PEBBLE BEACH — Despite anticipated severe weather conditions this weekend, the PGA Tour’s goal at the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am is to complete all four rounds. Play could continue through Tuesday, if necessary, officials said Friday.
The forecast for weekend play should allow the completion of the third round Saturday, with the field of 80 professionals all playing at Pebble Beach. The 80-player pro-am field is only scheduled for two rounds this year and will not play on the weekend.
Sunday’s current forecast in the Del Monte Forest includes a 100 percent chance of rain and with winds gusting to 35 miles per hour. The rainfall is expected to approach a half-inch before Sunday night, according to the Weather Channel.
Inclement weather forced the postponement of the AT&T’s third round last year because of gusting winds of 32 miles per hour. The strong winds bent trees along the course and moved golf balls on several greens.
As a result, the third round of the 2023 tournament was held Sunday and the fourth round Monday.
A PGA Tour official said Pebble Beach course groomers are steadily “slowing the greens” after each round to prepare for Sunday’s expected conditions.
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The AT&T is being held this year as the first of eight Signature Events of the PGA Tour. The field includes only 80 pros, compared to the 156-player fields of recent years.
Held on the Monterey Peninsula since 1947, the tournament has had numerous years of adverse weather conditions, including hail and snow.
The final round of the 2019 event was postponed because of darkness. In 1998, weather conditions prevented the tournament from being finished on schedule. Nine holes were played Thursday, nine holes on Friday and 18 holes Saturday. Rain prevented Sunday and Monday rounds.
The third round was delayed until August to prevent cancellations similar to 1996. Forty-three of 168 players withdrew rather than return for the round. Phil Mickelson won the tournament.
In 2019, the fourth round Sunday, which had been delayed by a hail storm, was called because of darkness after 16 holes. Mickelson, leading by three shots, and Paul Casey returned to Pebble Beach and completed the final round Monday morning. Casey finished his 16th hole and Mickelson prevailed on the final two holes for his record-tying fifth AT&T title.
In 2009, rain prevented the fourth round from being played on Sunday and Monday, resulting in the tournament being called after 54 holes and leader Dustin Johnson being crowned the winner.