ATandT Pebble Beach Pro Am

Updated on Dec 08, 2024

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Established 1937, 80 years ago

Location Pebble Beach, California Course(s) Pebble Beach Golf LinksSpyglass Hill Golf CourseMonterey Peninsula CC Par 72 (PB), 72 (SH), 71 (MP) Length 6,816 yd (6,233 m) (PB)6,953 yd (6,358 m) (SH)6,958 yd (6,362 m) (MP) Organized by Monterey Peninsula Foundation

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 typically held during the month of February on three different courses, currently Pebble Beach Golf Links, Spyglass Hill Golf Course, and Monterey Peninsula Country Club.

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

History

Founded 80 years ago in 1937, entertainer Bing Crosby hosted the first National Pro-Am Golf Championship in southern California at Rancho Santa Fe Golf Club in San Diego County, the event's location prior to World War II. Sam Snead won the first tournament, then just 18 holes, with a winner's share of $500. A second round was added in 1938 and was played through 1942. After the war, it resumed in 1947 as a 54-hole event, up the coast on golf courses near Monterey, 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 until 1966. The tournament became a 72-hole event in 1958.

In 1967, Spyglass Hill replaced Monterey Peninsula CC as the third course (with the exception of 1977, when it returned to MPCC). In 1991, the private Cypress Point Club was dropped by the PGA Tour because it would not admit an African-American member, and was replaced as a tournament venue by Poppy Hills, which hosted through 2009. Poppy Hills was not well received by the players, primarily due to poor drainage, and Monterey Peninsula CC 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, Ray Romano, Clay Walker, and Carson Daly. Past celebrities included many Hollywood legends, some of whom were actually fairly good golfers. Jim Backus, who starred in many movies and television shows, actually made the 36-hole cut in 1964.

The tournament continues to be a success every year despite the rainfall that typically slows down play, especially in 1996, 1998 and 1999 (see Format section below).

There is an equivalent celebrity pro-am event on the European Tour, called the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship.

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.

Pro-Am playing format

The starting field consists of 156 professionals and 156 amateurs. One professional is paired with one amateur. Each day, 52 2-man teams will play on one of the three courses. Then on the final day, those professionals and pro-amateur teams making the 54-hole cut will play on the Pebble Beach Golf Links.

Individual 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. They are also credited as MDF (Made the cut, did not finish).

Pro-Amateur 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 handle pairing of professionals with amateurs, while the PGA Tour's weekly tournament officials handle the assignment of tee times.

Professional field

The professional field consists of 156 players selected using the standard eligibility rankings except that the following shall first be eligible:

AT&T Pebble Beach winners prior to 2000 and in the last five seasons
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 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, and 2009

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).

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.