Winter 2023

Favorite Local Tourney Named PGA Tour Signature Event 108 C A R M E L M A G A Z I N E • W I N T E R 2 0 2 3 AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am is Back With a Tournament Twist B Y D I NA RU I Z I f you’ve ever wanted to be in the proximity of some of the world’s greatest pro- fessional golfers, you’ll soon have a chance—while also being part of golf history in the making. The revamped 2024 AT&T Pebble Beach Pro- Am will bring the kings of the links to town, from Rory McIlroy (current #2) to Jason Day (current #21). You’ll see Viktor Hovland, Jordan Spieth, Matt Fitzpatrick and defending champion Justin Rose. Oh, and there’ll be a “GOAT” (Greatest of All Time) on the fairway: Tom Brady, a single-digit hand- icap who’s also a five-time NFL MVP and has led his teams to Super Bowl glory an astounding seven times. The world famous tournament is having a rebirth this year, and the impetus came from the top. Officials from the PGA contacted local tournament directors with a proposition: Modify the format, and become one of only eight designated “signature events” on the tour. Tournament Director and Monterey Peninsula Foundation CEO Steve John said that as long as the charitable work of the tournament didn’t suffer, he was ready for the challenge. “The tour came to the Monterey Peninsula Foundation and said, of all places, Pebble Beach needs to be an elevated signature event. No one has given more than us (through the Foundation). We have the history and the legacy. There was no reason we shouldn’t be a signature event.” The tournament, played on pristine Pebble Beach and some of its spectacular surrounding courses since 1947, has been known for golf, philanthropy and plenty of good times and shenanigans. Television and movie stars such as Bill Murray—and Jack Lemmon, Bing Crosby and other legends before him—led deep gal- leries of fans in uproarious laughter, hardly the stuff of stodgy competition. For decades, Carmel and sur- rounding cities buzzed with celebrity sightings and parties. But this time around, the golf tournament will focus more on—you guessed it—golf. And fans of the sport will be ecstat- ic about the lineup. Five celebrities, total, will play, and only in the pro-am portion on Thursday and Friday. Steve John says the list isn’t public just yet, but that most of the celebs will be from the world of sports. One early confirmation is Mr. Tom Brady himself, an almost-local raised just north in the San Francisco Bay Area and a veteran of this tournament. He tells Carmel Magazine he is very excited to have made the cut. “I’m thrilled to be returning to Pebble Beach for the 2024 AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am. This is such a unique and exciting year for the tournament, and I look forward to seeing the best players from the PGA Tour compete at two of the world’s most iconic courses.” Those courses are Spyglass Hill and Pebble Beach. There will be no third course this year, and no making the cut for the weekend. Winner of the 2023 AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am, Justin Rose, will re- turn to Pebble Beach this winter for the newly revamped tournament. Photo: Getty Images