This weekend saw the return of the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am, which featured some of the most talented professional golfers in the world. After missing the event last year due to COVID-19, amateur golfers, celebrities, professional athletes, and spectators surrounded the fairways and the greens.
The tournament started Thursday with play at Pebble Beach Golf Links and Spyglass Hill Golf Course. Sunday’s final round was played at Pebble Beach Golf Links. There, Tom Hoge took the 2022 AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am title.
His victory at the Pebble Beach Golf Links gave him his first PGA win as he overcame Patrick Cantlay and Jordan Spieth, the odds-on favorites heading into the last round.
Hoge Comes Out Swinging
Hoge and a few other players were locked in a close battle throughout the day. However, he secured a two-shot advantage with a birdie at the par-3 17th in his final round to secure his first PGA Tour victory. Hoge finished the day with 19-under 268.
Hoge was one of seven players to have at least a share in the lead on Sunday. He began the day in second place. However, he was unable to make par on the par-3 5th after he hit his tee shot into the bunker.
Hoge then doubled his lead, but then made back-to-back birdies on the next two holes. This helped him remain in the running, and gave him extra motivation.
After finishing his front nine even, Hoge made four birdies on the back nine to move ahead and reach 19-under. He came within inches of hooting out from the fairway 16th and tapped in for birdie, just in time to catch Spieth.
Hoge Tightens Grip on the Win
Spieth, who was playing in a group ahead of Hoge, bogeyed on the 17th, putting some pressure on him to recover. However, he couldn’t bounce back on the par-5 18th hole. Beau Hossler finished second solo, one shot ahead of Spieth, who also bogeyed his last hole to finish in third.
Hoge was awarded the $1,566,000 winner’s share of the $8,7-million purse. He was third in odds heading into the final round, getting +375. Spieth was in a slightly better position, at +325, but it was Cantlay, the fourth-ranked player in the world, who was the leading favorite to take the win.
Cantlay was at the top of the leaderboard after the third round and opened the last at +275. However, looking to improve from his third-place finish last year, he couldn’t pull it off. He tied for fourth with Troy Merritt.
A Trip to Remember
Hoge was awarded a two-year exemption and his first trip to Augusta National in the Masters. His best season on the PGA Tour was in 2020, when he finished 50th in the FedEx Cup and won just under $1.8 million.
The event had participation from a lot of celebrities, as well. Mia Hamm was there, as was Los Angeles Dodgers outfielder Mookie Bets. Willie Nelson’s son, Lukas, made an appearance alongside Scott Eastwood.
Don Cheadle, Ray Romano, Jake Owen, and others were also involved, teeing up with the iconic Bill Murray and the golf pros for a one-of-a-kind event.
