If The Masters is “War and Peace,” the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am is “Tuesdays with Morrie.” That is to say, it is the golf match for individuals who would somewhat do something other than watch a golf tournament.
This extremely watchable occasion takes place early enough into the PGA Tour season that the ambiance is not drenched in stress, and it’s played on a sequence of universally beloved golf courses in Monterey County. But what makes the Pebble Beach Pro-Am really unique is its field of opponents, which is undoubtedly the wackiest one you may see in any PGA Tour event. It’s where you’ll see the world’s prime golfers enjoying alongside non-golfer athletes like Buster Posey and Alex Smith, as well as entertainers like Bill Murray and Nate Bargatze.
We’re positive you have plenty of questions after reading all that. Let’s dig into the Pebble Beach Pro-Am, the way it works and what makes it an event worth looking forward to every year — even when you hate golf.
When is the Pebble Beach Pro-Am?
The Pebble Beach Pro-Am tees off in February every year and has been held nearly every winter since 1937, when it was founded by golf nut Bing Crosby — who would die a long time later proper after taking half in a round in Spain — as a way for native low-shooting amateurs to play alongside pro golfers, while many in the latter group have been spending the chilly months on the West Coast. The tournament grew to become a four-day, 72-hole event (the normal format for PGA Tour stops) in 1958 and has remained that way ever since.
The 2023 Pebble Beach Pro-Am dates are from Jan. 30 by way of Feb. 5, which includes the days for apply rounds. The tournament actually tees off on Feb. 2 at 8:30 a.m. and wraps up in the afternoon on Feb. 5, following the PGA Tour’s typical Thursday-to-Sunday play schedule.
Where is the Pebble Beach Pro-Am played?
One of many things that makes the Pebble Beach Pro-Am unique amongst PGA Tour events is the place it is played. Rather than being limited to a single course during the week, this event is performed at three completely different courses, all of that are located within 3 miles of one another on the Monterey Peninsula. The trio contains two elite public golf programs, Pebble Beach Golf Links and Spyglass Hill Golf Course, and a private course, Monterey Peninsula Country Club’s Shore Course.
This layout makes the Pebble Beach Pro-Am’s format unusual as properly. Speaking of which …
What is the Pebble Beach Pro-Am’s format?
The overwhelming majority of PGA Tour events see a subject of greater than 100 golfers compete over four days on the same course, with 18 holes performed each day. The field then gets cut roughly in half after 36 holes, with gamers who do not meet a sure scoring threshold being sent residence early whereas the others hold taking part in for the purse.
The Pebble Beach Pro-Am makes several deviations from this.
There are essentially two tournaments occurring at the same time through the Pebble Beach Pro-Am: one only for 156 professional golfers, and another for groups made up of one pro and one of 156 novice players. While each professional golfer within the field is competing in opposition to the others for the best particular person score across 72 holes, they’re also playing alongside an amateur player, with one of the best score between them on each gap counting as their team rating for that gap. In case you are wondering how an novice might ever hope to have the higher rating in a pairing like that, their score on every gap is adjusted using their handicap. This means that if an newbie shoots a par on a gap that is rated as significantly powerful, their rating could also be adjusted to a birdie (one beneath par), depending on their handicap.
The Pebble Beach Pro-Am’s minimize is made after 54 holes — 18 holes at every of the three courses in the rotation — with the remaining particular person professionals and 25 top-scoring groups happening to play the final round at Pebble Beach Golf Links. The professional winner will get $1.62 million in 2023, the biggest chunk of a $9 million purse cut up among those who make the cut, while the amateur winner gets a trophy and bragging rights eternally.
How can I watch the Pebble Beach Pro-Am?
If you need to drive out to Monterey County and catch the action in individual, tickets are nonetheless available online. The value is surprisingly modest, starting at $50 to watch Wednesday’s follow rounds and $75-$85 for access to the grounds on any of the actual match days. Going to a golf event is rather more leisurely than attending other sporting occasions as spectators are free to roam the course, observe a single group of gamers, stick with a single hole and watch everybody play by way of, or do a little bit of everything.
Of course, you might also watch the tournament on TV. The Golf Channel may have stay protection Feb. 2-3 from 12 to 3 p.m. Pacific, and Feb. 4-5 from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. CBS will pick up coverage on Feb. 4-5 at 12 p.m.
Macklemore makes an entrance on the first hole for the Charity Challenge on the 2021 AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am at Pebble Beach Golf Links in Pebble Beach, California.
Ezra Shaw/Getty Images
How can I see celebrities at the Pebble Beach Pro-Am?
Nearly all the fun of watching the Pebble Beach Pro-Am is seeing celebrities hit terrible shots proper subsequent to the best golfers in the world. Who doesn’t get slightly heat feeling in their coronary heart when they see a super-wealthy businessman — or Aaron Rodgers, for that matter — shank a tee shot into the timber on nationwide television?
If your whole motivation for watching this event hinges on the celebs within the area, be certain to tune in for TV coverage on Thursday, Friday and Saturday. The protection on Sunday is kind of entirely going to be dominated by professionals in their chase for the crown; the newbie subject will have been reduce to solely 25 by that time, all of whom will likely be enjoying stable golf if they’ve made it to the ultimate day. Heading out to the peninsula your self will be the best way to see the celebs you most need to follow, as you’ll find a way to stick with them throughout their whole spherical.
Pairings and tee times probably will not be announced till Feb. 1. You’ll have the ability to discover them on the PGA Tour’s website.
Actor Josh Duhamel takes a selfie with a fan through the 3M Celebrity Challenge prior to the 2020 AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am at Pebble Beach Golf Links in Pebble Beach, California.
Michael Reaves/Getty Images
Can I get autographs on the Pebble Beach Pro-Am?
Unless you’ve obtained a toddler with you, autograph-hunting will sadly be off the desk on the Pebble Beach Pro-Am. According to the match’s etiquette guidelines, anyone asking for autographs from pros or amateurs within the subject ought to be 18 or beneath. The autographs can also only be asked for before or after a player’s round in designated areas that may be marked off with ropes and signs, doubtless close to the clubhouse.
The tournament is also prohibiting followers from bringing in outdoors memorabilia for golfers to sign, which means that if you’d like one thing signed, you’d better be wearing it or have gotten it on the occasion itself.
What celebrities are enjoying in the Pebble Beach Pro-Am?
The Pebble Beach Pro-Am subject changes every year however all the time features a list of notable celebrities and golfers. Celebrities in the 2023 Pebble Beach Pro-Am area embrace Will Arnett, Bret Baier, Nate Bargatze, Jason Bateman, Eric Church, Lukas Nelson, Michael Pena, Bill Murray, Alfonso Ribeiro, Ray Romano, Darius Rucker and ScHoolboy Q. The record of notable amateurs also includes professional athletes Gareth Bale, Larry Fitzgerald, Buster Posey, Aaron Rodgers, Alex Smith and Steve Young.
The professional golfers within the field in 2023 embrace Matt Fitzpatrick, Viktor Hovland, Seamus Power and Jordan Spieth, all of whom have been among the world’s top 30 golfers as of the Jan. 22 World Golf Ranking.
Aaron Rodgers watches his tee shot on the 1st gap on the Spyglass Hill course throughout spherical 1 of the 2018 AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am in Pebble Beach, California.
San Francisco Chronicle/Hearst N/Hearst Newspapers by way of Getty Images
How a lot does it cost to play in the Pebble Beach Pro-Am?
How does an amateur golfer get into the field on the Pebble Beach Pro-Am in the first place? Well, it is difficult. Given that there are solely 156 novice spots obtainable and that this is arguably essentially the most prestigious pro-am golf event on the planet — and that is it’s performed across three of one of the best programs in America — you possibly can think about that it is robust to get a tee time. Amateurs playing in the Pebble Beach Pro-Am need to be invited, which implies you’ve got to have some severe connections or popular influence. They also have to pay a major fee.
In 2011, Forbes reported that the amateur charge for the Pebble Beach Pro-Am was $25,000. Adjusted just for inflation, that figure would be closer to $33,000 in 2023, but the precise fee hasn’t been revealed in latest years. So, while anyone can play in Pebble Beach Pro-Am in principle, it’s a fairly exclusive club of high-power celebs and business magnates in actuality.
This story was edited by Hearst National Editor Kristina Moy; you can contact her at [email protected]