AARON RODGERS, BILL Murray, Mark Wahlberg.
No, it’s not the line-up of some ill-conceived buddy cop movie but rather just three of the names taking to the world-famous Pebble Beach Golf Links at Spyglass Hill this week.
There are also some pretty big name golfers taking part in the Pebble Beach Pro-Am this week, with the world’s number one and four — Jason Day and Dustin Johnson — as well as the likes of Jordan Spieth, Patrick Reed and Justin Rose all teeing up.
All that goofing around by Murray actually results in a lot of money being raised too. Last year, the tournament distributed $10.8 million to more than 250 charitable organisations.
It also contains one of the most beautiful holes in golf, the par three 7th. At just 106 yards, it is also the shortest hole on the PGA Tour.
This week could be especially tricky for both the pros and A-listers alike as the weather has played havoc with the preparations.
Hopefully it won’t look like this over the weekend though I’ll be very disappointed if one of you doesn’t comment to say you’ve played in worse over the past month.
Tee shorts
Here are the Irish players in action (all times are Irish and for Thursday’s opening round):
PGA Tour – Pebble Beach Pro-Am
- Padraig Harrington – 4.11pm
- Shane Lowry – 4.11pm
- Seamus Power – 4.22pm
European Tour – Maybank Championship, Malaysia
- Paul Dunne – 9.40am
- Niall Turner – 2.10pm
Back spin
If you missed them, here are the contenders for the European Tour Shot of the Month for January, released earlier this week:
Sign your card
South African Charl Schwartzel is the 12/1 favourite for the Maybank Championship in Malaysia on the back of nine weeks off following the Alfred Dunhill Championship in December.
Lee Westwood (16/1) will be fancied by many having two wins at the Saujana Golf and Country Club already, including the 2014 edition of this event.
If looking for longer odds, defending champion Marcus Fraser is available at 66/1.
Over on the PGA Tour, Dustin Johnson (7/1) goes in as favourite because of the weather and already has three weather-shortened 54-hole events — including Pebble Beach in 2009 — to his name.
Jordan Spieth (8/1) and Jason Day (12/1) are also towards the top of the betting slip.
In terms of each-way betting, Tony Finau looks a decent shout at 50/1 but don’t let a missed cut in Phoenix put you off. The American started the year T-4, T-20 and T-9 in his first three events.
(All odds courtesy of Ladbrokes)
The 19th
Those of you of a sensitive disposition may want to look away now.
Okay, ready?
But here’s how US youngster Maxton Price pulled his own tooth this week:
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