AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am favorite Kelly Slater says "golf is not a sport."

Soaring new grandstands around the 18th fairway and green, new pedestrian walkthroughs and catwalks traversing Del Monte Forest and a breathtaking new Pebble Beach Practice Facility are among the many changes that will debut at the 2014 AT&T Pebble Beach National Pro-Am.

One less popular change: No Bill Murray. He'll be off promoting Monuments Men.

The celebrity field will also miss regulars like George Lopez and Kevin James.

But let's focus on what we do have, like Kid Rock, making his debut appearance, and Kelly Slater, the most accomplished surfer to ever slip on board shorts.

Slater was the focus of my preview coverage in year's past, when he dropped a number of progressive, inspiring and world-champion insights on me. 

One particularly zesty zinger for hardcore golf nuts, of which he is one: Golf is a game, and only a game.

You know, it’s not a sport in my eyes. Golf’s a game. You’re not out there doing something athletic, necessarily – I mean the actual swing may be athletic and the stronger you are and the better your technique is the better you are – but you know it’s a great game because you meet a lot of different people, and it’s a lifestyle thing you can do until you’re 100 years old, like surfing, and you know the game teaches you a lot about yourself, the way you play. Do you roll your ball over in the fairway? Do you play by the rules?

This is a food blog though, so I will add his thoughts on pre-surf snacking:

Non-dairy smoothie. Lots of berries and acai and greens.

Check out the full interview, including his thoughts on futuristic surf communities, his dream foursome, Shark Boy Todd Endris, rumors, Pamela Anderson, slab waves and pet peeves, at "Game Changer: Kelly Slater is a golfer, activist and a decent surfer."