HOLYWOOD hotshot Rory McIlroy is set to make his first start of the PGA Tour season at this week’s AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am.
The Northern Irishman is part of a stacked field that also sees the return of Scottie Scheffler and Jordan Spieth.
World number one Scheffler is returning from hand surgery after an accident on Christmas Day.
The FedEx Cup champion had small glass fragments removed from the palm, which postponed his planned season debut at the AMEX Championship.
While Joran Spieth is returning after wrist surgery, the three-time major winner opted to take time out after missing last year’s FedEx Cup Playoffs to get the long-standing issue operated on.
The popular American has plummeted to 77 in the world golf rankings, and will be keen to make his way into the AON next ten in the FedEx Cup rankings for Signature event exemptions.
Down ace McIlroy played the Dubai Desert Classic earlier this month on the DP World tour.
But he’ll be keen to get off to a good start on Thursday at the famous Monterey Peninsula links venue.
Last year’s AT&T was won by Wyndham Clark after weather hampered the tournament.
The final round was abandoned because of bad weather and safety concerns, with 54-hole leader Clark declared the winner.
Shane Lowry is also in the field after a stellar 2024 saw him finish ninth on the FedEx Cup table.
The Offaly ace missed the cut at last week’s Farmers Insurance Open at Torrey Pines, but will fancy his chances at contending on the links courses.
The tournament is held over two courses – Pebble Beach Golf Links and Spyglass Hill Golf Course – the final wound will be contested at Pebble Beach links.
And there’s a whopping $20m purse up for grabs as the event has Signature status.
Japanese icon Hideki Matsuyama, who claimed the first Signature win of the year in January at The Sentry is also in the field.
Celebs and sports stars will compete in the Pro-Am, so it will be fun to watch but there’s plenty at stake for the pros.
ONES TO WATCH
Justin Thomas – 14/1
Jordan Spieth – 45/1
Will Zalatoris – 40/1
Keegan Bradley – 45/1
Thomas Detry – 66/1
Matthieu Pavon – 325/1
PURSE
The purse is $20 million with the winner earning $3.6 million and 700 FedExCup points.
How does the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am format work?
Each amateur will have a single pro for the event. The 80 pros and 80 ams will compete in a best-ball format (using handicaps for the amateurs) over the first two rounds.
The pros will also compete in normal stroke-play for the event proper. The amateur portion will end after 36 holes, and not extend into the weekend (this is the second consecutive year of this format, since the tournament became a signature event).
There is no cut for the pros, and they will play the final two rounds at Pebble Beach.
How to Watch:
All the action is live on Sky Sports Golf from Thursday.
