Pebble Beach is considered by many to be America’s favourite golf course and while it is one of three used for this week’s event it will once again be the star of the show.

The tournament itself holds a special place in history as it was the first to utilise the celebrity pro-am format thanks to Hollywood legend and accomplished golfer Bing Crosby.

Colloquially known as the Crosby Clambake for many years, the event dates back to 1937 when it was played over 18 holes at Rancho Sante Fe in San Diego and won by Sam Snead.

The following year it expanded to 36 holes and in 1947 moved to Pebble Beach and was played over 54 holes for the next 11 years.

1958 was the first year of 72 hole play and the tournament has been a staple on the PGA Tour since.

DEFENDING CHAMPION: It took 203 tournaments but Tom Hoge finally captured his first PGA Tour title with a brilliant finish in 2022.

RIGHT: Tom Hoge claimed his first PGA Tour trophy at Pebble Beach last year. PHOTO: Jamie Squire/Getty Images.

Sharing the lead at the start of Sunday it was a roller coaster final round which saw the lead change hands several times.

But a run of three birdies in his final five holes – and a Jordan Spieth bogey at the famed par-3 17th – was enough to see Hoge home by two.

COURSE: With such a large field (156 pros and 156 amateurs) three courses are needed to accommodate with Spyglass Hill and Monterey Peninsula Country Club playing the supporting role to Pebble Beach.

Spyglass Hill is a Robert Trent Jones Sr design dating back to 1966. It has been part of the rota of courses used for the tournament since the following year and is one of the four courses in the Pebble Beach portfolio.

As such it is immaculately presented though of the regular layouts in use for the event it would be fair to say it is the least popular.

Perhaps the more architecturally interesting of the three courses, however, is Monterey Peninsula Country Club thanks to a 2004 redesign by flamboyant designer, the late Mike Strantz.

PRIZEMONEY: US$9,000,000
 
RELATED: So-called expert golf tips for this week

PLAYERS TO WATCH: If history is a guide the player who will garner the most attention this week won’t be a professional but actor Bill Murray.

Jordan Spieth headlines the field this week in California. PHOTO: Andy Lyons/Getty Images.

Murray’s on course antics have become synonymous with the event and he will no doubt be in full flight again this year.

The presence of the film star and his playing up for the cameras is one reason many pros prefer to skip this event though others seem to thrive in the celebrity environment.

Among those is Jordan Spieth who was close again in 2022 until a bogey at the 71st hole.

In 10 starts Spieth is yet to miss the cut and was the winner in 2017. He has five other top-10 finishes to his name in that span, three of those top-fives.

Reigning US Open champion Matt Fitzpatrick makes his fourth appearance at Pebble Beach this week and will be hoping the trend of his results continues.

He missed the cut in his first attempt in 2019, was T60 two years later but managed to finish T6 in his last outing in 2022.

The Englishman has looked a different player since his triumph at Brookline last year and makes his second start of 2023 off the back of a T7 in the Tournament of Champions in Hawaii.

Viktor Hovland is the other headline player who will attract plenty of attention and on the face of it the atmosphere this week should be to his liking.

The popular Norwegian won the US Amateur at Pebble Beach four years ago and makes just his second start here as a professional.

T38 was the result of his first outing in 2020 but having won at the back end of last year he will be looking for something better than that this week.

72-HOLE RECORD: 265 (-22, Brandt Snedeker, 2015)

18-HOLE RECORD @ PEBBLE BEACH:  62 (Tom Kite, 1983; David Duval, 1997; Patrick Cantlay, 2021; Matthias Schwab, 2022)

PAST AUSSIE WINNERS: Bruce Crampton (1965); Brett Ogle (1993)

AUSTRALIANS IN THE FIELD: Aaron Baddeley, Cam Davis, Greg Chalmers, Harrison Endycott, Geoff Ogilvy and Cam Percy

TV TIMES*
Round 1: Thursday (Fox Sports 503 LIVE 7am – 10am)
Round 2: Friday (Fox Sports 503 LIVE 7am – 10am)
Round 3: Saturday (Fox Sports 503 LIVE 5am – 11am)
Round 4: Sunday (Fox Sports 503 LIVE 5am – 11am)
*AEDT, check local guides