The first of the PGA Tour’s signature events is here and a loaded field will head down to one of golf’s most iconic courses, Pebble Beach, for one of the PGA Tour’s most iconic tournaments, the famed AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am.
Despite the new PGA Tour season being four weeks old, there is a real sense that this week is the beginning as Rory McIlroy and world number one Scottie Scheffler will headline the field.
Following his historic 2024 which saw him win eight titles which included the Masters, Players Championship and Olympic Gold it is Scheffler who is the star attraction.
Having been atop of the world rankings for well over three years, despite golf’s great divide he is the undoubted best player in the world and he will be wanting to hit the ground running as he tries to get his 2025 off to a flying start.
With a stacked field, iconic setting and huge prize pool up for grabs, here is everything that you need to know.
The Course
Pebble Beach is a course that needs very little introduction, offering stunning ocean views and located right on the shores of the Pacific Ocean, every player will want to have a win at this famous course on their resume.
Built into the natural landscape surrounding it, the course has seen very little renovations over the years and whilst the wind can provide a stern test, scoring is set to be low as the best players in the game easily have the ability to overpower this stunning venue.
Measuring at just under 7,000 yards if the wind fails to blow the course is likely to be ripe for the picking but a challenge will always be presented on the 7th hole.
One of the shortest par 3’s in the game, the players will have just 106 yards to navigate, but with swirling coastal waters surrounding the green and the tee box being elevated, it is without doubt one of the most iconic holes in golf. Getting this tee shot wrong could immediately stop a round in its tracks.
Players to Watch
As is often the case when he tees it up at any tournament, the bookmakers favourite is Scottie Scheffler. Yet to win at Pebble Beach, you can be assured that he will want to change that record this week. However, for those wanting to take on Scheffler, this week could be the perfect time to do it.
Set to tee it up right at the start of the season, those plans were waylaid when on Christmas Day, Scheffler cut his hand and ended up with glass needing to be surgically removed. With his hand needing time to recover from the ordeal, this will be the Texan’s first start of the year and it’s fair to think that there could be a little rust that he may need to shake off.
With fairways and greens being at a premium this week, everything about Pebble Beach should appeal to Scheffler and although he may not be at his very best, with a course that clearly appeals to his strengths discount him at your peril.
Although he is the top dog when it comes to European golf, when it comes to the PGA Tour Rory McIlroy is more than used to playing second fiddle to Scottie Scheffler and once again he will tee it up this week as the second favourite for victory.
McIlroy is often a victim of his own success, having now gone eleven years since last tasting major success, the world number three’s exploits on the PGA Tour are often overlooked and there is absolutely no denying that he is one of the finest players in PGA Tour history.
A former FedEx Champion as well as being a multiple time winner of the Race to Dubai, McIlroy will be eyeing up a historic 2025. Set to be Europe’s talisman as Europe try to retain the Ryder Cup at Bethpage Black later this year, he will be desperate to try and get that major monkey off his back and win the fifth of his career.
Like Scheffler, McIlroy is yet to taste success at Pebble Beach and will hope to alter that record this week.
Completing the top three when it comes to the betting is Collin Morikawa. Having burst onto the scene by winning the U.S. Open and Open Championship, Morikawa then spent a few years frustrated and became one of golf’s forgotten men, however after a strong finish to 2023, the two time major winner was back to his best in 2024 and climbed back up the world rankings and now finds himself fourth in the official standings.
2024 was a year of near misses for Morikawa who despite his best efforts would often find himself coming unstuck to Scottie Scheffler, however he did best him at the season ending Tour Championships and he will certainly take plenty of heart from that effort.
Hugely consistent with his irons it could be argued that nobody in the world hits them better and if he can be dialled in this week, he has a great opportunity of also claiming a first title on the links of the Pebble Beach.
Value Plays
The great thing from a betting perspective when it comes to these signature events is that there is always plenty of value that can be found.
Hideki Matsuyama has enjoyed a brilliant few months. The winner of the St Jude Championship he started his season off with a bang with a victory at the Sentry Tournament of Champions.
The layout of his victory is very similar to what he will encounter this week and his starting price of 25/1 looks like the value play of the week. Clearly the Japanese star is swinging the club as well as he has ever done and with him believing once again that he belongs with the best in the game he could be set for another memorable week.
Keegan Bradley was another player like Matsuyama who enjoyed success at the 2024 FedEx Playoffs. The winner of the BMW Championship, Bradley is looking to create history this year by becoming the first ever Ryder Cup captain who plays.
Open with his desire to captain and play, Bradley will need to finish in the top six in the automatic standings which means weeks like this one are going to be vital to his chances.
The course this week should be ideally suited to his strengths, by no means one of the game’s biggest hitters, the reliance on accuracy is right in his wheelhouse and at 40/1 he definitely has the ability to outplay those odds.
Sahith Theegala is yet to really get going this year. The American has enjoyed a meteoric rise up the rankings in recent seasons and currently finds himself just outside of the world’s top ten.
A huge hitter of the ball, he is an extremely talented ball striker but when at his best he is also one of the best scorers. If the wind doesn’t blow, Theegala has the ability to pick Pebble Beach apart and could be a contender despite his 66/1 odds.
Jack Hartman
A keen golfer and huge fan of the game, Jack has been covering golf for the last five years. Bringing you all the latest coverage and news from the PGA, LIV, LPGA and DP World Tours, never before has golf been so popular and Jack can’t wait to bring all the excitement to his readers.
