IN THE BOOKS (7:15 p.m.) The second round of the AT&T Pebble Beach National Pro-Am is complete and we have what one reporter called a "cluttered" leaderboard.
There are six players tied for the lead at 10 under—Alex Cejka (who shot a 67 at Spyglass Hill), Bryce Molder (65, Monterey Peninsula), Dustin Johnson (68, Monterey Peninsula), Paul Goydos (65 Spyglass Hill), J.B. Holmes (67, Monterey Peninsula) and Matt Jones (67, Pebble Beach).
David Duval is alone at 9 under after shooting a 68 at Pebble Beach. Padraig Harrington, D.J. Trahan and rookie Alex Prugh round out the top 10 in a tie at 8 under.
Of course, we won't know who the real leaders are until Saturday night when the entire field has played a round at each of the three courses in the rotation.—Helen Ross
HOFFMAN HONORED (6:45 p.m.): The week started off well for the Hoffman family. Stacy Hoffman, Charley's wife, received the PGA TOUR Wives Association's Bowes Award on Wednesday during its meeting at Pebble Beach. Not to mention, her husband's 64 on the Shore Course at Monterey Peninsula left him two strokes off the lead.
The award is given annually in memory of Susan Bowes, who was instrumental in helping the PTWA establish and improve its fund-raising activities to help children and families in need. Hoffman was cited for the way she has organized and increased the media coverage of the organization in local and national markets.—Helen Ross
COMING IN BUNCHES (6:23 p.m.): Dustin Johnson likely will start the third round tied for the lead in his title defense at the AT&T Pebble Beach National Pro-Am.
So let's take a look at the multiple champions of what began as Bing Crosby's annual celebrity clambake. Mark O'Meara, of course, leads the way with five victories in 1985, '89, '90, '92 and '97.
Jack Nicklaus, Johnny Miller and Phil Mickelson each have three titles. And should he win on Sunday, Johnson could join Lloyd Mangrum, Cary Middlecoff, Billy Casper, Tom Watson and Davis Love III as two-time champs.—Helen Ross
MORE ON PADDY (6 p.m.): Friday was a glorious day to play—or watch—golf on the Monterey Peninsula. By late morning, the sun was out in abundance and the temperatures were cool but hardly cold.
In fact, Padraig Harrington enjoyed his bogey-free round of 67 at Pebble Beach so much he actually had to total up the score when he was finished.
"I wasn't sure what it was, so that's always a good sign," he said with a smile. "It shows I was enjoying the day and very much in the moment, and not getting too much into the results. All those cliches that you're meant to do when you're playing golf."
Harrington had a contingent of friends from the San Francisco area in his gallery. They follow him whenever he plays in California, and the courses on the Monterey Peninsula certainly give the Irishman a comfort zone.
"To be honest, I wish I was a little bit more prepared at this time of the year, because these golf courses are kind of like playing golf at home, so it be would be right up my street in terms of giving me a competitive advantage," Harrington said.
The Dubliner, who missed the cut last week at Riviera in his 2010 debut, is playing at Pebble Beach for the fourth time in his career. His best finish is a tie for 14th in 2008.—Helen Ross
ACCENTURE TAKE II (5:45 p.m.): Padraig Harringon acknowledges that the absence of Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson will take away some of the early hype from next week's World Golf Championships-Accenture Match Play Championship.
But the thoughtful Irishman also understands that there will be an abundance of storylines to follow once those 32 matches get under way on Wednesday at Dove Mountain in Marana, Ariz..
"I think when any tournament starts it evolves itself and will create its own stories," Harrington said. "… The guy who wins the tournament will probably be the guy that was playing the best golf that week in the world.
"I think he will be a worthy winner, and that all the matches will create a story that if guys aren't there—I won't say they'll be forgotten about, but, you know, there will be new things to talk about once the games get going.
"I think before the games get going, yeah, we're gonna talk about who's missing."
The way Harrington is playing at Pebble Beach this week, he just might be one of those stories. The three-time major champion is finished at 8 under and just two strokes behind the leaders as play winds down on Friday.—Helen Ross
SURPRISE, SURPRISE (5:20 p.m.): Alex Prugh had never played any of the three courses in the rotation for the AT&T Pebble Beach National Pro-Am. The rookie is a quick study, though.
The 25-year-old from Spokane, Wash., is 5 under with one hole remaining at Pebble Beach—which has vaulted him into a share of third for the tournament. Prugh stands 9 under and two strokes behind Dustin Johnson.
Prugh, who was a two-time All-American at the University of Washington, is coming off three straight top-10 finishes. He was fifth at the Bob Hope Classic and Farmers Insurance Open, then tied for 10th last week at the Northern Trust Open.
Prugh may not be the most heralded of 2010's rookie class, but the Nationwide Tour grad is certainly making his name known. Learn more about him by clicking —Helen Ross
ACCENTURE FIELD SET (5 p.m.): The commitments are finalized for the World Golf Championships-Accenture Match Play Championship. Check it out
Contrary to unsubstantiated reports in an Australian newspaper, Tiger Woods is not going to compete in the event that brings together the top 64 available players from around the globe. World No. 3 Phil Mickelson is also taking the week off for a family vacation.
Dustin Johnson, who leads the AT&T Pebble Beach National Pro-Am, will be there, though. So will Padraig Harrington, who just finished off a round of 67 and is three strokes behind here on the Monterey Peninsula.
Steve Stricker, who took over the No. 2 spot in the world when he won the Northern Trust Open last Sunday, will be the top seed at Dove Mountain next week. Stricker won the Accenture Match Play Championship in 2001 when it was played in Australia.
Ross McGowan, who ranks No. 66, is the last man in the field. Geoff Ogilvy will defend his title a week after his wife Juli gave birth to their third child—and second son, named Harvey Jack.—Helen Ross
SCREECHING HALT (4:30 p.m.): Remember that run Phil Mickelson was on? He started on the back nine at Spyglass Hill Friday and had moved to 7 under for the tournament with birdies on Nos. 16, 17 and 18 to turn in 31.
That surge ended abruptly when Mickelson made double bogey on the par-5 first, though. Mickelson has gotten one stroke back with a birdie on No. 3 so he's back in the top 20.—Helen Ross
RECORD RUNS (4:10 p.m.): No one's threatening right now. But given the abundance of birdies and the gorgeous weather expected for the rest of the week, we figured it might be wise to look at the course records.
The low 18 at Pebble Beach is 62, shot by David Duval in 1997 and Tom Kite in 1983—both under lift-clean-and-place rules, as is the case for the first three rounds this week.
Spyglass Hill's record is also 62, shot by Luke Donal in 2006 and Phil Mickelson in 2005. The Shore course, which plays to a par 70, is new to the rotation so the 65s turned in Thursday by Vijay Singh, Jeff Maggert, Blake Adams, Alex Cejka, Kevin Streelman and Bo Van Pelt are the early pace-setters.—Helen Ross
SURGING SIMPSON (3:45 p.m.): Granted, Webb Simpson hasn't gotten off to the kind of start he did as a rookie last year when he posted top-10s in his first two starts. But he's certainly playing well this week on the Monterey Peninsula.
The Wake Forest grad is 5 under through 12 holes at Spyglass Hill. That brings Simpson to 8 under for the tournament and two strokes off the pace set by Dustin Johnson and Alex Cejka. A year ago, he missed the cut.
Simpson tied for 77th in his 2010 debut in Hawaii, then followed with a tie for 33rd at the Bob Hope Classic and a share of 15th last week at the Northern Trust Open. He's got tons of potential, though, so he's a player to keep an eye on.—Helen Ross
DON'T LOOK NOW (3:30 p.m.): Phil Mickelson seems to have gotten his putter untracked. He's just made consecutive birdies at Spyglass Hill, bringing his total to four in his first eight holes, and is 6 under for the tournament.
The world No. 3 is tied for 12th, four strokes off the pace being set by Dustin Johnson. Could a fourth AT&T Pebble Beach National Pro-Am title be on the horizon?—Helen Ross
YOU TWEET, WE ANSWER (3:10 p.m.): "Is there any update regarding the new grooves? USPGA were in talks because the ping wedges."—@dylanevns
The latest is that the USGA and the folks from Ping met on Tuesday. As for what came out of that meeting, we don't much other than the talks were "productive" and both sides are "hopeful that a solution can be found that respects and reflects the best interests of golfers and the game." ( to read the rest of what was said.) The other option, as mentioned by PGA TOUR Commissioner Tim Finchem would be to involve an independent committee, but even Finchem called that process "cumbersome."—Brian Wacker
CHECK OUT CEJKA (2:50 p.m.): Alex Cejka has played three tournaments on the PGA TOUR this year and has missed the cut each time. He didn't break 70 in his first eight rounds, either.
Golf is a quirky game, though. Not only is it looking like Cejka will play the weekend for the first time this season, he is one stroke off the lead at the AT&T Pebble Beach National Pro-Am.
Cejka played the Shore Course at Monterey Peninsula Country Club on Thursday and shot 65. That good play has continued Friday at Spyglass Hill as he has made four birdies and dropped just one shot to par through 12 holes to move to 8 under.
Cejka, who put together a career-best nine top-25 finishes last year, is still looking for his first PGA TOUR victory. He has played at Pebble Beach five times with a tie for 30th in 2007 his best finish.—Helen Ross
WEATHER UPDATE (2:40 p.m.): The sun has broken out from behind the clouds on the Monterey Peninsula. The air is still cool, but you couldn't ask for nicer weather here at Pebble Beach.—Helen Ross
MICKELSON UPDATE (2:30 p.m.): The big left-hander is playing at Spyglass Hill on Friday and he's made one birdie in his first four holes. The three-time AT&T Pebble Beach National Pro-Am champ is 3 under for the tournament and currently tied for 42nd.
RUST'S OFF (2:15 p.m): Padraig Harrington's 2010 debut last week left something to be desired when he missed the cut at the Northern Trust Open.
The irishman is happy with the changes he made to his swing during the offseason, though. That's in sharp contrast to a year ago when Harrington's work didn't come together until late in the season.
"I'm happy with what I've done, and I'm going to just play with that," the three-time major champion had said last week. " While it was the same work, it's finished at the moment and I'm ready to go play golf, which is what I didn't do last year. "
Looks like Harrington, who made three more bogeys than birdies at Riviera, has shaken the rust off. He's played his first 11 holes at Pebble Beach on Friday in 3 under and stands 6 under for the tournament.—Helen Ross
KEEPING IT UP (2 p.m.): David Duval, whose back hurt so badly he had to cut a practice round short on Monday, continues to impress in the second round.
Duval has played three holes at Pebble Beach and is 2 under for the day, which brings him to 7 under for the tournament and two off the lead. He rolled in a 33-footer at the par-5 second and followed with a 9-footer for another birdie on the next hole.
After he opened with a round of 67 at Spyglass Hill, Duval had said his 5 under there was better than the same round at Pebble Beach. Even so, something tells us he'd be pretty happy that score today.—Helen Ross
MORE OF THE SAME (1:35 p.m.): One of the day's best rounds belongs to Brandt Snedeker, who is 4 under thorugh eight holes at Pebble Beach. He started at even, so he has some ground to make up but the young man from Tennessee is on the move.
Snedeker's first birdie came at the par-5 second hole where he rolled in a 6-footer. He added another from the same distance on the third hole, then two-putted from 49 feet at No. 6, a 523-yard par 5, and rolled in a 13-footer at the seventh.
To find Snedeker playing well should come as no surprise. He has only shot above par once in 14 rounds this year and the Vanderbilt grad has three top-20 finishes, including a tie for second at the Farmers Insurance Open.—Helen Ross
STREELMAN CHALLENGING (1:10 p.m.): Kevin Streelman has birdied three of his first four holes at Spyglass Hill to move into a tie with Dustin Johnson at 8 under at the top of the leaderboard.
Ironically, the 2001 Duke grad has yet to play this week's Kodak Challenge hole, the dramatic and pcturesque 18th at Pebble Beach Golf Links. Streelman won the bonus competition in its inaugural year and pocketed $1 million.
Streelman is tied for seventh in the current Kodak Challenge He's played three of the holes and is 2 under. Brendan Pappas birdied the 18th on Thursday and is the current leader at 4 under through four holes.—Helen Ross
VETERANS ON THE MOVE (12:50 p.m.): Jim Furyk and Vijay Singh have both started quickly on Thursday and suddenly find themselves just one shot off the lead.
Furyk, who is played the Shore Course, birdired his first three holes to move to 7 under. Singh has played six holes at Spyglass Hill and made three birdies and one bogey.
Singh thrives on the Monterey Peninsula. He won the tournament in 2004 and was runner-up in 2000, 2001 and 2008. In fact, since the turn of the century the big Fijian has only finished outside the top 10 on three occasions.
Furyk, on the other hand, has never won the AT&T Pebble Beach National Pro-Am. But he has four top-10s, including a tie for third in 1998 when Phil Mickelson won his first of three titles.—Helen Ross
DAZZLING DEBUT (12:30 p.m.): If the first round is any indication, the Shore Course at Monterey Peninsula Country Club made a great impression on the TOUR pros and celebrities in attendance at the AT&T Pebble Beach National Pro-Am.
The Mike Strantz redesign offers panoramic views of the Pacific Open and a mixture of challenging holes, including a quintent of par 3s. The par-70 links played to an average of 68.981 in the first round.
As expected Spyglass Hill is trending as the most difficult with an average of 71.519 in the first round while Pebble Beach clocked in at 70.885. Both are par 72s.
And for the record, there were only 46 rounds above par on the three courses. The sub-par rounds were evenly divided with 34 at Spyglass Hill, 33 on the Shore and 32 at Pebble Beach.—Helen Ross
ELK SIGHTING (12:04 p.m.): There's abundant wildlife on the Monterey Peninsula, including deer, coyote, fox, bobcats and rabbit. On Friday, there was a rare sighting of an elk, too—as in Steve Elkington.
The 47-year-old Aussie is playing the Shore Course on Friday and he birdied his first hole, moving to 5 under for the tournament. Elkington has played in 17 tournaments at Pebble Beach and has three top-10 finishes, all in the 1990s.
Elkington started the 2010 season on a strong note, shooting five rounds in the 60s to tie for 15th at the Bob Hope Classic. The smooth-swinging veteran has won 10 times on TOUR, but the last came in 1999 at the Doral Ryder Open. —Helen Ross
LATEST WEATHER (11:30 a.m.): From the TOUR's weather staff: "A weakening cold front will dissipate over the region this morning. There could be a sprinkle or a few areas of mist around. Otherwise, mostly cloudy skies will become partly cloudy as we go through the day. Temperatures will remain mild with highs in the low 60s. A ridge of high pressure will build over the state this weekend. This will provide partly to mostly sunny skies with highs in the low to mid 60s."
