PB PRO-AM: The PGA Tour’s West Coast Swing continues this week at a place widely regarded as the mecca of American golf, Pebble Beach, a course that blends so naturally into the stunning coastal California landscape that you’d think it was designed by God himself. It has played host to six U.S. Opens, five U.S. Amateurs, a PGA Championship, and several women’s majors, and compared to some other classic courses around the world it has changed very little over the years, which speaks to the inspired work done by Jack Neville and Douglas Grant when they laid out the original 18 holes in 1919.
Since 1947 Pebble Beach has been the site of this event, which in its infancy was known as the Crosby Clambake and was a star-studded weekend that did much to bring professional golf to the public consciousness, spearheaded by master of ceremonies and well-known golf nut Bing Crosby. It has always been a pro-am format, and though the Hollywood star power may not be what it once was, it’s still kind of fun to see the assortment of B-list actors, pro athletes from other sports, social media personalities, and random rich guys hack it around next to the pros for a week. At the very least, it’s a pleasant diversion from the Tour’s week-to-week grind, and by Sunday the amateurs will have all cleared out and we’ll be left with a day of great competition on a timeless golf course.
It should be noted that Pebble isn’t the only course in play this week, as everyone will play one round at Spyglass Hill on Thursday or Friday before all the action shifts to the host course for the weekend. With its hilly landscape, tree-lined fairways and small greens, Spyglass is generally regarded as more difficult than Pebble, though it’s a bit more protected from the wind, so weather could change things. Pebble itself needs no introduction, we know the deal: generous off the tee, tricky on approach, especially if the wind picks up, and the poa annua greens are sure to give some players fits. We’ll be looking, first and foremost, and guys who have played well here before. And remember, this is now a Signature Event, so just about all the top guys are here this week. Should be fun! Here are three to take a look at:
WIN MARKET
Recommendations to BACK (odds in parenthesis)
Russell Henley (30.0)- Not sure if you’ve noticed, but Henley, who has been a borderline elite player for years, has been playing the best golf of his career over the past eight months, finding the top-20 in each of his last 10 events, including both of his starts this year, a T19 at the Sony Open and an 8th-place showing at the American Express. This recent stretch includes a pair of runner-up finishes and six top-10s, and though he hasn’t won since last year’s Arnold Palmer Invitational, he’s rocketed all the way up to 6 in the world rankings, and it sure feels like the next win isn’t far off. Why not this week, at a place he’s had tremendous success throughout his career, including a 5th-place finish last year? Henley putts well on poa annua, he’s been very comfortable in this format, and his fondness for Pebble is well known. He’s a great value at a price like 30.0.
Patrick Cantlay (50.0)- Though you’d think that someone with Cantlay’s… err… “unique” personality might not favor a pro-am format due to the required interaction with, and toleration of, the amateur participants, he’s actually performed quite well in this event over the years, with recent highlights that include a T3 in 2021, a T4 in 2022, and a T11 in 2024. He’s also the course record holder at Pebble Beach after firing a 1st-round 62 in 2021, so his course credentials are impeccable. Cantlay has only teed it up twice thus far in 2026, but his game looked sharp enough at the American Express, as he broke 70 in all four rounds and posted 20-under for the week en route to a T13. He’s a legit threat to win this week and is priced very generously at 50.0.
Taylor Pendrith (120.0)- After struggling to keep his head above water for his first few years on the PGA Tour, something seemed to click for Pendrith about 18 months ago and he’s been a different player since, making over 80% of his cuts in that span, earning his first PGA Tour victory, and logging nine top-10 finishes, including a T6 at the Sony Open earlier this year. A tremendous ball-striker who ranked 11th on Tour in strokes gained off the tee last season, Pendrith has been steadily improving on the greens as well, and he currently ranks 19th in total putting. His poa annua numbers have always been good and that probably goes a long way towards explaining his excellent record at this tournament which includes top-10 finishes in his last two appearances, a T7 in 2023 and a T9 last year. Pendrith seems to be set up for a big week, and if his nerve and putting stroke hold up, he could change his life over the next four days. He’s my favorite among the triple-digit options.
