It’s on almost every golfer’s bucket list to play at the iconic Pebble Beach.
And as long as you have the money to travel to California and pay the pricey green fees, it’s an achievable aim. It’s one of the most famous public golf courses in the world.
It’s also hosting the PGA Tour this week, as Scottie Scheffler, Rory McIlroy, and some of the other best players on the planet face off at the Pebble Beach pro-am. The conditions on the coast are set to be tricky for the best in the game.
And weeks ago, YouTube golfer Peter Finch took on the challenge. He’s a +1.8 handicapper and has made several attempts to qualify for The Open Championship. This is how he got on over 18 holes at Pebble Beach.
The score Peter Finch shot at Pebble Beach
As part of his “Break Par” series, where Finch takes on some of the best golf courses on the planet, Finch played 18 holes at Pebble Beach. And he failed to break par, shooting one over. An impressive score, but not what he was hoping for.
It was an incredible start for Finch. He shot four under par over his first five holes and looked set to smash his target. He shot even over the rest of the front nine to enter the 10th hole four under, and parred the iconic par three seventh hole after a solid tee shot.
But from there, he started to unravel. Finch double-bogeyed both 10 and 11 to undo all of the hard work from the first nine holes. He steadied the ship with a birdie on 13, but yet another double on 15 put him one over.
It was perfect conditions for Finch, but his usually reliable short game cost him in key moments, robbing him of his under-par round.
Rory McIlroy says why Pebble Beach is easier at the start of the year
Finch couldn’t have played Pebble in a much easier state, according to Rory McIlroy who won the Pebble Beach Pro-Am last year.
Speaking before this year’s event, he explained: “I think playing Pebble Beach in February compared to playing it in June is a very different, very different test. The course doesn’t have the teeth that it has in June.
“I stayed aggressive. I hit driver a lot, giving myself short irons in. I think last year as well, it
was probably the best putting performance I’ve ever had on poa greens. I usually come to
the West Coast, and I struggle a little bit on the poa, and last year I didn’t. I holed a lot of putts, and that was a big difference.”
When the sun is on Pebble Beach, it’s a completely different test, and one that makes it a fitting venue for the US Open. It’s the host of America’s national open in 2027, so that’s something we can all look forward to watching.
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