Wednesday Preview - AT&T Pebble Beach National Pro-Am

This week is the annual celebrity celebration at the Old Clam Bake, otherwise known as the National Pro-Am. Professionals will be teeing up next to celebrities, athletes, and business executives for the first three days of the tournament. Leads to slow rounds, but also leads to a lot of fun. It's the exact opposite of last week - no booing here.


Course: Three courses, the most notable and famous of which is Pebble Beach. The course is less than 7,000 yards, and the greens are small, but shouldn't play nearly as difficult as it did in 2010 when it was setting up for the US Open. Double digit under par will be the winner once again.

Strength Of Field: D. Jason Day and a limping Phil Mickelson isn't enough to keep the SOF high this week, though in this tournament, that doesn't matter. It's more about the celebrities and the athletes than it is about the professionals. A majority of high name pros avoid the event because of the slow play and the shenanigans surrounding it.

Extra Tidbits: Broncos quarterback Peyton Manning was a late entry into the field after losing the Super Bowl Sunday night. Peyton is likely to be the most high profile celebrity in the field...actor and Pebble Beach veteran Bill Murray will be missing the event this year, because it coincides with the opening of his new movie "Monuments Men"...two time winner Dustin Johnson will be paired in the celebrity portion of the golf tournament with his future father-in-law, Wayne Gretzky.

Fantasy Four:

Jason Day - Came close to winning for the second time two weeks ago. Is in the middle of one of his hottest stretches of his career, and another victory is eminent. Never missed a cut in any of his trips to Pebble Beach.

Graeme McDowell - Last time McDowell tee'd it up at Pebble, he won the 2010 US Open. Also has a top 10 in this tournament. Needs top finishes to play his way onto the Ryder Cup this year.

Pat Perez - Sleeper pick, though it's a bit of a cop out considering Perez has two consecutive top 10 finishes behind him. Appears to be much calmer than his previous reputation gave him. Playing as good as anyone on tour right now without notching a victory.

Hunter Mahan - Returned to the PGA Tour last week with a chance to force a playoff on the 72nd hole. Appears rested and hungry after the birth of his child last year. Always dangerous in any tournament he plays in.

Last Weeks Team: 

Graham Delaet: T2

Gonzalo Fernandez-Castano: MC

Padraig Harrington: MC

Hideki Matsuyama: T4