2010 AT&T Pebble Beach National Pro-Am
Event:
AT&T Pebble Beach National Pro-Am
Location:
Pebble Beach, California
Date:
February 11 – 14, 2010
Golf Courses:
Pebble Beach Golf Links
Spyglass Hill Golf Club
Monterey County Club
Purse:
$6,200,000.00
2009 Winner:
Dustin Johnson
PGA TOUR AT&T Pebble Beach National Pro-Am:
Lots of buzz is going around this year for the AT&T Pebble Beach National Pro-Am. Why? Mainly due to the fact Pebble Beach is hosting this year’s U.S. Open. With the result of such, all the top players on the PGA TOUR throughout the world are playing in this week’s event. Usually, this event does not get all the top players since it is known to have long and slow rounds, 5+ hours at most times. Having such long rounds is usually a pet-peeve for the top players in the game, but this year they are willing to accept it since this venue is hosting one of the four majors this coming year.
Why the long rounds? Well, mainly because this is more of a celebrity pro-am and not your usual PGA TOUR event. Yes, many top celebrities play in this event which is great for the spectator fans and from a promotional piece, but several of them are not great golfers. While most PGA TOUR professionals are +4 to +8 handicaps, several of the celebrities range from a 9 to 23 handicap. Hence, the long rounds. Most PGA TOUR players turn their heads when some of these celebrity amateurs swing the club, it can get pretty ugly out there at times.
But, for this year the best in the game are willing to put up with the slow pace to get some rounds in for preparation of this year’s U.S. Open. Although most of the top players on the PGA TOUR take this event off their schedule, I know they still enjoy playing Pebble Beach. Pebble Beach is one of the top golf courses in the world, and probably the most recognized. Pebble Beach sits on the Monterey Peninsula which over looks the Pacific Ocean. The oceanfront views are breath taking and it’s a special place in all golfers’ hearts, including the best in the world.
There is only one piece missing in this week’s tournament. Yes, you guessed it, Tiger Woods. Tiger is still missing in action, but is hopefully expected to return soon! The PGA TOUR needs Tiger, and Tiger needs the PGA TOUR.