things first, here are your betting odds for the top part of the field.

Dustin Johnson 11/2
Jon Rahm 10/1
Rory Mcllory 10/1
Jason Day 10/1
Jordan Spieth 11/1
Gary Woodland 25/1
Paul Casey 28/1
Phil Mickelson 28/1
Matt Kuchar 33/1
Pat Perez 33/1
Brandt Snedeker 33/1
Branden Grace 33/1
Patrick Reed 35/1
Patrick Cantlay 35/1
Chesson Hadley 45/1
Adam Scott 50/1
Chez Reavie 50/1
Kevin Chappell 50/1
Kevin Kisner 50/1
Charley Hoffman 66/1

Winning Score

Last year, Spieth nearly set a scoring record at 19-under. 22-under is the lowest anyone’s taken here, posted by Brandt Snedeker in 2015. The weather, as we saw, is supposed to be perfect, so scores again will be low.

Winning score, -18.

Winner

We were originally planning to grab a drink or two with Pat Perez at the Waste Management this past week, but the combination of a pregnant wife (smokeshow) and devoted commitment to his craft took him away from the bleachers and onto the range. I like that. And he finished T14 last year and T4 three years ago. West Coast guy.

At 33/1, PP is a great value, especially because he’s going to win.

Winner, Pat Perez.

Dark Horse

Before the Presidents Cup, Kiz and Kevin Chappell told us they call Charley Hoffman “Seagull” because he’s typically quiet, just flies over and shits on everyone.

Always loved that about Charley. REALLY love it when he’s 66/1.

Dark Horse, Charley Hoffman.

Steven Bowditch Memorial DFL Award

There is a man who missed the cut at the Waste Management with a 9-over par through two days. Who has this list of accomplishments as of late:

CUT
78th
CUT
T75th
CUT
33rd
T73
CUT

That man is DA Points.

DFL, DA Points.

Coverage

Thursday & Friday: Golf Channel 3- 6 PM EST
Saturday: Golf Channel 2-3:30 PM EST; CBS 4 PM on
Sunday: Golf Channel 1-2:45 PM EST; CBS 3 PM on

Final Thoughts

Pebble this week, Tiger at Riviera next week then the boys hit the Florida swing. Florida swing means we’re rounding the corner with Augusta in our sights.

Hell yes. Enjoy Pebble.