Bill Murray might have been absent for the last time at the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am.
Golfweek learned that the PGA Tour will make an annual stop at Pebble Beach Golf Links, California. This is one of eight events. It is scheduled to start in 2024. The Tour is looking at reducing the amateur section to 36 holes, played over two courses rather than 72 over three courses. This would allow for a 54-hole cut for the top 30 teams. Celebrity Saturday, it’s over.
During an interview at last week’s Honda Classic, Jack Nicklaus spoke out about Pebble’s high status.
Jordan Spieth (AT&T ambassador), who won the 2017 Pebble Beach Pro-Am, said that he heard it. He has been pushing for the tournament’s inclusion in the schedule. “That was a little premature.”
Jay Monahan, PGA Tour Commissioner, sent a memo to the membership on Wednesday informing them that the board had approved a plan starting in 2024 to reduce the size and eliminate the cut at some of its designated events . The eight events that are affected for next year’s calendar have not yet been finalized.
Pebble Beach would be included in the elite group. This would represent yet another major change in the Tour’s structure. The field will shrink from 156 to 70-80 players, and the purse will increase from $9 million to $20,000,000. This is a tournament that dates back to 1937. It started in Rancho Sante Fe in California when Bing Crosby invited his friends to play golf and enjoy a clambake to raise some money for charity.
Spieth stated, “I expressed that I believe that we have the opportunity where the top men are committing to playing in the same events then should we look at the most famous venues and make sure that it’s there because that feels the coolest scenario both for ratings, and for sponsors.” Let’s see what we can do. I don’t know how it looks. I don’t know if they do. It would be great for AT&T to openly consider it. I love the golf tournament, and it has been an unfortunate part the schedule since the Saudi stuff.
Justin Rose won the February edition, which only three of the top twenty and 21 of 100 top players in the world were included.
Crosby’s Clambake was the name it was given by the famous crooner. In January, Monterey Peninsula Herald Sport Editor Ted Durein and other sports-minded people on the Peninsula suggested that Durein move his golf tournament to fill up hotels and restaurants in Monterey. They were filled from 1947 onwards, with Pebble Beach Golf Links and Spyglass Hill Golf Course (1967–76, 1978-), Cypress Point (1947-1990), Poppy Hills Golf Course (91-2009), and Monterey Peninsula Country Club (1991–2009). Among the regulars were Frank Sinatra and Steve Young, Johnny Bench and Clint Eastwood. Jack Lemmon, Jack Lemmon, Murray and Clint Eastwood. Crosby invited the nation – many of whom were snowed-in and dreaming about when they could hit the fairways again, to a tournament that was world-famous through a top-rated television program.
As pro Ken Venturi (center) drove from the tee of the par-4 ninth hole at Pebble Beach in the second round of the 19th Annual Bing Crosby National Pro-Amateur Golf Championship in Pebble Beach, Calif., the attention was on him.
Crosby stated in the prologue of “The Crosby: Greatest Show in Golf” that when Crosby was asked about his greatest and most satisfying achievement in life, he replied “immediately.” This tournament… I feel like I have a hand in it, my cup runs dry.”
It has a rich history. That’s why I believe that it is the most difficult challenge. Spieth asked how you can change the Bing Crosby while still maintaining the history of what is probably the most historical regular event in American history. “Maybe one or two courses. There are many options. It all comes down to the balance between what the sponsors want and what the players will do.
Steve John, Monterey Peninsula Foundation CEO and Tournament Director, stated that he has nothing to add to the story because “conversations are ongoing with key partners.”
