Clambake Time

As the 2016 PGA Tour season slowly gains momentum we go from the desert and rowdiness of Scottsdale, Arizona to the rugged coastline of the Monterey Peninsula in California. This week's tour stop... the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am. If we look at the history of the tournament it all started when Bing Crosby invited a few friends to play some golf and enjoy a clambake. A simple party among friends. Little did Mr. Crosby know it would turn into what it has after that first invite.

The AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am is like no other tournament during the season. Yes... there are other Pro-Am's throughout the year but the collection of celebrities at this event is a who's who of amateur golfers. Company CEO's, Professional athletes like San Francisco 49ers QB Alex Smith and Aaron Rodgers of the Green Bay Packers Actors like Ray Romano, Mark Wahlberg and of course Bill Murray ("I said...Hey...Lama!) and names like Chris Berman and some guy named Wayne Gretzky who no doubt will most likely be paired with Dustin Johnson. 

Photo Credit: Golfweek

But for the professionals in the field what does this event mean? Honestly, I would love to pick their brains off the record, but at the very least it means that long days on the course have just become longer days. Perhaps much longer. No doubt that many of the guys have a great time out there playing with the celebrities. But for some of them there almost has to be a feeling of "Can we just get this over with?". I've played a in a Pro-Am on a couple of occasions and I don't mind them... I actually like them except for the one time a 9 year old boy was in my pairing and his crying and temper tantrums became a little distracting. But I digress.

Photo Credit: ESPN

It takes a different kind of player to play well in these tournaments (look at last year's winner Brandt Snedeker) he's a pretty easy going and cool cat... perfect for this sort of thing. He's won this tournament 2 of the last 3 years. Actually, I like him for the win this week as well especially when you consider how well he's played this year. Another likable guy has won this tournament in recent years Phil Mickelson in 2012 (and many other years as well), D.A Points in 2011, and Peter Jacobsen in 1995.

Other than Snedeker who do I like this week? I could pick Dustin Johnson seeing he has won this event a few times as well but as a darkhorse I like Srixon staffer Jerry Kelly. The right make-up for a Clambake.

Until the next tee.