Pebble Beach, CA
This once marquis event is now more like a B+ tournament in terms of the quality of the field. The course is magnificent but the weather can turn at this time of year. The Pro-Am aspect is no longer what it was as it attracts more CEO types than celebrities – but they are merely a sideshow that isn’t that compelling to watch.
Who should win? – Patrick Cantlay (7/1)
Cantlay has had a handful of good results at this event including a T4 last year. But the primary reason he is the player to watch is how he has performed in his last five tournaments – T11, 1, 1, 4, 9 – say no more.
Who could win? – Daniel Berger 12/1, Jason Day 22/1, Maverick McNealy 25/1, Seamus Power 28/1
Berger won last year and had a T5 in 2020. He is one of the better semi-young players on Tour and has the second shortest odds to win this week. Jason Day has been in the wilderness for the past few years but was in serious contention at Torrey Pines last week and has had four consecutive top-10’s at this tournament. McNealy finished just behind Berger last year and his game is improving. He should win his first Tour event soon. Power keeps putting up good results and his all-around game suits this course.
Longer shots to consider – Kevin Streelman 55/1, Taylor Pendrith 125/1, Cameron Tringale 28/1
Streelman is a player that occasionally contends but often fades down the stretch but he has had a great track record at this event. Pendrith is a Canadian rookie who hits it a long way and was very consistent over the past couple of years on the Korn Ferry. He has had a problem with his final rounds lately, but this is not uncommon among first-timers. I believe he will be the next “great” Canadian player on the Tour. Tringale has strung together a surprising number of top finishes of late. He can’t seem to finish strong and this has kept him from winning that long-awaited first victory. He may need to “back in” to one someday to get untracked. I would look at his top-5 odds rather than bet on him to win outright.
Who will win? – Jason Day 22/1
Day seems to love this golf course and last week’s result may be just the confidence-builder that he needs to get back to the winner’s circle.
The Golfing Life 
Mr. Life, I very much appreciate your perspectives on these tournaments and the players that are participating, particularly at this time of the season. I am an unapologetic west coast swinger. The American kind, not the Canadian. Your assessment of the professional players are almost certainly accurate, however I take umbrage with your observations of the amateurs who participate in this clam bake. Some bring a little laughter, yes, and some bring some exposure to their upcoming album, yes, and others (you wryly noted) bring corporate cash to CBS . . . sorry, to the Monterey Peninsula and its prodigious charities. But Tony Romo’s pitch from the UPPER deck of a hospitality pavilion onto the green 60 yards up a few years ago is the reason why the cameras still follow Bill Murray. As they should. He DID get the gopher . . . didn’t he?
LikeLike
He did indeed get the gopher. I stand corrected. Watching Bill Murray’s antics in his unique attire never truly gets old.
Sent from my iPhone
>
LikeLike