{{Infobox golf tournament }} 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 usually held during the month of February on two different courses, currently Pebble Beach Golf Links, Spyglass Hill Golf Course and previously, 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,[1] the tournament was hosted by his family for eight years.[2] The Crosby name was dropped after the 1985 event,[3][4] and AT&T Corporation became the title sponsor in 1986.[5] It is organized by the Monterey Peninsula Foundation.[6]
- name = AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am
- image = AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am logo.png
- image_size = 220
- location = Pebble Beach, California
- establishment = 1937
- course = {{nowrap|Pebble Beach Golf Links Spyglass Hill Golf Course}}
- par = 72 (PB) 72 (SH)
- yardage = {{convert|6816|yd|m}} (PB) {{convert|7035|yd|m}} (SH)
- tour = PGA Tour
- org = Monterey Peninsula Foundation
- format = Stroke play
- purse = $20,000,000
- month_played = February
- aggregate = 265 Brandt Snedeker (2015)
- to-par = −22 Brandt Snedeker (2015) −22 Collin Morikawa (2026}
History
Founded in 1937, the first National Pro-Am Golf Championship was hosted by entertainer Bing Crosby and Larry Crosby in southern California at Rancho Santa Fe Golf Club in San Diego County, the event's location prior to World War II.[4] Sam Snead won the first tournament, then just 18 holes, with a winner's share of $500.[7] A second round was added in 1938 and was played through 1942.[7][8][9]
After the war, it resumed in 1947 as a 54-hole event, up the coast on golf courses near Monterey,[10]
Current playing format
The starting field consists of 80 professionals and 80 amateurs. Each professional is paired with an amateur partner. On the first two days, 80 two-person teams will play a Better ball format with one round on Pebble Beach and the other round at Spyglass Hill. The pros also play an individual stroke play format. On the last two days, only the pros will advance to the third and final rounds held at Pebble Beach.[21] In addition, there will be fewer celebrities in the pro-am field as well.[22]
Prior playing format
Previously, the starting field consisted of 156 professionals and 156 amateurs. Each professional was paired with an amateur player. On the first three days, 156 two-man teams played a better ball format with one round on each of the three courses. The pros also played an individual stroke play format. On the final day, those professionals and pro-am teams making the 54-hole cut played on the Pebble Beach Golf Links.
Only professionals competed in the individual competition part of the tournament. Amateurs were restricted to playing only in the pro-amateur team competition. The local Pebble Beach tournament officials organized the pairing of professionals with amateurs, while the PGA Tour managed the assignment of the pros' tee times.
- Individual pro cut: At 54 holes, the low 60 scorers plus any ties. Players between 61st and 70th (and ties) received both official money and FedEx Cup points, as the cut for this tournament ensured the field was smaller than a standard tournament cut of 70 to accommodate the pro-am teams playing on the last day. They were indicated as MDF (made cut, did not finish); this designation was used in other PGA Tour events when more than 78 players made the cut and the field was reduced to 70 and ties after the third round.
- Pro-Am cut: At 54 holes, the low 25 teams, plus any ties.
Professional field
The professional field consists of 80 players under the PGA Tour's Signature Events rankings.[23]
- 1) Top 50: The 50 players who qualified for the BMW Championship at the end of last year's PGA Tour season.
- 2) Aon Next 10: Players 51–60 in the final points list of the previous season (includes points from the FedEx Fall from the Procore Championship to The RSM Classic)
- 3) Aon Swing 5: The top five players who scored the most FedEx Cup points in the Sony Open in Hawaii, The American Express, and Farmers Insurance Open provided they are neither a Top 50 or Aon Next 10 player.
- 4) Current Year Full-Field Winners: Winners of The Sentry, Sony Open in Hawaii, The American Express, and Farmers Insurance Open of the current season.
- 5) Rankings: Top 30 Official World Golf Ranking players who are PGA Tour members.
- 6) Up to four sponsor exemptions.
Format
Conducted as a planned 72-hole pro-am 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, 2009 and 2024
- 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).[24][25]
- 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.
- No pro-am: 2021
Criticism
From the 2000s to 2023, despite being one of the most iconic events on the PGA Tour, many top players tended to skip the event, citing long rounds, celebrity distractions, sketchy weather and the bumpy poa annua greens. Additionally, from 2019, the schedule also made it difficult for players to compete in the event as it was usually the same week as the Saudi International, which also featured a strong field (mainly catered for by large appearance fees). The few top players who did compete regularly at Pebble Beach such as Jordan Spieth, were contractually obligated to compete there due to sponsorship reasons.[27] However, since 2024, the tournament has played as a signature event with elevated purses and FedEx Cup points, and now it has one of the strongest fields on the PGA Tour.
Tournament hosts
Winners
Source:[81]
Multiple winners
Thirteen players have won this tournament more than once through 2022.
In addition, Nicklaus won the U.S. Open at Pebble Beach in 1972, Watson in 1982.
Two others have won an AT&T and a U.S. Open at Pebble Beach; Tom Kite (1983 & 1992), and Tiger Woods (2000 & 2000).
Two golfers have won an AT&T and the PGA Tour Champions tournament; John Cook (1981 Crosby & 2014 First Tee) and Hale Irwin (1984 AT&T and 2005 First Tee). Both tournaments are played at Spyglass Hill and Pebble Beach.
- 5 wins
- Mark O'Meara: 1985, 1989, 1990, 1992, 1997
- Phil Mickelson: 1998, 2005, 2007, 2012, 2019
- 4 wins
- Sam Snead: 1937, 1938, 1941, 1950 (tie)
- 3 wins
- Jack Nicklaus: 1967, 1972, 1973
- Johnny Miller
External links
References
- Bing leaves 'clambake' to sports world Eugene Register-Guard, October 15, 1977^
- Crosby tourney will continue Gettysburg Times, October 17, 1977^
- Crosby family ends ties to familiar golf tourney Lawrence Journal-World, April 23, 1985