The world’s top golfers should take on Pebble Beach, but something is lost.

There are two schools of thought – at least – on the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am’s current format. Both have their merits.

A year ago the event played for the first time as a PGA Tour signature event. Gone were the celebrities, as well as lighthearted preliminaries like the hole in one challenge for charity. On course for the first time outside of a U.S. Open was a field of the world’s top professionals. As a nod to the spirit of the event, 80 amateurs were paired to the pros – most of them corporate executives, with a few star athletes, but no Bill Murray.

Over the decades, the celebrity-studded lineup of the Pro-Am created its own excitement. With 156 pros and an equal number of amateurs, there was a lot to take in. At the same time, however, many of the best players in the world chose to avoid the Pro-Am. While the amateurs were vetted, few could match the talent of the PGA. So rounds could drag for over six hours. And the crowd-baiting antics of Murray and others proved distracting to serious golf. That left one of the world’s most revered courses hosting a modest field. The top-ranked players gathered only when Pebble Beach Golf Links hosted the U.S. Open, or once every decade.

Given its stature, Pebble Beach deserves more.

There are eight signature events on the tour schedule, each with a purse of $20 million. While there were many factors behind the decision by the PGA Tour to declare the Pro-Am a signature event – competition from the big money Saudi-backed LIV golf tour among them – the new format is an imperfect compromise.

The “clambake” conjured by Bing Crosby as a bit of a lark and moved to Pebble Beach in 1947 as a way to attract tourists during the area’s slow season was a success. Casual fans of the sport were attracted by the colorful atmosphere. Among this crowd, there is little interest in watching the CEO of Cisco tee off.

Equally compelling is the idea of the top golfers competing on the best courses. Crowds at the 2019 U.S. Open at Pebble Beach were noticeably larger than for any Pro-Am. Those who follow golf will travel across the country or the ocean to watch Scottie Scheffler or Rory McIlroy. They are not so interested in a celebrity hacking away.

Still, it is evident on the scorecards of the 2025 Pro-Am that the courses were set up with amateurs in mind. Despite rain and high winds during the week, the professionals were hardly troubled. McIlroy won with an overall score of 21-under par. Of the 78 pros who completed the tournament, 66 played under par. Thirty-two finished double-digits to the good.

By comparison, when Gary Woodland captured the 2019 U.S. Open title at 13-under, only he and Brooks Koepke (at 10-under) ended double-digits below par. Of the 79 who made the cut that year, 58 finished at or above par.

Under the circumstances, it is neither the best playing the toughest courses nor a spirited pro-am atmosphere.

Another factor must be considered, as well. Even during its early years, the Pro-Am was known for the appearance of “Crosby weather.” A year ago, weather forced officials to cancel the final round, calling the tournament at 54 holes – the seventh time rain wiped out Sunday play since 1974. Rain ended the 1996 Pro-Am after just two rounds. Certainly there are fans reluctant to travel if the forecast is dicey.

Players have been questioning the traditional January-February West Coast swing. After a windswept round at Torrey Pines in San Diego earlier this year, Charley Hoffman told Golf Digest, “Maybe play Florida first and maybe play the West Coast more in the summer when we all want to be in San Diego… Just jumble it all up.”

A change to the schedule should be seriously considered. After all, the signature events almost act as a separate tour.

The PGA Tour should schedule Pebble Beach in the summer months as a signature event, removing the amateur aspect, pitting the best golfers on one of the finest courses.

As for the Pro-Am, February would then be open for a fun, casual event with a lineup of celebrities as envisioned by Crosby – a distinct event, perhaps part of another tour such as the Korn Ferry, which acts similar to a minor league.

Unlikely? Sure. But it would satisfy both schools.

DAVE FARIES is the Weekly’s features editor. Reach him at dfaries@montereycountynow.com.