Herald Correspondent
Now, it may be the ladies' turn.
Starting Thursday, the 39th annual Callaway Golf Pebble Beach Invitational, which annually features stars of today and tomorrow from the PGA, LPGA, Champions and Nationwide tours, tees off at Del Monte Golf Course, Spyglass Hill and Pebble Beach.
Coming into this year's tournament, the last and only female to ever win the event was Juli Inkster in 1990.
Like McDowell snapping the Euros' U.S. Open skid, it could be time for the ladies to end their Invitational drought.
In what is one of the most female-stacked Invitational fields in years, the LPGA contingent will feature among others legend Annika Sorenstam, 2009 Kraft Nabisco Championship winner Brittany Lincicome, star Natalie Gulbis, 2009 SBS Open winner Angela Stanford, CN Canadian Women's Open runner-up Kristy McPherson, 2009 U.S. Women's Open runner-up Candie Kung, local LPGA rookie Mina Harigae of Monterey, 2007 Kraft Nabisco Championship winner Morgan Pressel, Hana Bank Championship runner-up Vicky Hurst, veteran Jill McGill, up and comer Sandra Gal and Inkster, who's currently No.29 on the LPGA money list.
The strong presence of LPGA players this year is the result of a schedule change. In recent years, the LPGA Championship has conflicted with the Invitational.
"With the calendar move of the LPGA Championship, we have secured 7 of the top 30 in the
current world rankings," tournament director Bill Sendell said.
Not surprisingly, Sorenstam is excited, not just for the ladies' chances, but also her own. While officially retired, the record eight-time Player of the Year still competes in a number of charity events and still has game.
"I haven't seen the full field for this year's Invitational yet, but I heard it is strong," said Sorenstam, who in 1999 came within a stroke of winning the title. "The fact that there is no LPGA tournament opposite us this year should mean we have a lot of talented ladies playing. I look forward to competing with and against them and hopefully one of us can break the trend."
Still, the competition will be tough. On the PGA Tour side, the field includes five 2010 winners: Ryan Palmer (Sony Open), Matt Bettencourt (Reno-Tahoe Open), Derek Lamely (Puerto Rico Open), Cameron Beckman (Mayakoba Golf Classic) and Bill Lunde (Turning Stone Resort Championship). There's also defending champion and three-time winner Mark Brooks, 2009 Bob Hope Classic winner Pat Perez and recent Kodak Challenge winner Troy Merritt.
From the Champions Tour, there's 2007 and 2008 winner Tommy Armour III, former First Tee Open champ Scott Simpson and defending First Tee Open champ Ted Schultz.
The Nationwide Tour, meanwhile, will be represented by 2010 money leader and 2011 PGA Tour rookie-to-be Jamie Lovemark, Stevenson alum Nathan Smith, Hunter Haas and Tommy Gainey, who finished 3rd and 4th on the money list, respectively, and Daniel Summerhays, who finished 5th on the money list. Others include 2007 U.S. Amateur champion Colt Knost and Jason Gore, who entered the final round of the 2005 U.S. Open in second place.
One of golf's most unique events, the tournament uses an innovative tee-placement system based on the average length of shots on each tour to make things fair.
While a change of pace for the players, the Invitational is also a one-of-a-kind event for fans. Along with free admission, spectators are granted "inside the ropes" access, meaning they can follow their favorite players directly down the fairways.
On Thursday, Friday and Saturday, play will be held simultaneously at Del Monte, Spyglass Hill and Pebble Beach. Following the third round, a cut will be made with the low 10 amateur teams and low 40 pros advancing to Sunday's final round at Pebble Beach.
Last year, Brooks, winner of the 1996 PGA Championship, birdied three of his final four holes to hold off Rickie Fowler and become the first player ever to win the Invitational three times.
Recently, Callaway Golf extended its sponsorship of the event through 2014
