Pebble Beach Gets One Day in the Sun

By THOMAS BONK

Aug. 17, 1998 12 AM PT

TIMES STAFF WRITER

The first 6 1/2-month long tournament in PGA Tour history finishes today at Pebble Beach, where the rain-delayed AT&T; Pebble Beach National Pro-Am reaches a protracted, but probably dry conclusion.

It’s not every tournament that begins Jan. 29 and ends in mid-August, but that’s the best this soggy one can hope for since it was washed out on Feb. 2.

Tim Herron and Tom Watson are tied after 36 holes, but Phil Mickelson, Tom Lehman and Jay Haas are one shot back.

The plan is to get in 18 holes today to make it an official 54-hole event and allow the $2.5-million purse to be paid out. There are 139 players out of the original field of 162 who will show up to try to finish what they started.

Watson missed the cut at the PGA and has been able to get in some practice at Pebble Beach.

Lehman said that points out the absolute absurdity of the rescheduled event.

“That just goes to show you what a ridiculous situation that was for the Tour to do such a thing,” Lehman said. “The best thing would have been to say ‘Sorry, Mother Nature won, I’m going home.’ ”

Players will tee off from the first and 10th tees at Pebble Beach, Poppy Hills and Spyglass Hill, which means it’s probably not going to be a very long round.

The players will be able to lift, clean and place their golf balls because winter rules were in effect the last time they were here. Also, the players will use the front tees as they did before, necessary because most of the back tees were under water.

Rain is not in the forecast, but low scores are.

“If I don’t shoot in the 60s, I don’t have a chance,” Watson said.

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But Wait, There’s More

The rain-delayed $2.5-million AT&T; Pebble Beach National Pro-Am resumes today after 6 1/2 months:

* Players: 139 of 162 players who started the tournament are expected to finish today.

* Leaders: Tim Herron and Tom Watson are tied after 36 holes.

* Others: Phil Mickelson, Tom Lehman and Jay Haas are one shot back.

* TV: ESPN, 9:30 p.m. (delayed highlights)