Six golfers in the world's top 10 are playing at this week's PGA Tour AT&T Pebble Beach National Pro-Am, headlined by No. 1 Jordan Spieth, making for a "glittering field that is definitely the most impressive in recent memory," according to Carl Steward of the SAN JOSE MERCURY NEWS. This year's field tops even '12, when Tiger Woods "played in the AT&T for the first time in 10 years and was matched" with Phil Mickelson in the final round. AT&T organizers would "never pull back an open invitation to Woods, but at the same time, there's no reason to worry" when top-10 players like Spieth, Jason Day, Bubba Watson, Justin Rose, Dustin Johnson and Patrick Reed are in the field. The pro side of the tourney "may enjoy great health for many years to come," considering that Spieth signed a deal with AT&T in '14, which "will likely lock his participation for the foreseeable future." But the celebrity amateur side "has had a fresh makeover as well, and it helped stoke the pro marquee." While "regular favorites" like Ray Romano return, there are "some new heavyweight names" in Mark Wahlberg and Justin Timberlake. Wahlberg "agreed to play if his buddy Watson would join him as a his pro partner, and similar hookups were made" between Timberlake and Rose, as well as Steve Stricker and country singer Toby Keith. Other celebs in the field include Blue Jays 3B Josh Donaldson, Cardinals WR Larry Fitzgerald, Michigan football coach Jim Harbaugh, Chiefs QB Alex Smith, Packers QB Aaron Rodgers and Pro Football HOFer Steve Young (SAN JOSE MERCURY NEWS, 2/9).
NOT GOING TO WASTE: Golf Channel's Tim Rosaforte said there was "always a concern" that when Woods left the spotlight, he would "take the crowd with him." However, the record-setting attendance at last weekend's Waste Management Phoenix Open shows that the PGA Tour is "in a different era now, and the game's in unbelievable shape" ("Golf Central," Golf Channel, 2/9).
