The AT&T Pebble Beach National Pro-Am marks the second time this season where the Professionals will tee it up with a celebrity filled field of actors, entertainers, sportscasters and fellow professional athletes. Not only will the celebrities crowd California's Pebble Beach courses, but this weekend 180 professional golfers will play alongside 180 amateur golfers. Pairs consisting of one pro and one amateur will tee off on a different course for each of the first three days of the event with a cut coming after 54 holes.
The Pebble Beach National Pro-Am is the third of four events on tour that feature multiple courses, meaning golfers will have to establish a rhythm on a different course each day for the first three rounds. The three par 72 courses are Pebble Beach, Poppy Hills and Spyglass Hill.
According to an article written by Dave Lancer on PGATour.com, the PGA player who boasts the best record in a tournament that features more than one course is weekend's defending champion Phil Mickelson. Mickelson was won 12 events in his career at tournaments with multiple courses, including three alone at the Pebble Beach links.
Woods is a close second with 11 career wins, but isn't entered. Other players who have achieved success in multi-course events and who are playing this weekend include Mark O'Meara (7 wins), Davis Love III (4), Vijay Singh (3) and Jim Furyk (3). Mickelson is my top player to consider this weekend for nearly winning the FBR Open last Sunday and because he has been victorious in this event twice in the last three years. Here are my Tuesday morning thoughts for the upcoming Pebble Beach National Pro-Am.
Players to Consider:
1. Phil Mickelson -- Two events and two top 10 finishes is a great start to '08. Mickelson finished second last weekend and was last year's winner here which puts him on my radar. He's also the best on Tour (yes, better than Tiger) at adapting to an event that is played on multiple courses.
2. Arron Oberholser -- Oberholser will make his PGA Tour season debut at the event he won in 2006. Last year, Oberholser proved with five top 10 finishes that his four top 10's in 2006 were no joke. If the California native can shake some off-season injury rust, Oberholser should kick-start the season with a top finish.
3. Brandt Snedeker -- I'd rather look at Snedeker's top 10 finishes at the Mercedes-Benz and at the FBR Open as a reason to consider him, rather than focusing on his MC's at the Sony Open and Buick Invitational as a reason to avoid him. Last weekend's play at the FBR has me thinking that last sesaon's Rookie of the Year is planning to finish better than the T36 he placed in '07.
4. Steve Elkington -- Elkington is a PGA Tour veteran and has started 2008 playing some of the best golf of his career (which started in 1985). Elkington has gathered momentum early by finishing fifth at the Bob Hope Classic, T13 at the Buick Invitational and fourth last weekend at the FBR Open.
5. Davis Love III -- Last year Davis Love III finished a disappointing fourth at the Pebble Beach National despite four rounds under par. Love makes his 2008 debut at the tournament he won in 2001 and 2003. I like DL3 to avoid early season rust because of his tour experience and course knowledge.
Players to Avoid:
1. Vijay Singh -- Singh overcame a first round 73 (on Spyglass Hill) last year to finish just outside the top 10 (11th). If he wants to be successful this weekend, it will take focus for all four rounds.
2. Hunter Mahan -- It might be risky to avoid such a talented player, but his performance last week has me hesitant. After starting the year with a T5 at the Mercedez-Benz, Mahan missed the cut last weekend. The Saturday and Sunday prior in the Buick Invitational he shot rounds of 73 and 75 to finish out of the top 25.
3. Rocco Mediate -- Last year Rocco Mediate was able to tame Spyglass Hill but blew up his scorecard on the Pebble Beach course (the opposite of what a lot of guys do). When golfers have to play three different courses, it makes preparing for the tournament that much harder. If Mediate doesn't prepare this year he won't be playing on Sunday.
4. Ken Duke -- Duke struggled at Spyglass Hill last year (shot a 76), which ruined his chances of playing on Sunday. So far in '08, Duke has finished T75 and missed the cut twice.
5. David Duval -- Duval has played in two events this season and has failed to make the cut in either. Duval's back hurt his swing and he's trying to get past his past. The former No. 1 ranked player in the world might play better than his amateur competition, which isn't saying much.
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