Page 22 - ARUBA TODAY

A22 SPORTS
Wednesday 7 February 2018
Pebble Beach more than a meeting of land and sea

By DOUG FERGUSON break.
AP Golf Writer Many others choose not to
PEBBLE BEACH, Calif. (AP) — play, and they shouldn’t
Pebble Beach is renowned be scorned for that. Some
as the most felicitous meet- don’t like the poa annua
ing of land and sea. greens, or rounds that can
The tournament is a meet- stretch past 5½ hours.
ing of a different variety. “This event is a microcosm
For some, it's an acquired of what the PGA Tour is,
taste. what it should be and what
The AT&T Pebble Beach it has become,” Jacobsen
Pro-Am is a confluence of said. “If some players don’t
some of the most important recognize that? That’s fine.
elements on the PGA Tour I understand that. Those
— corporate support and who do, I admire. I’ve said
entertainment value, ama- to a lot of guys, ‘How much
teur involvement and pro- money did you make last
fessional performance, on year?’ They say, ‘$5 million.’
a golf course that fans and I say, ‘Would you sacrifice
television viewers would all one week a year to contin-
want to play. ue to make $5 million? Go
That's what brought Peter In this Feb. 10, 2016, file photo taken with a fisheye lens, fans line the seventh hole of the Pebble play the AT&T.’
Jacobsen back inside the Beach Golf Links to watch the inaugural $1 million celebrity hole-in-one event of the AT&T Pebble “They might say the greens
ropes. Beach National Pro-Am golf tournament in Pebble Beach, Calif. are bumpy, that it takes
Jacobsen, who turns 64 next Associated Press five to six hours,” he said.
month, is playing Pebble for “So? You’re going to play
the first time in 10 years. He Tuesday night. And then when he was the longtime The corporate support in- with a CEO who invests in
is exempt as a past cham- one of his favorite amateur partner of Jack Lemmon. cludes companies that your tour. Consider it an in-
pion. Never mind that his partners, singer Huey Lewis, "This is the best tournament have personal endorse- vestment in your career.”
two-shot victory was 23 called and suggested they on tour," Jacobsen said. "It's ments with players. It helps to have a week with
years ago when he closed play together. the most important tourna- The field became stronger abundant sunshine. The lat-
with a 65 to hold off a PGA "My initial reaction was, 'No, ment, because where else again with a young gen- est forecast showed the
Tour rookie named David I'm not going to play. My can you spend five hours eration that loved being greatest chance for rain
Duval. game is not ready.' I don't playing golf with the CEOs at Pebble and embraced was on Saturday — 5 per-
"I was old back then," Ja- play full-time on the Cham- of the companies who the heritage of the event. cent.
cobsen said Tuesday as he pions Tour," Jacobsen said. support our events? You Jordan Spieth, Dustin John- Pebble has a reputation for
headed out for a practice But he called a few people can't get a half-hour inside son and Jason Day are nasty weather. Only a year
round. he trusts about whether he Chuck Schwab's office. regulars. Rahm, who has ago, it was 50 degrees, rain-
Why play now? should play, and the no- But you can get five hours another chance this week ing and blowing 30 mph
It was simply a matter of tion that he would take here." to reach No. 1 in the world, during a practice round.
one request turning into an- up a spot in the field from Executives from six spon- played as a rookie last year That didn’t stop Jerry Kelly
other, along with his deep a more deserving player, sors on the PGA Tour and and loved it. Rory McIlroy and Green Bay Packers
passion for what he consid- and he received nothing PGA Tour Champions are is playing for the first time. quarterback Aaron Rodg-
ers the best event on the but support. He earned his in the field, including Benja- Adam Scott is back for the ers from playing.
PGA Tour. spot by winning the tour- min Salinas from TV Azteca, first time since a preview Sunday is usually about
The executive director of nament (two months after who brought a World Golf trip in 2010 ahead of the the winner. The exception
the Monterey Peninsula Jon Rahm was born). He Championship to Mexico U.S. Open. might have been 2011,
Foundation is retiring, and also might be the biggest City last year when the tour Phil Mickelson has missed when D.A. Points was over-
Jacobsen was asked to be ambassador of the tour- couldn’t find a title sponsor only once since 1994, when shadowed by his amateur
at the dinner in her honor nament, dating to his days at Trump Doral. his kids were on spring winner, Bill Murray. q

Todd Frazier be New York's projected said more moves were like- trimmed it to $149 million as time third baseman's future
Continued from Page 18 starter at second base this ly. injuries and poor pitching is in doubt after injuries and
season, rather than third. "Being top five in payroll, wrecked their postseason a chronic back condition
Frazier hit 35 homers for Cin- Frazier will get $8 million I don't think that won us a chances. Two years after limited him to 75 regular-
cinnati in 2015 and won the this year and $9 million in World Series," he said then. getting to the World Series, season games over the last
All-Star Home Run Derby. 2019, and the agreement "So we're set out to make they faded to 70-92 for their three years. The 35-year-
He set career highs with 40 includes a $500,000 assign- the playoffs and do well ... worst record since 2009. old team captain hasn't
homers and 98 RBIs for the ment bonus if traded. try to win the World Series, Earlier this winter, the Mets played in the big leagues
White Sox in 2016. The Mets made the deal not try and be at the top gave right fielder Jay Bruce since May 2016.
A steady defender his a week before they open five in payroll." — traded to Cleveland last Wright is a seven-time All-
whole career, the two-time spring training in Port St. Lu- "I get what the fan percep- summer — a $39 million, Star and is guaranteed $47
All-Star turns 32 next week. cie, Florida. In what's been tion is. It's not something three-year contract and million by the Mets over the
The right-handed hitter also a slow market this winter, that's lost on any of us," Wil- free agent reliever Anthony next three seasons. q
has some experience at first Frazier became the latest pon said. "I understand the Swarzak a $14 million, two- "You can never fully dismiss
base, which could come in free agent to find a home. fan base's frustration and year deal. The Mets also the fact that David may be
handy for a Mets team with Last month, responding to we have the same frustra- brought back infielder Jose back. On the other hand,
a pair of lefty hitters at that fans' criticism, Mets chief tion." Reyes with a one-year deal you can't fully presume that
spot. operating officer Jeff Wil- The Mets began last year for $2 million. he is," Mets general man-
The move also means As- pon defended the team's with a $157 million payroll The Mets still have Wright ager Sandy Alderson said
drubal Cabrera is likely to offseason spending and for its 40-man roster and on the roster, but the long- last month.q