2011 Recap
The “Cinderella Story” finally came true. Bill Murray, the comic actor and beloved celebrity icon for the AT&T Pebble Beach National Pro-Am, added his name to the list of champions, as he and pro partner D.A. Points captured the team title.
Murray, who first appeared at the AT&T Pro-Am in 1992, continued to transform the golf courses into his own unique “improv-on-the-greens.” But Murray could not have written a better script for Points, who recorded his first career PGA TOUR victory, closing with a 5-under-par 67 at Pebble Beach Golf Links for a total of 271, 15-under-par, to win by two shots.
“It will take me a really long time to truly grasp what I was able to do with Bill,” said Points, who like Murray is an Illinois native, and grew up idolizing Murray’s numerous movie roles and Saturday Night Live characters. “To win at Pebble Beach … and with Bill Murray? My gosh, I don’t think I could ever have dream it up that well.”
Starting the final round two shots behind leader Steve Marino, Points popped in and out of the lead throughout the day, as did Marino, Hunter Mahan and Jimmy Walker. Points was within one of Marino when he came to the tricky par-5 14th hole, which the previous year knocked out two top contenders when each posted a 9 there in the final round. But from 110 yards Points holed out his approach for an eagle to take a one-shot lead in both the individual and team races.
Points kept the momentum going when he made a birdie on the 15th for a two-shot lead. And even though he flirted with an OB stake along the left side of the 16th fairway, Points closed with three pars to complete the sweep.
A four-time winner on the Nationwide Tour, Points became the eighth pro in tournament history to win both the individual and team titles in the same year. He also became the sixth pro to record his first career PGA TOUR victory at the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am.
Murray said that after Points made the birdie at No. 15, he could not stop laughing at the thought of actually winning at Pebble Beach. “I could not speak,” Murray said. “I realized that this is it. We have won this tournament.”
Having teamed with pro Scott Simpson for many years – they finished as high as fourth in 2005 – Murray helped 20 shots over four days, as he and Points finished at 251, 35- under-par.
The celebrity field included several newcomers, including actors Kurt Russell and Anthony Anderson, as well as San Francisco Giants pitcher Matt Cain.
TOMS Shoes founder Blake Mycoskie, a 16 handicapper from Arlington, TX, helped pro Vaughn Taylor by 29 strokes to win the tournament’s Jack Lemmon Award, which goes to the amateur who helps his team the most. The team tied for second, 33-under-par.
LEADERS: First Round – Steve Marino -7 (65 SH), D.A. Points -7 (63 MP); Alex Cejka -6 (64 MP). Second Round – Marino -13 (131/66 PB), Points -13 (133/70 SH), Keegan Bradley -8 (134/69 SH), 10 players tied at -7. Third Round – Marino -12 (202/71 MP), Bryce Molder -11 (203/ 68 MP), Jimmy Walker -11 (203/63 SH), Points -10 (204/71 PB).
CUT: 73 pros made the cut at 212, 2 under-par. The pro-am team cut was 195, 19 under par, with the limit of 25 teams advancing. Seven teams were eliminated through the tiebreaker.
COURSE AVERAGES: Pebble Beach 72.381, Spyglass Hill 72.426, Monterey Peninsula 69.840.
WEATHER: Sunshine all week, with mild breezes. Thursday and Friday temperature in the mid- to high 60s, with Saturday reaching a high of 70. Sunday included a few scattered clouds, cooling to the low 60s in the afternoon.
