Every few years golf’s best players contest the U.S. Open at Pebble Beach, one of the most famous courses in the world. Tune in for the great golfers, stay to see one of the most incredible venues in golf.
Pebble Beach is one of the most iconic venues in golf. Perched overlooking the Pacific Ocean, it is a course with few peers and has regularly been at the centre of classic U.S. Open battles, as well as being a regular spring venue on the PGA Tour. The best holes are hard on the ocean, with the closing holes—the challenging par 3 17th, and the dramatic par 5 18th—potentially making the difference in this major championship.
You’ll watch it for the golfers, but several of the best-known holes (specifically holes 7 through 9) are as famous as any of the players.
Here’s some players
Tiger Woods
He won at Pebble by 15 shots when the U.S. Open was played at Pebble Beach in 2000, and there’s no question Woods is one of the favourites. Having won the Masters—and played well recently at Muirfield Village—Woods would appear to be bringing his “A” game to Pebble. Few know their way around the course as well as Woods, even if he skiped the spring outing at Pebble due to bumpy greens.
Rory McIlroy
Fresh off of his win at the RBC Canadian Open, McIlroy is in the middle of a great year. He has two wins this season and after dominating in Hamilton, Ont., Rory’s game seems unstoppable right as he chases his first major in five years.
Dustin Johnson
Johnson, who is arguably the best golfer on the planet, should have won at Pebble Beach in 2010. Leading in the final round, with Pebble brown and burned out, Johnson fumbled his way around the course, losing to Graeme McDowell. He’s a different player now, and has to be considered a frontrunner.
Brooks Koepka
World No.1, Koepka has won four majors in two years, making him the strongest player in golf when it comes to major championships. That said, he hasn’t played Pebble Beach often—there was a T8 a few years ago when he made a rare appearance in the AT&T Pro-Am. Will the inexperience hurt him? Doubtful. Expect him to be in contention on Sunday.
Phil Mickelson
Mickelson would dearly love a U.S. Open win after being so close so many times in his illustrious career. He won at Pebble earlier this year, and was T8 when the tournament was held at the course in 2010, and T16 ten years earlier. He’s still inventive and long off the tee, but recent U.S. Opens appear to have frustrated Phil. Will that change this year?
The Canadians
Mike Weir is heading back to the U.S. Open for the first time since 2013 after earning a spot at a sectional qualifier last month. He’ll be joined by 31-year-old Nick Taylor who also punched his ticket to Pebble Beach after finishing in a first place tie at the same sectional qualifying event.
Limited Edition Gear Inspired by Pebble Beach
Major tourney – major gear! Here’s some commemorative gear to kick this week’s Major!
adidas TOUR360XT Parley Shoe
Created with yarns spun from plastic waste that was found on beaches and in coastal communities, the TOUR360XT Parley is being sold in limited quantities starting June 11 on golftown.com (not available in stores). Featuring an ocean blue and aqua green colourway, the shoe uses plastic waste to create its upper. adidas has worked with Parley for the Oceans to intercept plastic waste and transform it into thread. The shoe is part of adidas’ pledge to use 100 percent recycled polyester in all apparel and footwear by 2024.