2006 Pebble Beach Pro-Am... These Guys are Good?!?!?
This weekend, I spent a good amount of time watching the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am on CBS. This tournament is one of my favorites, because of the scenery and mystique that Pebble Beach brings. I was even more excited because the weather was spectacular the entire week. However, the golf and TV coverage again were like most AT&T Pro-Ames horrible.
One of the characteristics of the AT&T that makes it unique is that players play three different courses and PAS Professionals are paired with celebrities. However, when I tuned into CBS coverage on Saturday, I noticed that all of the marquee players were not playing Pebble, which is where CBS had most of their cameras. (There was coverage of holes 9 and 18 on both Poppy Hills and Spyglass, I believe). So CBS was left with basically three options: (1) Show coverage of Phil Mickelson, who was 7-under early in his round, but then began to stink; (2) Follow Aaron Oberholser, who was leading the tournament and playing the front nine. (Too bad they did not have TV coverage on most of the front 9 at Pebble); or (3) Show Bill Murray play hockey around the hole and then throw his ball into the crowd. Well CBS chose option #3.
I find Bill marriage outlandish ways on a golf course refreshing. He definitely has a good time and enjoys playing to the crowd. But, there is nothing pretty about his golf game, well at least his putting on Saturday. I cannot count how many times he'd putt the ball 10 feet by the hole and then expect the crowd to get excited and cheer for him. Personally, I probably would have said to myself, what was that! And laughed at his inability to possess "touch." Another one of his antics was when he took the cord of the TV camera on 13 and wrapped it around the guy holding the TV camera and pulled him to the ground. Yes, I laughed, but I tuned into the coverage to watch golf, not a country western rodeo on a golf course. Nevertheless, I decided to watch Sunday to see if the coverage would be better.
When Sunday's coverage came on, I was already excited because my OSI backwash had just defeated Illinois on CBS. However, when they showed the leaderboard, Oberholser was up by 5. Well at least the weather was nice, I thought. Then, after a few holes, Aaron was up by 7. Then, Aaron started to play like your typical talented hack. Off the trees, on the green, birdie on 15. Hitting it into bunkers and never feeling comfortable the last few holes. It was painful to watch, but I thought it was even more painful to watch Weir gag from 5 feet all day and the CBS team recalling how great of a short "par" putter he was. I think we should have a new event on TV involving Weir and Phil doing 5 foot par circles, and seeing how many they miss, when the pressure is on.
Anyways, Aaron won. Not because he shot a great and memorable final round, but because no one really challenged him on Sunday. Yet, a win is a win, and something that he'll always remember. I just wish as a fan of golf, I would have been able to watch a fantastic finish and see glimmers of "These Guys are Good" like the PGA promotes.
12 Comments:
I live in Northern California and my feelings about the Pebble Beach tournament are not good. This is the key tournament that comes our way and the fact that it's a celebrity pro-am has always scared me off from attending. I cannot imagine being a spectator at an event where I have to watch a 30 handicap CEO chunking chip shots and slicing it off the cliffs into the ocean. Watching amateurs chop up the golf course with a crowd that's there more for the celebrities than the golfers is a nightmare. I see enough hacking among myself and my golf buddies every weekend!
I am also a norther California resident and feel exactly the opposite of SirSpangler.
1) I can go watch in person three courses that I have played (and can play at any time, as all are public), seeing how the professionals do from the same tees I play from, or watch an amateur with a similar handicap take on the course under high-stress conditions (but from forward tees). Sure, there will be shanks, as I myself have done on occasion, but I also know better than to view a hole from the danger zone (30-150 yards from the tee box), and take a line-drive to the noggin.
2) As Peter Jacobson stated in the press conference, and to which I whole heartedly agree, the Bob Hope and the AT&T are two tournaments where the corporate bigwigs who wholeheartedly support the PGA Tour and its affiliates and charities show up on the course. Neither of the tournaments are under ideal conditions for the competitors (6 hour rounds, watching bad golf, giving swing tips, signing unliimited autographs), but as Peter said, each give the players and opportunity to give back to the corporate guys that float their enormous pay checks. He stated that every player should be required to play in one of the tournaments every year. Sure, they are independednt contractors, and the tournaments don't have room to enter "every" player. But I agree with his statement that the top 125 players should (for one tournement) not gripe about course conditions and just go with the flow. It may seem rediculous, since this is their job, but it makes sense to just give the amateurs a great time, as it is the biggest major in their minds for those days that they get to have their day in the sun.
3) As for viewing professional tournaments, I always go to the AT&T on Wednesday and Saturday. But, as Jason noted, it did seem less filled with the big names on Pebble Beach on Saturday. But Wednesday made up for it. Thus, the nice fact that as a local I can go in person, and travel around to all the courses if desired. But, we locals also have the bonus of having a Champions tour event (the year-ending Championship), an LPGA event (the Safeway Classic...where the Big Break winner will go), and a Nationwide Tour Event (the Livermore Valley...on one of my favorite courses in the East Bay). Hard to complain about any of them in my book.
4) As for the weather...it was touted as being perfect on TV, but it should be noted that it was in the 30s several mornings, and a light fog around the course, but for the AT&T (Carmel in February), that is about as close to perfect as you get.
5) As for Bill's antics, they almost take three groups (one preceding and following), and make it more like Michael Jordan's celebrity tournament and less like an official event (squeaking a rubber chicken while his partner is putting, throwing spectators in bunkers, etc.). But, he draws spectators to come watch, as well as viewers on TV that normally would not watch golf, and with a massive chunk of money going to charities from the event, I'm glad he attends the event. Sure, I like to watch a tournament for the golf also, but all in all, I think it is good to have one tournament that is played for the charities benefitted and to thank those corporate guys who have made a lifelong committment to supporting the game of golf.
I'm with sir: if I want to see a 30 handicap CEO top one into the ocean on number 8, I'll just get a second mortgage and go play Pebble myself...half the people there are CEOs.
I forgot about those noble corporate leaders who selflessly support the PGA tour through thick and thin, those Mother Theresas of the golf world...I love those guys and I've change my mind and now realize that we should attend pro-am tournaments as spectators to show our support for their efforts!
Sir...you made me laugh.
Anyhow..as another Northern California resident, I gotta chime in here.
Where to begin...
1. I rather enjoy seeing the boys play in rough weather, but since nice weather there means nice weather here, who am I to complain? The only issue is that I had to record sunday since I was out playing actual golf.
2. I've been to the AT&T a number of times, and its a great experience, but not really one where you go to see high-level golf. It's more about enjoying the game on all levels...from tee to green to the thousand drinks in Carmel as you rub shoulders with celebs, pro golfers, CEO's and the Carmel elite. It's totally fun...bring a black card and drive your Mazerati...
3. There are two things causing the top names to avoid the AT&T: slow play and crappy conditions. Poppy is not a great course. I've played it maybe five times and its really very so-so - silly layout, some tricked-up holes that don't make sense, crappy greens that don't drain. etc.(I get to play for cheap as an NCGA member, but I've come to realize that I'd rather go to Livermore and play Poppy Ridge instead). Spyglass is a great test, but even the smallest amount of moisture (even heavy fog) can wreak havoc on the greens. Pebble is obviously one of the great courses, but its also the one that plays slowest - e.g. CEO's dumping drives into the pacific, celebs playing to the corwd.
4. I think that a lot of the big name pros that actually show up are beginning to ask to be paired with no-name am partners so they don;t have to deal with the zoo on Saturday. It doesn't take a marketing genius to figure out why they put the celebs on Pebble on Saturday, and the celebs know why they're there. So this causes a perfecet storm of bad golf, course silliness and 6 hour rounds. Also, Pebble has the toughest greens and thats the last place I'd want to putt for big $$$'s if the pins have been in one place for three days. OF course, if its wet, I'd say that applies more to Spyglass, but given the zoo factor, the crowds, the greens, the endless rounds, etc...if I was a pro, I'd try to play spyglass on Saturday, too.
5. Speaking of being a marketing genius, and having my typical ax to grind with the "man" - could CBS be any more obvious about whoring out their golfer/tv stars? Jesus Christ, I GET IT!!!
So....what can be done to draw bigger golf names (I think we all know who we're talking about here)? Is that the question? Personally, I'd like to see better golf with bigger names, but it'll never really happen in a complete pro-am situaiton. We now have the AMEX coming to Harding every few years, so that will have to suffice. However, that doesn't mean they better golfers shouldn't show up. So heres some ideas:
1. Make another Pro-am in the fall at like Vegas or maybe make Disney a pro-am and the require each pro to play in at least one of the three - as a means of thanking the game, the fansand the sponsors.
2. Get Poppy off the rotation. Cypress would be great, but we all know that ain't gonna happen, so let's look to either the new course they're building at pebble or maybe go up the road to Bayonet (that course has been known to eat small animal alive).
3. Spread the celebs out and cover the other course better. This will appease the fans on a lot of different levels (I'd love to see more Spyglass on TV), and it will make play a bit faster.
4. Limit the field a bit: no handicaps over 18- LEGIT handicaps and cut the entire field down to 160.
I don't think these are all the greatest/best ideas...hell I'm already disagreeing with myself about some of them, but it's somethign to think about.
Sarcasm duly noted, but I should clear up a few points:
First, I was making the point of thanking the corporate bigwigs for the players, not the spectators. I never stated that one should attend the event as a spectator as a thank you to bigwigs. But the players should attend the event to show their appreciation.
Second, replacing Poppy with Bayonet would be a great idea. It would frustrate the heck out of the amateurs (tough course), and the parking issue would have to be looked at (right now parking for the event for spectators is at Bayonet/Black Horse, and shuttles take you to the main area...although there may be plenty of space there to deal with additional parking). Limiting the field with handicaps would be nice, but it might knock out marquee celebrities. Tough call. Perhaps using the Nicklaus course in Monterey or the Pete Dye Carmel Valley course would be a good substitute since the are close...or Spanish Bay, although this isn't really a tournament course (a lot of tricked-up holes). Forcing the players to attend one Pro-Am event a year seems the most logical choice, but the Players' Association will fall back on the independent contractor rules, and this will go nowhere.
Lastly, it should be noted, as locals may already know by the papers, that Harding isn't due for another tournament until 2012, and based on the budgeted numbers, the city may not be able to keep the course at PGA standards (thus meaning that the contract would be voided). Personally playing the course, I've seen it steadily decline since the AMEX, and it is sad to see all the work go to waste. This brings up a whole new discussion regarding the absurdity of muni run courses that lose money...charging non-residents exorbitant fees, while charging locals very little, and then wondering why they can't reach the budgeted numbers. Ahhh...the joy of your government at work.
Yeah a big part of the problem for the top players relate to the conditions. After all, everyone knows that February isn't exactly the best month to head down to Monterey to play golf! I know Tiger has said he's avoiding the tournament because the bumpy greens cause too many missed short putts and in the past this has lead him to questioning his stroke early in the year...not exactly what he wants.
I'd attend as a spectator if they finished the celebrity portion of the tournament on Saturday, leaving Sunday as a pro-only day. The celebrities are sort of hiding away that day anyway, trying to not get in the way or distract their pro partners coming down the stretch.
I almost said the same thing about shutting down the pro-am on Saturday, but I thouhgt I might take a beating for such an egregious break with tradition. I agree...shut the pro-am down after 54 hole. The CEOs will be pissed about no getting that extra day at pebble, but its ultimately for the good of the tournament...I bet if they played Cypress instead of Poppy there wouldn't be any complaints (yes, I know about Cypress' membership...) Hell, even a lotta pros would be eager to play Cypress.
Harding..oh my dear Harding...to be honest, I rarely play it even though it only costs me $48 and it about 5 min from my house. The play is dreadfully slow, the green are full of ball marks and the turf suffers from cheap maintenance practices - all of which were problems before the re-build and all are easily dealt with. The problem witht he maintenance, of course, is the quagmire of SF City governance. The pace of play and the ball marks, thouhg...I blame that squarely on Kemper, who manage the place. Marshall's need to marshall, and instead of free tees, how about ball-mark fixers and a lesson on how to use them. Hell, shouldn't every course have that?
As for 2012...ya, thats what they're saying about the Amex, but the SF golf rumor mill is claiming that they're working on getting getting something "else" that may or may not be the US Senior or Women Open...but that could be bullshit - the guys at Glen Eagles will tell you anything.
Gleneagles...I used to play there all the time when I lived in San Francisco. Now =>that's a pure golf experience! I love the bar there and only the most hard-core golfers even know the place exists. I do remember knocking it onto that downhill dogleg left par 5 in two, only to see a wild dog run up onto the green and take my ball...
I haven't been to Harding since the upgrade because now that I'm an out of town alien they want a lot of money to play there. That's a shame it's already falling apart.
The AMEX will not be held there...per the San Francisco Chronicle:
"The next event will occur no earlier than 2008, and it will not be the AMEX (now the CA Championship in Miami) or the Tour Championship (tied to Atlanta). The Bridgestone Invitational also is a longshot, despite last week's speculation; the Tour apparently is committed to keeping that event in Akron, Ohio, through 2010. Maybe the Match Play Championship comes here in '08, or the Presidents Cup in '09. "
The rumor mill going around the city is that a tournament may not be held at Harding Park until 2012...thus my original comment.
I think if Tiger were playing there might be a, shall we say, enhanced outlook on the tournament (even for those who already enjoy it). He (along with many of the others who have been around for a while) bring a respectable nature and elevated intrigue to the sport we all love and call the gentleman's sport. What's more funny than a fart in a spacesuit, as the newly famed Pebble Beach winner would say, is all the heroicism Oberholser is getting for making a remarkable living for putting a ball in the hole. If you know him you would know off camera he has ripped on everyone from his mother (being a loser) to Annika (needing divine intervention) and yet he has been rewarded handsomely and heroicly for the act the public sees on TV. Where did the gentleman's sport go? Will we ever experience that again? Or, do we now have the new era of golfers - the I me miners???
Aaron Oberholser is a nice guy and a good golfer. I'm sure he carries himself better on tv than in person, but who wouldn't. I haven't heard him "rip on" his family but he is a good brother and son.
-friend of the family
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