Iconic venues enjoy spotlight in signature swing

The arrival of a new PGA Tour season always sparks interest in something new, and 2024 is no exception.

At the top of the list is 24-year-old Swede Ludwig Aberg. He’s already won twice on the PGA Tour and twice on the DP World Tour, but scouts want to know just how good he is.

And then there are the wonders of the dynamic duo of Jordan Spieth and Justin Thomas. For the first time in their nine years on tour together, the prodigies went 0-0 in 2023.

That’s right, a season ago they were nil and nil and just two wins in the last 86 tournaments between them. What do we offer? And can I go back to normal? Of course, this is a story that includes news.

But if you want another juicy treat early in the PGA Tour schedule, keep an eye out for the 1-2 Signature Events on the West Coast. What will happen in Central California for the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am (Feb. 1-4) and the Genesis Invitational (Feb. 1-4)? 15-18) tells the old story of the calendar-based Los Angeles tournament.

This clearly demonstrates that golf is very different from professional team sports such as baseball, basketball and football. In these activities, the stadium is of little interest because it actually mirrors other stadiums.

The 100-yard football field in San Francisco is similar to the 100-yard football field in Philadelphia. The height of the basket in New York is 3 meters, the same as the basket in Miami. Fans of these sports will not notice the location. Ah, but in golf, the fairway is the story.

Golf enthusiasts will find Pebble Beach Golf Links a real mecca, rivaling the Old Course in St. Andrews. You don’t just go to Pebble. You are on a pilgrimage.

Fans also know that the Riviera isn’t just Hollywood’s playground for top stars. This cool design has become so popular among the game’s top pros that Reeve jerseys have been in rotation for months. That part of the equation has changed for 2024, as it’s been given the “Signature” moniker, the deeper meaning being that this looks to the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am and Genesis Invitational.

Participation in these tournaments is limited to several categories, including the top 30 in the world and the top 50 from the previous year’s FedExCup rankings. – Fans are guaranteed an elite ride from top to bottom.

Fans include Victor Hovland, Scotty Scheffler, Rory McIlroy and Collin Morikawa. We know how to take world-class action. But despite all the major championships and major tournament wins, what sets the West Coast 1-2 punch apart is the sheer aura of Pebble Beach and the Riviera.

The famous Pebble Beach Pro-Am was first held in 1947 on the Monterey Peninsula, about two hours south of San Francisco, but was missed only once. In 1966 it rained so much that it had to be cancelled. It has been considered a “must play” game ever since Bing Crosby made Pebble Beach a showcase for the pro rosters. (Cypress Point, Monterey Peninsula, Spyglass, and Poppy Hills) have also been added to the game over the years. In 2024, athletes and amateurs will play one round at Pebble and one at Spyglass, and then professional players will face Pebble twice more.

In a slight departure from previous years, when players and fans competed on three different courses, only the top 24 fans advanced to the fourth round on Sunday at Pebble. But one thing hasn’t changed. Perhaps greatness will be crowned.

Last year’s winner was Justin Rose, but the roster of Pebble Beach pros mirrors that of World Golf Hall of Famers, including Sam Snead, Byron Nelson, Jack Nicklaus, Billy Casper, Tom Watson and Johnny Miller. Several generations ago, Payne Stewart, Tiger Woods and Jordan Spieth came more recently. Stillwater Cove and stunning views of the Pacific Ocean greet you at Nos. 5 through 10 and 1. At 17 and 18 Pebble Beach, the Riviera comes to you from a different perspective.

There are some Kikuyu areas that even the best short game experts cannot master. This is followed by a series of holes with saturated features. The par 3 sixth hole has a round green with a bunker in the center. Par 4 10 players try to drive, but a bad shot leaves them with an impossible wedge shot. And a tight dogleg that misses left and right is equally punished on the right 18.

Like Pebble, Riviera’s greatness is defined by its wall of champions, including Snead, Nelson, Watson, Miller, Ben Hogan, Lanny Wadkins, Fred Cupples, Nick Faldo, Ernie Els and Adams Scott. To be fair, it’s always Nicklaus and Woods. Who never won at the Riviera. I couldn’t make it. This is a private chapter about Jack Nicklaus, who will soon be 84 years old. For Woods, who recently turned 48, he’s not only “hosting” the Genesis Invitational, but he could also be a competitor (but not a sponsor) if he likes his surgically repaired ankle. It’s hard to believe Riviera could achieve more success than that in a limited field of elite players vying for $20 million, but it will if Woods leads the club through Thursday’s first round of play. . In your hands.

Woods will be the center of attention, at least at first. But you can bet that Rivera will look brighter than ever and give Pebble and “Rive” the signature the PGA Tour has been waiting for.