Spieth Leads Star-Studded Field at Pebble Beach Pro-Am

PEBBLE BEACH, Calif. — The 2025 AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am kicked off Wednesday with a star-studded field featuring top PGA Tour professionals and celebrity amateurs, including country singer Eric Church and Augusta National Chairman Fred Ridley. The event, now a PGA Tour Signature Event, remains one of golf’s most iconic pro-am tournaments despite a reduced field size and shortened duration.

Jordan Spieth, a three-time major champion, headlined the opening round at Pebble Beach Golf Links, where he was paired with amateur Dave Ricks. The tournament features a unique format where professionals and amateurs compete together for the first two rounds before the pros continue solo over the weekend.

Last year’s pro-am champions, Rory McIlroy and Jeff Rhodes, returned to defend their title. McIlroy, who finished tied for 66th in the professional competition last year, joked about his performance. “Yeah, I got my name on the wall, just not the portion that I wanted,” McIlroy said Tuesday. “Jeff and I had a good time over 36. He obviously did most of the heavy lifting in those two days.”

This year’s amateur field includes a wide range of handicaps, from scratch golfer Michael McCarthy to 18-handicappers like David Fox and David Kohler. Notable pairings include Fred Ridley with Collin Morikawa, Eric Church with Sam Burns, and Condoleezza Rice with Justin Thomas.

The tournament also introduced a new fantasy golf game for fans, allowing them to compete against PGA Tour experts by selecting lineups of four starters and two bench players. The fantasy segment runs through the Arnold Palmer Invitational in March.

As the competition heats up, all eyes will be on Spieth, who is seeking his second victory at Pebble Beach, and McIlroy, who aims to improve on last year’s performance. The event continues through Sunday, with the final round broadcast live on NBC.