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In recent years, this tournament has struggled to attract an elite field. Things changed completely last year when it became a Signature event. This year, 27 of the world’s top 30 golfers are in attendance and will compete for the $3.6 million winner\u2019s check (from a $20 million purse). The only players missing are world No. 2 Xander Schauffele (rib injury) and LIV golfers Tyrrell Hatton and Bryson DeChambeau. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
World No. 1 Scottie Scheffler makes his season debut following a holiday kitchen hand injury and No. 3 Rory McIlroy is in the field after starting his year in Dubai. Jordan Spieth is also making his first start after having surgery last August on his left wrist. He is in the field on a sponsor exemption, along with Rickie Fowler, Harry Hall, and Gary Woodland (who won the 2019 U.S. Open at Pebble). Past winners of this event who are participating this week include Justin Rose, Tom Hoge, Nick Taylor, and Spieth.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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Pebble Beach Course History<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Pebble Beach Golf Links was built by Jack Neville and Douglas Grant during the golden age of golf course architecture in 1919. When it opened for play on February 22nd, it measured slightly over 6,000 yards. \u201cThe big idea was to get as many holes as possible along the bay,\u201d Neville said. \u201cNature had intended it to be nothing else but a golf links.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n
The San Francisco Chronicle said the course was opened \u201csomewhat prematurely.\u201d At a time when golf balls cost more than the greens fee, the course was deemed too difficult. The California Golf Association, however, did not believe the course suitable to host even the state amateur. Improvements were continually made over the next decade, culminating with a renovation to prepare Pebble Beach to host the 1929 U.S. Amateur, which was the first of the United States Golf Association\u2019s major championships to be held west of the Mississippi.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Neville’s and Grant’s routing provided the framework for today’s course, but H. Chandler Egan is most responsible for how the course plays today. In 1928, he extensively revised the layout by replacing 16 of the 18 greens and completely reconfigured the bunkering on the course bringing much more strategy into play. Other architects who have helped to renovate the course in different ways include Alistair MacKenzie, Robert Hunter, Arnold Palmer, and Jack Nicklaus (who created the new 5th hole in 1998).<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Pebble Beach National Pro-Am was originally called the Bing Crosby Pro-Am, and it has been held at Pebble Beach Golf Links every year since 1947. This year’s tournament notwithstanding, this event has typically had a trio of courses in play for the week. Along with Pebble Beach, Spyglass Hill and Monterey Peninsula – Cypress Point and Poppy Hills have also been utilized in years past. Along with all of the legendary golfers who have walked its fairways, it has hosted six U.S. Opens and one PGA Championship.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Changes since last year’s tournament at Pebble Beach include a rebuilt 6th green which was expanded by 1,200 square feet providing more pin locations. 50+ trees were also planted on the course. At Spyglass Hill, December storms took out 30 trees including the featured Cypress in #16 fairway. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
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