AT&T Pebble Beach National Pro-Am
Pebble Beach, California
Today-Sunday
Defending Champion: Jimmy Walker
Fed Ex Cup leaders: (1) Jimmy Walker, 1,039 points (2) Robert Streb, 879 (3) Bubba Watson, 833 (4) Charley Hoffman, 757 (5) Sang-Moon Bae, 756.
Total Purse: $6,600,000; Winners share: $1,188,000
TV: Today-Friday: Golf Channel: 3-6 PM ET/2-5 PM CT; Saturday-Sunday: Golf: 1-2:30 PM ET/ 12-1:30 PM CT; Saturday: CBS 3-6 PM ET/2-5 PM CT; Sunday: CBS 3-6:30 PM ET/2-5:30 PM CT.
Weather: Today: Sunny, High 73, wind 4 MPH S; Friday: Sunny, 71, wind 6 MPH NNW; Saturday: Sunny 76, 4 MPH NNE; Sunday Sunny, 73, 4 MPH, SW.
Key holes on Pebble Beach:
No.2 Par 5, 502
The fairway is tight at only 30 yards wide. The players will hit driver here and go for it in two for sure. There is some deep rough surrounding the green so an errant second shot could be troublesome. This is where Dustin Johnson started his colossal meltdown in the 2010 U.S. Open when he lost a three shot lead starting with a bogey here and from there it went south quickly he shot 82. Graeme McDowell won the Open here that year on Father’s Day.
No.7 Par 3, 106 yards.
Tom Kite hit a sand wedge here on Saturday in the ’92 Open, which he won, and a six iron on Sunday. The wind can play a huge factor, and while there is not a lot of wind predicted that could change, particularly on this hole. This is a real thinking man’s hole. If you go over the green you’re going into the Pacific or the rocks above it. When the wind is howling, this can be a bear.
Nos. 8-10
No.8 is a par 4, 418 yards with a blind tee shot and a second shot over the ocean. Can be perilous. This is the beginning of Pebble’s version of Amen Corner with some tough holes ahead to go along with this one. An errant second shot can be very costly going into the Pacific and there is a bunker back left, so trouble there too. It’s a downhill second shot to the green, but the green slopes to the water, so it’s tricky. Very pretty hole. Tough.
N0.9, par 4, 466. This is the toughest hole on the course because the fairway slopes severely toward the ocean, and the approach must be hit from a side hill lie pretty much. There is a deep bunker guarding the front left of the green and the ocean on the right. A wayward shot to the right gives the seals a ball. Tight driving area and tight window for second shot. Par here is a very good score.
No. 10, par 4, 446. Another long par 4 that slopes towards the water to the right. A drive hit to the right will find the deep rough. A ball hit left should be relatively safe, though if it’s over-cooked, it’s in the sand or the rough. Both the drive and the approach are blind shots. On the approach only the front left of the green is visible. It’s no good to hit it long on the approach because the green slopes severely from back to front and a chip or a long putt from the back of the green could easily run right off the front of the putting surface.
No.17, Par 3, 178. On this hole, Tom Watson uttered a famous line to his caddie, Bruce Edwards, in the 1982 U.S. Open, “I’m not going to get it close, I’m gonna make it.” Tom chipped in to help secure the victory over Jack. That was one of eight majors for Tom. Of course, Jack won 18 of them and finished second 18 times in majors. That’s astounding. Prevailing wind on the par three into the player’s face. Deep rough on both sides and a trap on the right. Undulating green that is narrow. When it’s windy, par is a good score here and birdie is a bonus.
No. 18, par 5, 543. On the left there is the coastline and the ocean, so a hooked tee shot is in the rocks or the Pacific. Players want to aim right center. There is some trouble right with rough and an out of bounds area. Players can go for it in two or lay up on their second shots. Longer guys (Hunter Mahan, Dustin, J.B. Holmes) will go for it in two. The green is pretty wide and deep, but has a lot of undulation, so it can be tough sledding at times especially with the pressure on Sunday. Should be an electric finishing hole to this classic.
Players are also playing Spyglass Hill Golf Club (Par 72, 6,858) and Monterey Peninsula Country Club (Par 70, 6,838) today through Saturday with the cut after 54 holes.
Contenders:
Hunter Mahan:
Finished sixth here last year and he’s a California guy (Orange, California), so he has played it quite a bit. With his length and his putting (when he’s hot), the 32 year old, 9-time PGA winner should be right there on Sundayu.
Jordan Spieth:
The 21 year old finished T-4 here last year shooting a 67 on Sunday. Like Jordan’s chances a lot.
J.B. Holmes:
The 32 year old Holmes was in a four-way playoff last week at Torrey Pines just losing out to Jason Day on the second playoff hole. Like his length and his mental toughness. Good putter under pressure.
Jimmy Walker:
The defending champion. Besides Rory, he’s playing better than anyone else in the world. Pretty long, very accurate and an excellent putter. He’s a pretty special player right now at 36 years old.
Dustin Johnson:
Won here in 2009 and 2010, and finished second last year. He’s back from a leave of absence and plays this course well, obviously. With his length and his really hot putter, when he’s on, and his record here, he’ll be a factor on Sunday.
Winner:
J.B. Holmes
