One of many PGA Tour’s largest ploys towards LIV Golf shall be on trial this week because the Pebble Seashore Professional-Am is given a $20 million (A$30.5m) shot within the arm to captivate viewers worldwide.
Regardless of being staged at some of the dramatic, and iconic, programs on the earth, the occasion has lengthy struggled to draw a robust subject with the world’s greatest delay by painfully sluggish rounds, and a logistic nightmare.
Having began in 1937, the occasion — initially known as the Crosby Clambake after movie star host Bing Crosby — is the one real pro-am on the PGA Tour, as soon as fielding 156 professionals, and simply as many amateurs.
The monster subject — which needed to play throughout three totally different programs, typically throughout gruelling six-hour rounds — noticed most high gamers snub the occasion.
Watch each spherical of the PGA Tour LIVE & Unique on Fox Sports activities, accessible on Kayo. New to Kayo? Begin Your Free Trial Immediately >
Huge modifications this yr, nevertheless, are set to revive the occasion to its former glory on the identical weekend that LIV Golf begins its 2024 season.
The PGA Tour has marked the AT&T Pebble Seashore Professional-Am as certainly one of this season’s eight Signature Occasions, which characteristic smaller fields, no cuts, and greater prizes.
These restrictions have been made in direct response to the specter of LIV Golf, which successfully provides the identical alternative to its gamers for 14 tournaments worldwide.
In a bid to fulfill extra of the PGA Tour’s largest stars extra typically, the occasion has been decreased to simply 80 professionals — and with no reduce, many might have an opportunity at successful the large $3.6 million (A$5.5m) high prize on Sunday.
The Professional-Am is the second Signature Occasion of the season following January’s Sentry match in Hawaii, received by Chris Kirk.
That match, nevertheless, was already elevated in 2023 and subsequently didn’t bear any main modifications for this yr.
By comparability, Pebble Seashore will boast the strongest enjoying subject it ever has with megastars Rory McIlroy, Scottie Scheffler, Viktor Hovland and Jordan Spieth simply the tip of the iceberg, whereas Australians Jason Day and Adam Scott may even characteristic.
Younger gun makes historical past, emotional wreck | 02:25
The occasion may even be the primary for the reason that PGA Tour introduced it had lastly reached an settlement to type a brand new for-profit entity with a consortium of US billionaire traders.
The traders, beneath the banner of Strategic Sports activities Group (SSG), will inject as much as $3 billion (A$4.6bn) into the PGA Tour, which stays the bulk shareholder.
As such, the stress shall be on this weekend for the Signature Occasion to dwell as much as its billing, and supply confidence within the PGA Tour product to its rising checklist of rich traders.
Success would additionally give extra energy to the PGA Tour on the negotiating desk with Saudi Arabia’s Public Funding Fund, which has been overlooked of the preliminary spherical of investing, however stays in negotiations.
What success at Pebble Seashore seems to be like is subjective — however the world’s greatest gamers that includes at certainly one of America’s most enjoyable programs is an efficient place to begin.
And so they might nicely should convey their greatest sport as nicely with situations on the Monterey Peninsula this week being described as “pure carnage”.
Heavy winds off the Pacific Ocean have wreaked havoc throughout apply rounds with movies of professionals battling the wild situations going viral on social media.
One video reveals Sahith Theegala hit a three-iron straight into the wind with the ball not even travelling 90 metres, in accordance with the star.
One other video confirmed Tony Finau utilizing a driver on the quick par-three seventh gap.
Situations are anticipated to enhance for spherical one on Thursday (native time), albeit solely marginally with an 80 per cent likelihood of rain, and wind gusts probably hitting 70km/ph.
This isn’t uncommon for the realm with play having to complete on a Monday final yr on account of a suspension of the third spherical on account of excessive winds.
HOW DOES THE PRO-AM WORK
The 80 professionals within the subject vie for the US$20 million purse in a standard stroke play occasion.
The place issues have modified on the skilled facet of issues is that the sphere has been almost halved, whereas no gamers shall be scrambling to make the reduce after two rounds. All will play the weekend.
The match stays a Professional-Am, nevertheless, with 80 amateurs additionally being invited to play the primary two rounds.
They’re every partnered up with an expert, and can play one spherical at Pebble Seashore and one at Spyglass Hill over the primary two days.
The Professional-Am crew occasion runs concurrently with the professionals-only competitors as a greater ball, handicapped occasion over 36 holes.
WHAT ARE THE MOST NOTABLE PRO-AM PAIRINGS
One other massive change to this yr’s match is that high-handicappers have been axed.
Given the smaller subject and the necessity to velocity up play, solely single-digit handicappers will characteristic.
It means the likes of comic Invoice Murray, an iconic staple of the occasion for a few years, has been axed.
Listed here are a few of the extra notable Professional-Am pairings.
Keith Mitchel and Josh Allen (Buffalo Payments quarterback)
Keegan Bradley and Tom Brady (legendary NFL quarterback)
Beau Hossler and Aaron Rodgers (NY Jets quarterback)
Emiliano Grillo and Pau Gasol (NBA legend)
Cam Davis and Josh Kroenke (Inheritor to Kroenke S&E, proprietor of Arsenal and Denver Nuggets)
Maverick McNealy and Condoleezza Rice (Former US Secretary of State)
Jordan Spieth and Chris Kempczinski (McDonald’s CEO)
HOW TO WATCH
Watch each spherical of the Pebble Seashore Professional-Am LIVE & Unique on Fox Sports activities, accessible on Kayo.
New to Kayo? Begin Your Free Trial Immediately >