Denver native Wyndham Clark must feel pretty good going into this week’s AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am.

The last time Clark played Pebble Beach Golf Links in a PGA tournament, he fired a course-record 60 on his way to a weather-shortened title in 2024. The tournament was called after three rounds due to bad weather in the area.

Now he’s back and looking for another PGA Tour win.

“Outside of probably Augusta and St. Andrews, honestly, I would even put this place ahead of that,” Clark said during his Wednesday press conference. “This is kind of one of the most iconic places, kind of the home of golf in the U.S. in my opinion. It’s my favorite place in the world. For me it’s maybe No. 2 behind my U.S. Open. I just hope it lasts.”

Pebble Beach was Clark’s third career win on the PGA Tour. He has not won since and hasn’t been in contention since the win. He didn’t have a great showing in the majors. He was part of the United States team that won the President’s Cup.

But coming into this week, Clark feels he is prepared to defend his title.

“This is now my third chance to defend a tournament. I hadn’t done well my first two tries,” Clark said. “I think going from college to professional, there’s a jump and then being (a) professional to now being one of the top players and handling those expectations is difficult and I’m just learning how to do that.

“This week my whole thing is just to enjoy it. I think the first two I might have said that, but I was so focused on so many other things that wasn’t really important and I ultimately didn’t play good golf.”

This week’s tournament is the first time this season all the top players — excluding Xander Schauffele, who is out with a rib injury — will be in the field for a PGA Tour event. Scottie Scheffler and Rory McIlroy are both playing their first tournament in the United States this season.

In the first two rounds, the players play one round at Pebble Beach and one round at Spyglass Hills Golf Course. Clark, who will be paired with Sahith Theegala, plays Pebble Beach on Thursday and Spyglass on Friday.

While this will be the first time since his win Clark plays a competitive round at Pebble Beach, it is not his first time back. A couple months ago, Clark brought his dad Randall and brother Brendan on a trip to the historic course.

“Yeah, it was really neat. So, my first time coming back after winning was for my dad’s 70th birthday,” Clark said. “Brought 10 of his best friends and my brother and myself and we kind of had a 70th birthday boondoggle here. We played Cypress, Pebble and Spyglass, so it was an epic 70th birthday.

“It was really special for my brother and I. My dad had open heart surgery six months prior to that, so this was kind of like his first time to really play golf. We didn’t know if he would be able to do it, but he was really adamant about it and so it was really special for us.”

Clark hopes to stay in the moment this week and not be concerned about being the defending champ or breaking the course record last year. Also, he wants to enjoy one of the most beautiful locations in the world.

“My biggest goal this week is to be present and look (at) how beautiful Pebble Beach is,” Clark said. “I did something amazing last year, doesn’t mean I’m going to do it this year, just enjoy the moment and hopefully I play great golf.”

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Eight Colorado caddies receive Evans Scholarships

On Monday, the Western Golf Association announced the Evans Scholar recipients from Colorado.

Eight caddies from Colorado will receive full tuition and housing scholarships to the University of Colorado-Boulder. The estimated amount of the scholarship is $125,000.

Applicants must have strong caddie records and academic resumes. They must show strong character and leadership and a financial need to qualify for the Evans Scholarship.

Here are the four men and four women to receive the scholarship:

• Aurora’s Francisco Fernandez De La Torre (Aurora Central): caddie at Denver Country Club and CommonGround Golf Course.
• Colorado Springs’ Joy Gregory (Evangelical Christian Academy): caddie at The Broadmoor Golf Club.
• Denver’s Jaxon Grunewald (George Washington): caddie at CommonGround Golf Course.
• Denver’s Vivian Johnson (Denver East): caddie at Cherry Hills Country Club and CommonGround Golf Course.
• Colorado Springs’ Lauren Kachel (Doherty): caddie at The Broadmoor Golf Club.
• Littleton’s Zakary Katz (Ascent Classical Academy): caddie at Cherry Hills Country Club and Meridian Golf Club.
• Colorado Springs’ Ezekiel Lambert (The University School): caddie at The Broadmoor Golf Club.
• Denver’s Azul Macias (Sheridan): caddie at Columbine Country Club.

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Sportswomen of Colorado to honor Kelly, Franklin

Former CU Buffs women’s golf coach Anne Kelly and multiple CGA title winner Kristine Franklin will be honored by Sportswomen of Colorado at the organization’s banquet on March 9.

Kelly, who retired last spring after leading the Buffs for 27 years, will receive the Legacy award from the Sportswomen of Colorado. She was the longest-tenured female coach in school history and twice led the Buffs to the NCAA Tournament (2012, 2018).

Several of her players have played on the LPGA Tour, including Jenny Coleman, Robyn Choi and Esther Lee.

The golf Masters honor will be awarded to Franklin. In 2024, she was named CGA Women’s Senior Player of the Year for the fifth time. She made the cut at the Women’s Senior Open and swept the CGA women’s senior majors.

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What they’re saying

“I think we’re starting to need a new word to talk about this pace-of-play issue, and it’s respect. For your fellow competitors, for the fans, for broadcasts, for all of it. It’s just gotta get better.”

—Dottie Pepper, CBS golf analyst, on the issue of slow play on the PGA Tour

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Skins game

Odds to win AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am

Scottie Scheffler +400

Rory McIlory +1200

Justin Thomas +1400

Collin Morikawa +1400

Ludvig Aberg +2000

Patrick Cantlay +2000

Wydham Clark +6000

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This week in golf

PGA Tour

AT&T PEBBLE BEACH PRO-AM

Site: Pebble Beach, California.

Courses: Pebble Beach GL (Yardage: 6,972. Par: 72) and Spyglass Hill (Yardage: 7,041. Par: 72).

Prize money: $20 million. Winner’s share: $3.6 million.

Television: Thursday-Friday, 1-5 p.m. (Golf Channel); Saturday, 11 a.m.-1 p.m. (Golf), 1-5 p.m. (CBS); Sunday, 11 a.m.-1 p.m. (Golf), 1-4:30 p.m. (CBS).

Defending champion: Wyndham Clark.

LPGA Tour

HILTON GRAND VACATIONS TOURNAMENT OF CHAMPIONS

Site: Orlando, Florida.

Course: Lake Nona Golf & CC. Yardage: 6,608. Par: 72.

Prize money: $2 million. Winner’s share: $300,000.

Television: Thursday-Friday, 9:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. (Golf); Saturday, Noon-1 p.m. (NBC Sports app), 1-3 p.m. (NBC); Sunday, 11 a.m.-Noon (NBC Sports app), Noon-2 p.m. (NBC).

Defending champion: Lydia Ko.

European tour

BAPCO ENERGIES BAHRAIN CHAMPIONSHIP

Site: Al Mazrowiah, Bahrain.

Course: Royal GC. Yardage: 7,302. Par: 72.

Prize money: $2.5 million. Winner’s share: $416,667.

Television: Thursday-Friday, 1:30-6:30 a.m. (Golf); Saturday, 2-6:30 a.m. (Golf); Sunday, 1:30-6:30 a.m. (Golf).

Defending champion: Dylan Frittelli.

Korn Ferry Tour

PANANA CHAMPIONSHIP

Site: Panama City, Panama.

Course: Panama GC. Yardage: 7,534. Par: 70.

Prize money: $1 million. Winner’s share: $180,000.

Television: None.

Previous winner: Isaiah Salinda.