The AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am is one of the most prestigious and looked forward to events on the regular PGA Tour calendar. The tournament has a long and distinguished history, having been played since 1937.
This year also happens to mark another milestone AT&T as the company is currently celebrating an unprecedented 31st consecutive year as the event’s title sponsor. With its ongoing sponsorship AT&T helps to extend Bing Crosby’s (the event’s original host) commitment towards supporting local charities that strengthen communities and promote education.
To commemorate this year’s Pro-Am AT&T will also be handing out limited-edition Jordan Spieth bobbleheads to the first 8,000 fans at the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am on Saturday, Feb. 13. More on that (and how you can win one for yourself) in a moment…
A photo posted by AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am (@attproam) on
Feb 14, 2015 at 1:14pm PST
History of the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am
What is now the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am was first hosted by Bing Crosby and for many years referred to as the Bing Crosby National Pro-Amateur. Upon his death in 1977, Crosby’s family assumed the role of hosting the tournament every year. It was in 1985 that the event was renamed and Crosby’s name dropped from the event. AT&T took over as the title sponsor of the event in 1986 and has not looked back since. The telecommunication company’s 31 year sponsorship of the event makes it the second-longest continuous title sponsor on the PGA TOUR.
The first winner of the event was Sam Snead, taking home the title at what was then only an eighteen hole tournament. In the first few years, the tournament was played in the south of California at the Rancho Santa Fe Golf Club. After the Second World War, the event was extended to 54 holes and was moved to its current location on the Monterey Peninsula and until the year 1966, it was played on the Pebble Beach Golf Links, Cypress Point and the Monterey Peninsula Country Club.
It was in 1967 that Spyglass Hill was introduced instead of the Monterey Peninsula Country Club. There was a lot of negative publicity surrounding the Cypress Point Golf Club in the early 90s due to their policy of not allowing any African-American members to join the club. Therefore, in 1991 the PGA TOUR dropped the course as a host of the event and replaced it with Poppy Hills, who were part of the rotation of courses up until 2009.
As a worldwide famous entertainer, Bing Crosby had far reaching connections in the celebrity world which helped make the event such a success over the years with both fans and players—players could play with celebrities and the fans would get to watch them outside of their normal arenas. To this day the Pro-Am aspect of the event makes it very unique as an event on the PGA TOUR. Some of the more notable celebrities that have played in the event over the years include Tom Brady, Bill Murray, Kevin Costner, George Lopez, Carson Daly, and Kenny G.
Notable winners of the event over the years include Sam Snead (a four time winner), Byron Nelson, Jack Nicklaus (three time winner), Tom Watson (two time winner), Mark O’Meara (five time winner), Tiger Woods, and Phil Mickelson (four time winner). The current defending champion is Brandt Snedeker, who has now won the event on two occasions and looks to win his third in just four years this time around.
Location of this Year’s Event
The AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am is held every year at the spectacular Pebble Beach in California, where the event is played over three unique and challenging courses. The most well-known of the courses is without a doubt Pebble Beach Golf Links, which always plays host to the final round of the event and has hosted a total of five US Open Championships in the past, as well as hosting the PGA Championship on one occasion.
A photo posted by Pebble Beach Resorts (@pebblebeachresorts) on
Jan 29, 2016 at 9:01am PST
The cream always rises to the top when events are played at Pebble Beach, a claim that is backed up by the stellar players who have won the US Open on the course. Jack Nicklaus, Tom Watson, and Tiger Woods all etched their names onto the US Open trophy at Pebble Beach—the track is next scheduled to host the US Open in 2019.
The Links has often been voted as the leading golf course in the United States, as well as being one of the most spectacular courses in the world, with amazing views across the Pacific Ocean. The other two courses hosting early rounds for this year’s AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am are Spyglass Hill Golf Course and the Monterey Peninsula Country Club. Both of which are great golf courses in their own right.
Format of this Year’s Event
The field starts off with 156 professionals and 156 amateur players, with each player being assigned an amateur player for the duration of the event. Every day there will be 52 teams playing on each of the three courses.
Unlike most PGA TOUR events that have a 36-hole cut, the Pro-Am has a 54-hole cut. Those teams who make the cut will play the final round exclusively on the Pebble Beach Golf Links. To make the cut as a professional, you must be in the top 60 plus ties. For the amateurs to make the cut, they must be within lowest 25 teams including any ties.
More About the Event’s Title Sponsor
In addition to continuing Bing Crosby’s mission to gather a ‘few friends’ to raise money for charity, over the years the event’s title sponsor AT&T has made plenty of strides in connecting their customers and fans to their passions for golf and technology. Case in point, the telecommunications powerhouse recently boosted its network on the courses with 2 Cells On Wheels (COWs), giving golf fans 50% more LTE coverage, along with AT&T Wi-Fi and AT&T Entertainment Services. Additionally, for those fans who aren’t able to join the event in Pebble Beach DIRECTV is the next best thing. Beyond their regular TV tournament schedule DIRECTV subscribers can tune into channel 701 for up to four screens of enhanced coverage, including an interactive leaderboard, scorecard with expanded player stats and player bios.
This year’s AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am also gives AT&T Fans an opportunity to see their relationship with OWGR No. 1 Jordan Spieth in action. To commemorate Jordan’s participation in this year’s event, AT&T will be providing a limited-edition AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am Jordan Spieth bobblehead to the first 8,000 fans at the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am on Saturday, Feb. 13.
To get ready for Thursday’s kick-off of the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am Bobblehead Jordan has been making the rounds, and stirring up a some office antics along the way:
The Golficity offices are no exception either. In fact, we are happy to report that Bobblehead Jordan even took some time to pop in on The Golf Podcast this week.
Even if you’re not one of the lucky 8,000 fans who will receive one of these limited-edition Jordan Spieth bobbleheads at this weekend’s event you still have a chance to score one for your collection by entering our giveaway in which two lucky AT&T fans will win a free Jordan Bobblehead (details below). Just be sure to keep him out of trouble at the office!
How the 2016 Event is Going to Play Out
As always, there is a strong field ready to do battle for the 2016 AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am title. As mentioned earlier, the current number one golfer in the world Jordan Spieth tops the field, with AT&T being one of the American’s main sponsors. The reigning PGA Champion Jason Day also has a strong history in the event, having come close a number of times in recent years.
In total, there are 12 players from the top 25 in the world rankings playing in California this week and there are two notable Major champions making their event debuts this week: Englishman Justin Rose and Florida native Bubba Watson.
This year’s AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am will be an supremely exciting event as always. Last year, Brandt Snedeker managed to record only one single bogey across all four rounds, which helped him to break the event scoring record (that he had already held from his previous win). Not one to lay off the gas peddle, Snedeker is in blistering form at the moment, having captured the Farmers Insurance Open just over a week ago. If he were to win again this week, he would become the sixth person to win back to back AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am titles, as well as becoming the first player to win three titles in four years.
After missing out on the event last year for the first time in twenty years, Phil Mickelson will be looking to getting back to winning ways in his own attempt to join Mark O’Meara with five AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am wins.
On the celebrity front, there are a few notable faces making their debuts in the event, including Mark Wahlberg and Toby Keith. Justin Timberlake, who many already know to be quite the golf enthusiast, will be back playing in the event for the first time in six years.
Enter to Win a Limited-Edition Jordan Spieth Bobblehead
So now the info you’ve been waiting for…how you can win your own limited-edition AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am Jordan Spieth Bobblehead!
Golficity, in conjunction with AT&T, will be giving away two bobbleheads with the winner being randomly selected from those individuals who have subscribed to our free email newsletter by Sunday, February 14th. The winners will be announced and contacted via email on Monday, February 15th.
No purchase is necessary and subscribing to our email newsletter is completely free. Simply use the form below to subscribe and you’ll be automatically entered into Monday’s drawing. If you’re already a subscriber to our email newsletter, fear not, you will be automatically entered into the contest.
So enter by submitting your email below and be sure to follow Bobblehead Jordan’s adventures on Twitter at @att.
WIN A LIMITED EDITION JORDAN SPIETH BOBBLE HEAD
Join our free Golficity newsletter for a chance to win.
This limited edition Jordan Spieth bobble head will only be made available to the first 8,000 fans at the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am on Saturday, Feb. 13
Two lucky winners will be randomly selected on Monday February 15th. No purchase nessessary. See contest rules for full details.
This post is brought to you by AT&T in partnership with the #ATTPROAM