It’s Pebble Beach time! This means Carl Spackler and Tin Cup will tee off with the PGA’s best on one of America’s most serene courses.

Here are some thoughts on the tournament:

David Duval: Duval finished last year tied for runner-up with JB Holmes (one stroke behind winner Dustin Johnson) stirring up fan memories of his past playing abilities that led him to win the 2001 British Open. It would be great to see Davie back in form for the start of the 2011 season.

John Daly: John Daly is in the field this week (paired with Dallas Cowboy’s Tony Romo). Daly, struggling with his game, losing his tour card, and seeing his earnings shrink, will be toting a new golf bag that looks like something straight out Caddyshack. The bag sports a loud red pattern that matches the trousers he wears on the golf course and has a built-in flat screen television that will run ads – another needed money maker for Daly. All it’s lacking is the beer tap and clubs that shoot out of the bag.

Michael Bolton: India’s Arjun Atwal will be playing alongside singer Michael Bolton. Wednesday’s 3M Celebrity Challenge brought inspiration to everyone, but it was actor-comedian Anthony Anderson who felt Bolton’s presence the most. Anderson burst into song Wednesday (suddenly and loudly) on the 18th green – his timing seemed suspicious. “When a maaa-an loves a woo-man …” Anderson bellowed semi-melodically as Michael Bolton stood over a 5-foot putt worth $19,000 in charity money. Bolton stepped away from his ball with a cocked eyebrow, waited for the laughter to subside, then refocused and rolled the putt into the cup to win the biggest chunk of the cash in the match.

For the easy-listening fans out there, musician Kenny G is paired with South Korean K.J. Choi. G won the 2001 pro-am with Phil Mickelson in 2001.

Cell Phones: Cell phones will be allowed for the first time in years, provided they are put on silent and users aren’t yapping near the ropes or taking pictures, two big no-no’s (photos are allowed during practice rounds). A public service video from tournament chair Clint Eastwood will remind arriving fans of the new rule as they board shuttle. Paring sheets this year they are available as an app at the Android Market, iPhone App Store, or iTunes.

Business as Usual: As usual, Tiger Woods will skip the Pro-Am as he has done since 2002, playing this week in the Dubai Desert Classic (who wouldn’t choose 135 degree heat over the cool breezes of the California coast?)

Keith

Vijay Singh and David Toms have had writs filed against them for $10.5 million and $900,000 respectively. The writs are part of a $13 million dollar lawsuit filed against the PGA Tour by an investor group attempting to recoup losses from financier Allen Stanford. Stanford is currently standing trial for operating a multi-billion dollar Ponzi scheme that had strong monetary ties to the professional golf world.

Singh had received sponsorships and fees through his management company (IMG) from Stanford, while Toms earned over $900,000 in profits from a fraudulent certificate of deposit scheme based out of Antigua.

Singh, with strong ties to Stanford, made headlines last June for continuing to wear the Stanford logo shirt for free and offering to pay the $500,000 bond for Stanford’s release from jail (Singh’s payment was refused due to not being a US citizen).

The US Open is adamant about keeping the current 18-hole play-off format, despite being the only major that does so.  USGA Executive Director David Fay, when asked if the format would change anytime soon, said, “We are doggedly determined to go 18 holes.”

One has to question why we need a full 18-hole play-off.  Last years battle between Tiger Woods and Rocco Meidate, while fantastic, is a rare occurrence.  The extra day also puts a drain on the USGA’s finances.  With the extra day, the USGA spent extra money on:

- Another day of buses: $120,000 ($45,000 for smaller buses)

- Security: $30,000

- Parking: $60,000

- Lunches and travel costs (no amount given)

Overall, the costs added up to just over a half a million dollars.

It would seem to me that with that much money being shelled out and the rarity of match-ups like last years, the US Open would follow suit with the other majors and go with a sudden death play-off.

And I’d be all for it.

What do you think?  Should the US Open keep the 18-hole format or move to sudden death?

Looks like the US Open will return to Oakmont in 2016.

The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reported on its website today that the Open will make its ninth trip to Oakmont.  The Open has played in Oakmont in 1927, 1935, 1953, 1962, 1973, 1983, 1994 and most recently 2007.  The USGA is expected to make an official announcement later this month.

The Pebble Beach National Pro-Am will be adding a new course to the mix next year.  The Shore Course at Monterey Peninsula Country Club replacing Poppy Hills.  Monterey was last used for the Pro-Am in 1977 and it will join Spyglass Hill for the PGA Tour event.

This will mark the first course change in the event since 1991, when Poppy Hills replaced Cypress Point due to membership issues.  Poppy was the least favorite among the players, with rounds lasting upwards of 6 hours due to the 5 par 5′s and bumpy greens.

After determining the course of treatment for his wife Amy’s breast cancer, Phil Mickelson has decided to return to the course for the St. Jude Invitational June 11.  He will use the tournament as a tune-up for the US Open the following week.  After that, his schedule is still uncertain.

John Daly’s 6 month PGA suspension is officially over.  Daly was suspended in November after numerous off the course incidents and had recently been playing on the European Tour.  He has been given a sponsor exemption to play in the St. Jude Invitational June 11-14 and is expected to play.

In other news, Daly wore bright pink trousers in the Sunday’s final round at the BMW PGA Championship as a gesture of support for Phil Mickelson’s wife, Amy, who was recently diagnosed with breast cancer.  “I had a pair, so I figured I’d do that for her today. I thought it would be a good gesture,” Daly said of his trousers. “I know Phil very well and I know Amy. I’ve known them for a long time — we’ve played the Tour together. She’s a great lady. She has always been a sweetheart to everybody.”

Looks like the down economy has struck the golf world yet again.

This time, the British Masters has been dropped from this years European Tour after they were unable to secure a new title sponsor.  Quinn Insurance’s sponsorship ran out and no replacement could be found for the tournament.

The PGA and LPGA tours are not immune to the effects of reduced corporate spending.  U.S. Bank has dropped its sponsorship of the tour stop in Milwaukee, putting that tournament in serious jeopardy.  The LPGA has already begun lobbying hard for Anheuser-Busch to renew it’s deal with the Michelob Ultra Open at Kingsmill.  The most current tournament at Kingsmill ended Sunday.

While John Daly still has 4 months remaining on his PGA Tour suspension, he is starting to get his game back on the European Tour.

Daly, who had tied for 31st at the Spanish Open last week, finished tied for 2nd at this weeks BMW Italian Open.  Daly shot at 31 on the back nine Sunday, with birdies on 11, 14, 16, and 17, in route to a 5-under 66.  It marked the 5th consecutive round in which Daly broke 70.

Daly has lost about 50 pounds and perhaps has matured since undergoing gastric band surgery in February.  When he finished second to Tiger Woods in the 2005 WGC-American Express Championship in San Fransisco, Daly drove to Las Vegas and lost $1 million gambling in just 30 minutes.

Due to the economic climate, the 2009 Skins Game has been postponed.  The Thanksgiving weekend tradition for nearly 3 decades, was postponed by sponsors.  IMG, which manages the Skins Game, had been negotiating a contract extension with LG, when the Korean based electronics maker decided not to renew the contract.

IMG would like to see the Skins Game return in 2010, but without a title sponsor and declining ratings over the last few years, it seems unlikely that the all-star event will return.