The tournament is a pro-am event, where players play with amateurs, usually celebrities who also enjoy the game of golf. Each player-celebrity group plays one of the three courses each day and after the third day, the groups that made the cut play the final round at Pebble Beach. There are typically two cuts; the individual cut, which is just for players and leaves the top 60 players, and the pro-am cut, which leaves the top 25 groups to play the final round. This tournament is also the PGA-Tour equivalent of the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship played on the European Tour.
Pebble Beach Golf Links is personally one of my favourite golf courses in the US. Set on the scenic cliffs of the Pacific Ocean, Pebble was the first public golf course to be selected at #1 by Golf Digest in 2001 (although green fees are some of the most expensive in the world). It's shear beauty, but contrasting toughness, is what I think makes it a great course. It was also the home of TGR favourite Graeme McDowell's 2010 US Open win.
I really like this tournament for one main reason; it's all about links golf. These are links courses that are being played this weekend and that demands a unique quality from it's players. I've said this countless times here, but links golf brings out the creativity or rather, a demand for creativity and alternate shot-making, in a player that we just don't see to often during regular tournaments. Links golf favours accuracy over distance, which is a nice contrast from today's tournaments. A truly great golfer should be able to succeed on both a normal parkland course as well as a raw links course. I think the player who is successful this week will be the one who's able to utilize their accuracy as well as the natural features of the course the best.
Being links courses, the weather is also a big factor this week. It's been said that if you don't like the weather at a links course, just wait a few holes. Drastic weather changes day to day or even hour to hour may pose yet another challenge for players this week (again, something most players are probably not used to). Now you understand why I love links golf so much. The demand for creativity plus the changing weather always makes for some exciting golf.
But enough of that, here are our picks for the tournament:
1) D.A. Points (2011 winner)
2) Patrick Reed
3) Kevin Na
Some notable celebrities playing this week include Billy Murray, Wayne Gretzky, Don Cheadle, Andy Garcia and more.
It's safe to say that this week will be an exciting one. Be sure check out our coverage posts for all the latest from the tournament. And comment about your thoughts on links golf and your picks this week.
-Nick
Toronto Golf Reviews
The 9th, 10th and 11th holes at Pebble Beach Golf Links
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