As the majority of the country remains in the wintry doldrums that they’ve come accustomed to at this time of year, the PGA Tour’s West Coast swing is coming to a start. The West Coast Swing spans five weeks throughout California and Arizona, and to many marks the first significant professional golf of the calendar year. Nestled right into one of the dullest spots on the yearly sports calendar, the West Coast Swing has found its niche right in between the Super Bowl and March Madness reminding the hibernating sports fans that it’s actually green somewhere in North America.
Most top pros make their PGA Tour debuts at some point throughout the Swing, and it represents the first chance for golf fans to see most of their favorite players in action. Many pros will be putting new equipment in their bags for the first time in competition at these tournaments. Unlike most professional sports that offer some kind of preseason series of exhibitions, the PGA Tour hits the ground running with a brief two tournament stint in Hawaii, and then it’s off to the West Coast where most of the tour starts their year by fighting for titles and valuable FedEx Cup points.
The PGA West Coast Swing Preview
The Humana Challenge
Location: La Quinta Country Club, PGA West Palmer Course, PGA West Nicklaus Course, La Quinta, CA.
Defending Champ: Patrick Reed
West Coast Swing Quirk: The Humana features a 54 hole pro-am event that runs concurrently in the tournament. To accommodate the extra play, the first three rounds are spread over three separate courses, with a third of the field playing on each. Through 54 holes when each player has played each course once, the final 70 players and ties will complete the final round on the Palmer Course.
Why You Should Watch: Scoring. Like birdies? This tournament offers plenty of them. Last year, Patrick Reed set a PGA tour 54 hole scoring record when he torched the field with a score of 189 (63-63-63) through three rounds. Notable Players in the field include Phil Mickelson, Matt Kuchar, Zach Johnson, and Jason Dufner.
The Waste Management Phoenix Open
Location: TPC Scottsdale, Phoenix, Arizona.
Defending Champ: Kevin Stadler
West Coast Swing Quirk: The Phoenix Open is no stranger to packing 500,000 plus patrons onto the grounds of TPC Scottsdale throughout the week, and the fans aren’t shy either. The signature hole represents the course’s goal of “stadium golf” at Number 16, where 30,000 of the players’ closest friends get a chance to cheer, sing, boo, and chant at every shot that’s hit. Imagine if golf had the atmosphere of many other sports, where fans operated at full enthusiasm unfettered by the custom regulations of the game of golf. Imagine a single golf hole with a college football atmosphere, the attendance of most MLB games, and you get Number 16, a golf hole unlike any other.
Why You Should Watch: Mayhem. The large crowds would be enough at the Waste Management, but throw in the risk-reward course architecture along the back nine, and then the raucous atmosphere at Number 16, and the back nine is an absolute must see. Earlier in the week, the players try to appease the 30,000 strong that pack into the 162 yard par three by sending souvenirs into the stands, dancing on the green, or dispatching their caddies on full out sprints to the green. The Tour has banned the souvenir-slinging and caddie racing, but regardless of what the rules say, it’s hard to keep the fans in Scottsdale on their best behavior come Saturday afternoon. Tiger Woods will be making his season debut here for the first time since 2001. In Tiger’s first year on tour, he raised the roof with a hole-in-one here. The shot, accompanied by his celebration and the makeshift ticker-tape parade of empty cups marks one of the holes signature moments.
The Farmers Insurance Open
Location: Torrey Pines North and South Courses, La Jolla, CA.
Defending Champ: Scott Stallings
West Coast Swing Quirk: Half of the field will play the South Course on Thursday, with the other half playing the North. The two groups will switch on Friday, where the cut will be made before the weekend, where the Saturday and Sunday rounds are both played on the south. The North typically surrenders much lower scores than the North, which makes for an interesting dynamic in the tournament’s early stages.
Why You Should Watch: The Farmers is without a doubt the strongest field of the early PGA Tour Season. It’s played predominately on the South Course at Torrey, site of Tiger Woods’ dramatic one-legged win at the 2008 US Open. The Farmers will surely draw the strongest field of the West Coast Swing (aided by the fact that the WGC Matchplay is now played in April, no longer a true part of the “swing.”)
The AT&T Pebble Beach National Pro-Am
Location: Pebble Beach Golf Links, Spyglass Hill Golf Course, Monterey Peninsula Country Club, Monterey, CA.
Defending Champ: Jimmy Walker
West Coast Swing Quirk: Originally the Bing Crosby Invitational, this might be the most famous pro-am in the world. Celebrities like Bill Murray, Chris Berman, and Wayne Gretzky will get their chance to tee it up right next to the pros for three rounds. Like the Humana, the tournament will rotate over three courses with a 54 hole cut, and the final round at Pebble Beach.
Why You Should Watch: The ridiculous juxtaposition that most people tuning in will look outside their windows to find snow, against the rolling surf and verdant vistas of Pebble Beach is enough to force even the most casual golf fan to watch. When Pebble Beach is the venue, people tune in. Is there a more beautiful place on Earth? If there is, it probably doesn’t have the major championship résumé that Pebble Beach has.
The Northern Trust Open
Location: Riviera Country Club, Pacific Palisades, CA.
Defending Champ: Bubba Watson
West Coast Swing Quirk: The most unique detail about this tournament is that it doesn’t actually have anything about it that isn’t standard. For the first time of the West Coast Swing, the Northern Trust offers traditional, 72 hole format. This standard format, along with the prestige of Riviera Country Club attracts a strong field annually.
Why You Should Watch: Riviera has one of the most telegenic finishing holes in all of golf. The uphill 18th rewards great approach shots with birdies, and wayward shots are difficult to get up and down. Pair that with the gorgeous patio and thousands of fans that gather on the banks around the green, and the 18th of Riviera is one of the best atmospheres in early-season golf. The Northern Trust typically offers an exciting finish, it’s been decided by two shots or less every year since 2007.
The West Coast Swing might be at a disadvantage due to its early season placement in the schedule, but has become a PGA Tour staple through its use of fun quirks, outstanding golf courses, large market locations, and telegenic nature. The West Coast Swing kicks off the 2015 mainland PGA Tour year on Thursday at the Humana Challenge.
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