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Subpar’s Colt Knost and Drew Stoltz are joined by 3-time MLB All-Star Mark Grace who explains what it was like playing at the Pebble Beach Pro-Am alongside Bill Murray.

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The post Why Jordan Spieth’s ‘perfect swing’ bogey echoed another famous miss appeared first on Golf.

The post Why Jordan Spieth’s ‘perfect swing’ bogey echoed another famous miss appeared first on Golf.

Jordan Spieth’s bogey on the 17th Sunday while in the lead at the Pebble Beach Pro-am definitely was surprising. The man has played that course so well, and he was wrapping up a weekend of ball-striking his you-know-what off. 

But at its core, that escapade — Spieth’s approach landing one yard short of the green, splashing in the bunker and commencing his downfall — was so, so unsurprising. And it was extremely reminiscent of another treacherous miss from last year, and a painful reminder of just how hard it is to excel on the PGA Tour.

For those who watched, and those who didn’t, here’s what Spieth said to caddie Michael Greller as they sized up the 185-yard approach:

Spieth: “It’s gotta be down [wind], right? The last hole played — well — my ball landed short of the pin.”

Greller: “The last hole [the wind] played more northerly, wouldn’t you say?”

Spieth: “Yeah.”

Greller: “Which would make this more help than hurt.”

Spieth: “Well no, I thought last hole didn’t because my shot, I thought, landed — it actually landed short of where … “ 

His voice trailed off on the broadcast before saying, “North-northwest is where it is.”

News

Agreement! A somewhat northerly wind. Technically, yes, that should be a helping wind, a little off the right. And if that was the case, then 8-iron was the club for Spieth. A north-northwest wind would make sense for why his approach into 16, which plays more into that wind, would land short of the pin. Okay, got it. 

Spieth: “I’m not going to like, just slice it into it. 

Greller: “Yeah.”

Spieth: “It’s more like a hold. Like yesterday’s shot at 9.”

Greller: “Yeah, yeah. I agree. Full commitment.”

Spieth: “It’s gotta be enough, right?”

Greller: “Yes. You’ve got adrenaline, too, ya know?”

Spieth: “Yeah.” 

Chances are you’ve seen the highlight. Spieth’s 8-iron, hit perfectly, betrayed perhaps by the wind, finished just short on a hole where he needed to cover 174 yards. His immediate response: “Dude, that was just flushed. That’s the exact shot I wanted to hit. It just came right here [referencing the exit window] instead of right there. Oh, my god that’s such a good shot.”

On the broadcast, Spieth called that swing his best of the day. Later, he upped the ante to reporters later by calling it his best swing of the week. Does that sound familiar? For golf nerds with archival minds, it should, because we heard the same words from another pro a little less than a year ago.

Think back to Masters Sunday and Xander Schauffele’s ill-fated tee shot at the 16th. With just three holes left, Schaeffele faced 181 yards to the hole, and probably about a 165-yard carry. It was a 184-yard shot, in Schauffele’s mind. He thought the wind was down and off the left and so he pulled 8-iron, just like Spieth. And just like Spieth, Schauffele’s shot struck the ground one yard shy of the putting surface.

The result? Schauffele’s tee shot rolled into the water, and his tournament chances sunk with it. He walked off the 16th with a triple-bogey 6. 

While there’s no arguing the situations were different, the shots were mirror images. Even Schauffele’s response afterward was particularly Spiethian.

“I hit it perfect,” he said immediately to caddie Austin Kaiser, which he repeated again to reporters after the round. “I hit a perfect 8-iron.” 

The fans at home have to wonder: How is it possible that flawless 8-irons from two of the best ball-strikers on the planet could end up so woefully short of safety? Wind, for sure. We get that. But the main reason is that those two holes require two of the most exact shots in golf. And year after year it is proven just how damn difficult they are.

For starters, missing long on 17 at Pebble isn’t very fun! Of the 12 tee shots that resulted in bogeys on the 17th Sunday, the three nearest to the hole all wound up long. Being just long is tricky! You saw where Spieth putted from after his sand shot. Being just five feet above the hole leaves you with a speedy, squirrelly putt. Augusta National is doubly so. Matsuyama’s tee shot — which came directly after Schauffele’s water ball — ended up only a couple paces above the hole, and here’s what his birdie putt looked like. Yes, he made bogey. A winning bogey.

Nobody wants that putt! Nobody wants to be long on that hole, nor on Pebble’s 17th.

Now, Pebble’s greens in the winter won’t play quite as fast as Augusta’s in the spring, but the firmness of each course was probably similar on these two days. That’s championship golf for you. Beau Hossler called the 18th green “firm as the cart path” yesterday afternoon, another reason why Spieth wanted 8-iron in his hands. Entering that green with the wind slightly at your back, you want all the downward trajectory you can get. And laying off a 7-iron sometimes isn’t as easy as going 100% with an 8-iron. 

“It’s really hard to win out here,” Schauffele said that day. “Especially at this course. I’ll throw [hole] 16 in the memory bank. I think a lot of the great shots into 16 are left-to-right. High cuts into that mound. I’ve been hitting a good, high cut all week. I just didn’t think of it at that time.”

A lesson learned, we think.

A high cut from Xander might have called for a 7-iron in that moment. But most pros would tell you it’s easier to hit a perfect shot when they’re swinging full speed than it would be at, say, 90 or 95%. So they’ll gladly take the lesser club in those moments, relying on adrenaline like Greller mentioned, or the fallacy of a tame Mother Nature. They are not wrong to believe that their perfect is going to be perfect. It’s just really hard for us watching at home to agree with the terminology once we see the result.

Agree? Disagree? Feel free to lob praise, critiques or any commentary to the author at sean.zak@golf.com.

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In a week where the golf world was distracted with off-course conversation, Jordan Spieth reminded us what makes him a fan favorite. Spieth risked it all on Saturday at the 8th hole of the Pebble Beach Pro-Am, hitting his approach shot from the edge of a six-story cliff in an effort to save a precious stroke.

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The post Winner’s bag: Tom Hoge at the 2022 AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am appeared first on Golf.

Tom Hoge won for the first time in 203 PGA Tour starts with a two-shot win over Jordan Spieth at the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am. Here’s a look at the Titleist-heavy setup he used to come out on top.

Driver: Titleist TSi3 (Fujikura Ventus Black 6X shaft), 9 degrees

Fairway Wood: Titleist TS2 (Fujikura Atmos Blue 8X shaft), 13.5 degrees

Hybrid: Titleist 913Hd (Fujikura Speeder 904X shaft), 18 degrees

Irons: Titleist 620 CB (4-iron; Project X 6.5 shafts), Titleist 620 MB (5-PW; Project X 6.5 shafts)

Wedges: Titleist Vokey Design SM8 (52, 56, 60 degrees; True Temper Dynamic Gold Tour Issue S400 shafts)

Putter: Odyssey White Hot OG Two-Ball

Ball: Titleist Pro V1 Left Dot

Grips: Golf Pride Tour Velvet

Want to overhaul your bag for 2022? Find a fitting location near you at GOLF’s affiliate company True Spec Golf. For more on the latest gear news and information, check out our latest Fully Equipped podcast below.

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The post Jordan Spieth sputters out as Tom Hoge triumphs at Pebble Beach appeared first on Golf.

The post Jordan Spieth sputters out as Tom Hoge triumphs at Pebble Beach appeared first on Golf.

In a matter of moments, the scope of an entire golf tournament can flip, and Sunday at the Pebble Beach Pro-Am was a prime example. 

The most clinical version of Jordan Spieth was on full display all weekend long, as he ball-striked his way around the iconic cliffside design. Through 70 holes, he held a one-shot lead over Tom Hoge, a 32-year-old pro who has never won in 200-plus starts on the PGA Tour. With one swing from Spieth and one swing from Hoge, mere minutes apart, the Pro-Am was upended from Spieth’s 13th-career Tour win to Hoge’s first.

Spieth “flushed” his approach into the par-3 17th, coming up one yard short of clearing the bunker — according to broadcaster Colt Knost — leaving a tricky up and down. Hoge, one shot and one hole back, nearly holed his approach into the 16th, leaving a tap-in for the tie. Spieth missed his par putt on 17. Nine minutes later Hoge made his birdie putt on 17.

Around the time Hoge’s putt dropped, Spieth found his ball under the famous fairway tree on 18, crunched his hybrid into the ground and sent his ball skidding into the fairway bunker. He was two down and out of options. The tournament Spieth looked to have stolen from the field was stolen right back from him, really in just a swing or two. 

“Just picked the wrong shape of shot on 17,” Nick Faldo said on the broadcast. “Hit it center on the wind, it could be a different story.” 

It was easy for Faldo to doubt Spieth, especially in the hindsight. But it also is hard to poke a hole through Faldo’s analysis. Faldo, it seems, wanted a fade from Spieth. Spieth elected for a tight draw with an 8-iron and came up agonizingly short. 

“I felt like I hit a lot of shots exactly where I wanted to and it just — couple yards here or there, couple inches here or there on the greens,” Spieth said on the broadcast after. “I don’t think I need to change anything, just keep doing what I’m doing, and a lot of times those will lip in.”

Rules

Hoge, on the other hand, played crisp, clean, near-perfect golf on the way in. A smooth 5-wood off the 18th tee. A smart layup into the fairway. An 8-iron that bounced at the flag and two putts to more or less clinch his long-awaited first title. When Beau Hossler’s final approach flared into a bunker, it was all but over. 

“It feels pretty good. Almost a little bit in shock,” Hoge said. “It’s been so long since I’ve won anything, I almost forgot to celebrate there on 18.”

Hoge had made 202 starts on the PGA Tour, and finally a victory. With it comes his first invitation to the Masters at Augusta National. It was a long time coming, and he was reminded about that afterward. 

“I’ve always kinda got myself in position and then just felt a little uncomfortable on Sundays out there,” Hoge said. “Finally today I felt great the whole day. Felt real calm kinda standing over those putts you need to make down the stretch. It’s awesome. You work through so many hard times, but to be here and finally pull one off feels incredible.”

Seconds later he hoisted the trophy for the first time. There was a lot more of that coming for him Sunday night. 

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The post Pebble Beach brings back roller-coaster 10th tee box for Pro-Am Sunday appeared first on Golf.

The post Pebble Beach brings back roller-coaster 10th tee box for Pro-Am Sunday appeared first on Golf.

There are, it turns out, two ways to play the 10th hole at Pebble Beach: the way it was built, and the way God intended.

The former of the two routings is simple, straightforward, and inarguably effective. It is four-hundred and ninety-five yards of strategic drudgery, requiring a straight, sturdy drive to place oneself in position to execute another straight, sturdy approach, and, if both previous steps are executed properly, will provide a straight, sturdy putt for birdie. For decades, it has served as Pebble Beach’s official U.S. Open routing, and through three days at the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am, this routing has ranked as the fourth-hardest hole at Pebble Beach.

The former is a good routing, yes, but it was not the routing God intended. No, you couldn’t find that routing unless you were looking for it. The routing God intended lies on a cropping of land next to the 9th green pitched at a 45-degree angle from the original tee markers. It is some 150 yards closer to the flagstick, and when utilized, turns the 10th hole into a canvass of shot creativity. At just 356 yards, the 10th hole’s alternate routing makes it drivable for the pros, but not without a significant buy-in; the viewpoint from the tee box means players seeking to drive the green must carry their tee shot over the ocean and the cliffs below. Anything further left will wind up in danger, while anything further right is, well, seal food.

The PGA Tour has experimented with this hole configuration in previous years, and the results are fairly conclusive: using the alternate routing turns the 10th into a scoring hole. In last year’s Pebble Pro-Am, the 10th hole played a half-stroke easier from Saturday (normal routing) to Sunday (alternate), seeing 4 birdies or better and 127 bogeys or worse on Saturday to 24 birdies or better and only 3 bogeys or worse on Sunday.

So, where did the mysterious tee box originate? According to the Associated Press’ Doug Ferguson, who explored the routing back in 2014, the tee box was part of the course’s original routing, but was left unkempt for years by Pebble Beach’s maintenance staff. Part of the issue with the alternate tee, Ferguson found, was that its proximity to the 9th green made it bad for both pace of play and player safety.

On Sunday, though, the best players in the world proved ample reason for an exception. As the pressure rose, would the leaders risk going for it on Pebble Beach’s 10th? Or would they stay back safely? Jordan Spieth, who entered Sunday’s final round a stroke back of the lead, offered a hint to Ferguson back in 2014.

“If I grow up and I’m smart, I’ll probably lay up,” Spieth said. “If I’m under 30 years old, I’ll go for it.”

Just like God intended.

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He had just finished playing what this website rates as the 14th-best course in the world, on a chamber of commerce kind of day, when Tom Hoge said what a lot of us would be thinking. “I mean, it’s hard to be in a bad mood out here,” he said. “I mean, Pebble Beach and perfect weather is about as good as it gets.” As was his scorecard. Here are three things you need to know after Thursday’s first round of the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am, played at Pebble Beach, Spyglass Hill and Monterey Peninsula, in California.

Complete leaderboard here.  

Tom Hoge leads 

And nowhere was Hoge’s scorecard more ideal than on Pebble’s front nine. After starting on the back, he reeled off six birdies in a row beginning on the par-4 3rd, shot a nine-under 63 and grabbed a one-shot lead.

Included in the run was a chip-in from over the green on the par-4 4th.  

“It was a lot of fun,” Hoge said. “I feel like I’ve been playing well. I’ve been excited to get out here on the golf course and feel like Pebble Beach is a golf course that suits me well, so I was excited to get out here this week.”

One back of Hoge was Seamus Power, and two behind were Jonas Blixt and Austin Smotherman. 

Patrick Cantlay is three behind 

Three back was Patrick Cantlay, who, at No. 4, is the only top 10 player in the field. 

Cantlay was three-under through 13 at Monterey, then birdied his final three holes. 

“Yeah, I started off strong and had a weird middle of the round, definitely gave a few away,” he said. “And then closed really strong. So finishing with three in a row on this golf course is a really nice finish, and I’m happy with my start for the week.”

Jason Day is five back 

Among other players, Jason Day is five back after a 68 at Pebble Beach, Matt Fitzpatrick is six back after a 69 at Pebble, and Jordan Spieth is also six back, after a 68 at Monterey.  

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The post Pebble Beach Pro-Am celebrity handicaps: How the stars stack up appeared first on Golf.

The post Pebble Beach Pro-Am celebrity handicaps: How the stars stack up appeared first on Golf.

It’s Pebble Beach week, and you know what that means — star athletes, comedians, country music singers, actors and more will tee it up alongside the best golfers in the world at the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am beginning on Thursday.

This year’s field took a slight hit with the Saudi International taking place across the globe, but there are still plenty of headliners on the Monterey Peninsula.

Patrick Cantlay is the betting favorite but big names like Daniel Berger, Jason Day, Jordan Spieth and Justin Rose are also in the field. Will Zalatoris, who lost in a playoff at last week’s Farmers Insurance Open, was in the field but had to withdraw due to a positive Covid-19 test.

Lifestyle

But of course, what makes this tournament unique, beyond its iconic venue, are the other golfers in the field. Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen is in the mix and so are actor Don Cheadle, retired NFL star Larry Fitzgerald, comedian Bill Murray and musicians Macklemore, Darius Rucker and Jake Owen, to name a few.

Here’s a look at the celebrities in the field, along with their tournament handicaps:

*Handicaps according to PGATour.com

2022 AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am celebrities

Josh Allen (9)
Canelo Álvarez (13)
Bret Baier (3)
Mookie Betts (10)
Don Cheadle (8)
Kira K. Dixon (14)
Josh Duhamel (8)
Scott Eastwood (not provided)
Larry Fitzgerald (7)
Colt Ford (3)
Andy Garcia (7)
Macklemore (12)
Mia Hamm (10)
Thomas Keller (16)
Charles Kelley (5)
Michael Peña (5)
Bill Murray (16)
Lukas Nelson (8)
Chris O’Donnell (7)
Jake Owen (3)
ScHoolboy Q (11)
Alfonso Ribeiro (2)
Ray Romano (16)
Darius Rucker (7)
Alex Smith (8)
Clay Walker (10)
Steve Young (13)

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The post 5 picks I love at the Pebble Beach Pro-Am, according to a professional gambler appeared first on Golf.

The post 5 picks I love at the Pebble Beach Pro-Am, according to a professional gambler appeared first on Golf.

The West Coast Swing continues this week with a stop that needs no introduction: the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am.

What was born decades back as Bing Crosby’s Clambake lives on today as part competition, part cocktail party, with Bill Murray as leading man, and a supporting cast of celebrities and Tour pros.

Daniel Berger is the defending champ, and he’s in the field again. But he’s not the odds-on favorite. That designation goes to Patrick Cantlay, who sits atop the betting board, just ahead of Berger, Jason Day, Jordan Spieth, Cameron Tringale and Justin Rose.

News

The tournament plays on a three-course rota, with Spyglass Hill and the Monterey Peninsula Country Club (Shore) in the mix over the first two days. On Saturday and Sunday, the entire field plays on Pebble only.

The current weather forecast calls for partly cloudy to sunny skies this weekend, with temperatures in the mid-60s. Scores should get into that range, too.

But who will shoot some of the lowest numbers?

For those predictions, we turn to Erick Lindgren, GOLF.com’s expert prognosticator. The terms are the same as ever: we give Lindgren a $1,000 gambling budget (just play money), and he supplies us with his five top picks. Here are Lindgren’s wagers for the event, which kicks off Thursday morning in Monterey.

(Looking to play any of these bets yourself? We teamed with BetMGM and the online sports book is offering a Risk-Free Bet of up to $1,000).

Jordan Spieth to win: +2,000 (wager: $200)

Lindgren was among the first last year to go all in on Spieth’s resurgence, and a T3 at Pebble was where the resurgent play began. “There are courses and events where Jordan should not be a ‘dog to anyone,” Lindgren says. “Pebble is one of those.”

Jason Day to win: +1,500 (wager: $150)

“Jason’s history here is simply too good to ignore,” says Lindgren, who also likes what he saw out of Day last week at Torrey Pines. The back pain is gone (for now, anyway), and Day’s stellar short remains intact. “Let’s ride his good health, hot hand and history here,” Lindgren says.

Nick Taylor, Top 5: +1,400 (wager: $250)

It seems like another lifetime now, but it was just two years ago that Taylor held off a fast-charging Phil Mickelson and won by four shots in this event. “His game is starting to percolate, which matches up with love for this tournament,” Lindgren says.

Nate Lashley, Top 10: +2,200 (wager: $200)

Lindgren is a banking on a repeat performance out of Lashley, who opened with six straight birdies on Pebble last year for an opening round 65. Even with a final-round triple bogey, Lashley finished T5. “I look for spots to back Nate, and this is definitely a good one,” Lindgren says.

Sahith Theegala, Top 5: +1,600 (wager: $200)

Theegala’s stock has been on the rise, but Lindgren still sees him as a great value. “This is a bet on talent, trying to get in early on him,” Lindgren says.

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The post GOLF’s Subpar: Adam Thielen talks which Tour pro he wants to team with at the Pebble Beach Pro-Am appeared first on Golf.

The post GOLF’s Subpar: Adam Thielen talks which Tour pro he wants to team with at the Pebble Beach Pro-Am appeared first on Golf.

Subpar’s Colt Knost and Drew Stoltz are joined by two-time NFL Pro Bowler Adam Thielen who reveals which Tour pro he wants to team up with at the Pebble Beach Pro-Am.

The post GOLF’s Subpar: Adam Thielen talks which Tour pro he wants to team with at the Pebble Beach Pro-Am appeared first on Golf.