AT&T Pebble Beach National Pro Am Coverage

Steve Lowery wedges in to the 18th hole of Pebble Beach Golf Links before going on to win the AT&T Pebble Beach National Pro-Am golf tournament in Pebble Beach, Calif., Sunday, Feb. 10, 2008.

Villegas Goes Back-to-Back by Matt Norton

Camilo Villegas went 85 tournaments without a win and now he has back-to-back victories at the BMW Championship and this week at the Tour Championship.

He defeated Sergio Garcia on the first playoff hole at East Lake Country Club to secure his second career victory and second win during the FedEx Cup playoffs.

Despite winning the Tour Championship, Villegas took home the second largest check of the weekend. All Vijay Singh had to do was show-up to collect his $10 million purse for winning the FedEx Cup. With a huge pay-day hanging over his head and all the majors already decided, the viewers at home could tell Singh’s concentration wasn’t in it this week. Regardless if he limped to the finish-line, shooting 9-over for the Tour Championship and ended the week 16-strokes behind Villegas, Singh still took home a $16.6 million check for his entire PGA Tour season.

On the other hand, Villegas powered his way through the finish line. He started the day five strokes back of Garcia and got back into contention after two birdies in his first five holes.

But a double-bogey followed by a bogey on the 6th and 7th holes respectively, got Villegas off-track.

Knowing that he wasn’t out of the tournament just yet and with some words of encouragement from his caddie, Villegas righted the ship and steered himself back towards Garcia and the lead. Villegas birdied five of his next six holes.

Garcia struggled during his final round. He made three bogeys over his opening ten holes to relinquish his lead.

Both Garcia and Villegas needed late birdies to get themselves into the playoff.

The playoff went to the par-3 18th. Villegas put his tee shot on the back left part of the green while Garcia pushed his tee shot right of the greenside bunker. Garcia’s ensuing flop shot from thick Bermuda rough came up just short of the green. After Villegas two-putted, Garcia couldn’t make his chip to extend the playoff.

Event Fun Facts:

This historic event was started by the immortal Bing Crosby in 1937 at Rancho Sante Fe Country Club in Southern California
The first winner was the smooth swinger himself, Sam Snead. His winners check? $500 big ones
The event moved to Pebble Beach in 1947, and became the Crosby Clambake, famous for mixing pro golfers and Hollywood celebrities
The field now consists of 180 professionals golfers and 180 amateurs
The course record for the event, 20 under par, is shared by Mark O’Meara (1997), and Phil Michelson (2007)
Mr. O’Meara obviously likes this event, having won it five times in 1985, 1989, 1990, 1992 and 1997
Slammin’ Sam Snead has won it four times, and two other relatively well knows players, Mr. Jack Nicklaus, and Mr. Johnny Miller, each have three titles
U.S. golfers have dominated play at the Crosby/AT&T. In fact, since its inception, only three international players have ever won it. Vijay Singh in 2004, and Australians Brett Ogle in 1993, and Bruce Crampton in 1965

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