Summer 2023

Pebble, as the locals call it, has never been out of the spotlight when it comes to major tourna- ments. The world famous AT&T National Pro- Am has been played here since it was the Crosby Clam Bake back in 1947. Pebble has hosted six of the men’s U.S. Opens. (The guys will be back in 2027, then three more times before 2045.) But now, it’s all about the ladies. “Some people say, ‘It took too, long.’Yeah it did. We wish it happened sooner, but we’re glad it’s happening now,” says Julia Pine, director of championship communications for the USGA. They’re just getting started:The USGA has slat- ed the women to play here in 2035, 2040 and 2048. Pine tells Carmel Magazine it’s a goal real- ized. “The overall commitment from the USGA over the past few years is to elevate women’s golf.The U.S. Amateur tournament is the oldest, but the U.S. Open is the premiere tournament, and it came down to us wanting to improve on the purse, the players and the places we play.” Ricki Lasky, head of LPGA tour business agrees, “LPGA athletes are the best in the world, and they deserve to compete on the best courses where the biggest championships in golf have long been contested. The tournament will pro- vide a challenging test for players, and it will deliver an incredible atmosphere and viewing experience for our fans. It’s a win across the board…it’s wonderful to see this progress.” A Homecoming Although a first for the ladies as a group, it’s a repeat treat and homecoming for one local star of the golf world, Mina Harigae. “I have probably played Pebble 50-plus times since I was 11,” she says. During the offseason, you may see Harigae with a leash in her hands as she walks her adorable Yorkipoo, Bentley, along the sands of Carmel Beach. But she’ll be armed with clubs for her next visit home, vying to cap- ture the U.S. Open title after her second place finish in 2022. She says she’s keeping her nerves Above: A Monterey Peninsula native, Mina Harigae is excited to return home to compete. Below: The 7th hole at Pebble Beach is one of the most recognizable in the world. Photo: USGA/Fred Vuich ZUMA Press, Inc./Alamy Stock Photo