Published on 05/30/2007

Winds gusting to more than 45 mph and heavy rain halted the tournament and resulted in third one-day suspension in tournament history. The winner's purse increase by $5,000 with Nicklaus earning $16,000 with his sterling final round. He birdied five of the final seven holes, needed only 13 putts on the back nine en route to a 31 and shot a 68 to defeat Billy Casper by five shots and Arnold Palmer by seven shots.

(This article originally appeared in the Monterey County Herald on Feb. 6, 2007.)

Winds gusting to more than 45 mph and heavy rain halted the tournament and resulted in third one-day suspension in tournament history. The winner's purse increase by $5,000 with Nicklaus earning $16,000 with his sterling final round. He birdied five of the final seven holes, needed only 13 putts on the back nine en route to a 31 and shot a 68 to defeat Billy Casper by five shots and Arnold Palmer by seven shots.

* 1973 (Bob Hope Gets A New Gig) — With Bing Crosby hospitalized with pleurisy, Bob Hope continued the tournament's humor marathon. As emcee in the pre-tournament party, Hope said: "It's great to be here to play this benefit for Jack Nicklaus."

Nicklaus won the 1972 Crosby and five months later also won the U.S. Open, also at Pebble Beach. Nicklaus' stellar play continued. He made a 12-foot birdie putt on the first playoff hole to defeat Orville Moody and Raymond Floyd.

* 1974 (In A Word, Wet) — Thursday's round was canceled by heavy rain. It rain periodically all day Friday and Saturday. Hail and rain fell on Sunday and play was temporarily suspended. Monday and Tuesday pending make-up rounds were canceled.

Rookies Gary McCord (65) and Barney Thompson (67) topped the leader broad with Lanny Wadkins (67), prompting Jack Nicklaus to ask, "Who?"

But none of four would be among the top finishers. Johnny Miller shot second and third-round 70s, good for a four-stroke win over Grier Jones in the shortened, 54-hole event.

* 1976 (Nature Humbles The Golden Bear) — Vying for his third Crosby title, Jack Nicklaus held a one-stroke margin after three rounds. But for one of the rare times in his prime, Nicklaus faltered badly.

After rounds of 67-72-70, Nicklaus had a final-round 82 at Pebble Beach. He tallied two triple bogeys, a double bogey. He shots into the ocean and into a bunker on the 18th hole. And he finished tied for 18th, trailing winner Ben Crenshaw by 10 strokes.

Crenshaw, who hadn't won since his pro debut three years earlier, shot a final-round 69 for a two-shot win over Mike Morley. "I just turned 24, but here I am already making a comeback," said Crenshaw in his victory remarks.

* 1978 (Crosby Family Carries On) — Bing Crosby died in the fall of 1977 after more than 40 years of tournament hosting duties. But the Crosby family, including Bing's 16-year-old son Nathaniel, continued the tradition.

The teenager became tournament host and the event progressed as another wet week of fine competition. Tom Watson (69) parred the second playoff hole to defeat Ben Crenshaw and successfully defend his 1977 title. The tournament greeted a host of new celebrities, including Lawrence Welk, Billy Kilmer and Willie Mays.

* 1986 (Corporate Involvement And More Rain) — Another new era began as the telecommunications company assumed its current title sponsorship. It was a soggy debut.

There was a one-hour delay Thursday and play never began Friday because of heavy rains. It was cloudy Saturday and Sunday, but rain forced the cancellation of Monday's round.

For the first time, the winner's check surpassed six figures, with Fuzzy Zoeller earning $108,000 with a five-shot, 54-hole win over Payne Stewart.

* 1991 (Farewell, Cypress Point) — The legendary layout at Cypress Point had been part of the tournament since its 1947 debut. But the newer Poppy Hills, a Northern California Golf Association (NCGA) course, joined the rotation. The famous old links haven't returned and likely won't. Poppy Hills, meanwhile, attracted immediate reactions.

Mike Hulbert said: "It definitely has the attention of the players. I don't know if you can shoot a good round there and win the tournament, but you sure can lose it there."

Paul Azinger was more opinionated: "The best hole on that course is the 19th."

But Azinger wasn't fazed. With a new record total purse of $1.1 million. Azinger shot a third-round 73 at Poppy Hills, but returned with a final-round 67 at Pebble Beach, defeated Brian Claar and Corey Pavin by four strokes and earned $198,000.

* 1992 (Bill Murray Steals The Show) — Mark O'Meara sank a 35-foot birdie putt from the fringe to force a playoff and then made a 12-foot par on the first playoff hole to claim his fourth tournament title.

But it was Bill Murray, star of the Caddyshack golf movie, who attracted the most attention. Murray constantly engaged fans, wore funny hats and put on a multiple-hour comedy routines. Some tournament traditionalist didn't like the antics. But 15 years later, Murray's still among the most sought-after players in the tournament.

* 1996 (Nature Wins Non-Tournament) — The streak ended in the 50th year. After its debut return in 1947, somehow the tournament carried on in sometimes outrageously bad weather. But not this time. Jeff Maggert shot consecutive 68s to assume the 36-hole lead.
But with two holes at Spyglass Hill under water, tournament director Louis Russo halted play and rain continued throughout the weekend.

* 1997 (O'Meara Claims No. 5) — Mark O'Meara became the tournament's only five-time winner. He shot four consecutive rounds of 67 and at age 40 held off Tiger Woods and David Duval by one stroke.

"If I'm going to find success, I couldn't ask for a better place," said O'Meara, who birdied the 16th and 17th in Sunday's final round at Pebble Beach. "Somebody is looking after me. I don't know if it's the blimp or something higher."

* 1998 (Golf's Longest Tournament) — After waiting six months and 20 days, Phil Mickelson got his $550,000. Once again, weather — this time, El Nino storms — wrecked the Monterey Peninsula. Only 36 holes were completed over three days because of heavy intermittent rain. But then heavier rain Sunday and Monday forced postponement of the tournament.

Many of the field's pro were set to return to the West Coast in August to compete in the PGA Championship concluding August 16. The AT&T final was scheduled the next day. Of 168 golfers eligible to play, 125 returned and were spread over three courses. Mickelson began the third and final round one stroke off the lead. But he shot a 5-under 67 at Pebble Beach en route to a record-tying 202 total and a one-stroke margin over Tom Pernice, Jr. Mickelson earned $450,00 for the win, plus a $100,000 bonus for leading the West Coast Swing in earnings.

* 1999 (A Tip Of The Cap To Payne Stewart) — With his signature knickers and Ben Hogan cap, Payne Stewart looked elegant and played elegantly. Weather was again a factor, the tournament was cut to 54 holes, the fifth round reduction since the tournament expanded to 72 holes in 1958.

Stewart hadn't won a PGA Tour event since 1995, but he capitalized on a second-round 64 at Poppy Hills and held a one-stroke lead at 206 over Frank Lickliter after three rounds and subsequently when the final round was canceled in mid-morning. Stewart went on to win the U.S. Open later in 1999 at Pinehurst, N.C. But four months later, he was killed with five others in the crash of a private jet.

* 2000 (A Tiger Roams The Del Monte Forest) — Tiger Woods was five shot behind entering the final round. And then he was seven strokes back after 11 holes and there were five golfers ahead of him.

No problem. Tournament leader Matt Gogel, a PGA Tour rookie, badly faltered. And Woods capitalized with two birdies and a eagle in the final four holes and a two-shot win over a stunned Gogel.

Woods' finish was described as among the best in the history in the sport.

Gogel said: "To see Tiger's name (on the leaderboard), well, I was amazed. I will not be amazed anymore."

* 2001 (All You Need Is Love) — Four straight days of beautiful weather at the AT&T is plenty to cheer about. But Davis Love III outdid nature.

Love was tied for 14th place with five others after three rounds. But he opened the final round with a tournament-tying 28 on the front nine en route to a 63 and one-stroke win over Vijay Singh. Love hadn't won on the PGA Tour since in nearly three years. But after taking only 20 strokes to play the first seven holes, Love was well on his way.

"I didn't think I had a chance to win," said Love who rallied from seven strokes back. "Yet I recalled Tiger (Woods) was seven back with seven holes to play last year and he won, so you never know."

* 2004 (Vijay Arrives, Finally) — With five top-15 finishes, including two runner-up placing and more than $1 million in career tournament earnings, no one was more ready to win the AT&T than Fijian Vijay Singh. And at age 40, he did.

The only player in the field who shot sub-70 in each round, Singh, Jeff Maggert and Phil Mickelson all had final-round 69s at Pebble Beach. But Singh joined Bruce Crampton (1965) and Brett Ogle (1993), both Australian, as the third foreign-born player to win the tournament with a 16-under 272 total.

* 2005 (Mickelson All The Way) — Wire-to-wire winners are rare at the AT&T and Phil Mickelson joined the diverse group. After an opening-round, course record 62 at Spyglass Hill, he never looked back. Mickelson took a seven-stroke lead into the final round before holding off Mike Weir.

Mickelson joined Tom Shaw (1978), Bert Yancey (1970), Lloyd Mangrum (1953 and 1948), Jimmy Demaret (1952) and Ed Oliver (1940) as the tournament's only wire-to-wire titlists.

* 2006 (What's In A Name? Try Arron Oberholser) — His first name was incorrectly spelled on his All-America certificate from San Jose State University. And it's been mangled on more than one tournament leaderboard. His last name draws odd looks.

But Arron Oberholser is finally getting respect and his name gets correctly posted now, too. Playing before a hometown crowd, Oberholser of San Mateo claimed his first PGA Tour title with a one-stroke victory over Rory Sabatini.

Following three rounds in the 60s, Oberholser finished with par 72 at Pebble Beach, but it was good enough for the $972,000 winner's check.