Desert Sun: Desert Classic Special Sports Section

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CHARM

Hudson Swafford joins winner’s circle with first PGA Tour victory at 2017 CareerBuilder Challenge • BREAKING THROUGH Seven other golfers have made the CareerBuilder Challenge their initial PGA Tour win. 2H

• TOP 10 STORYLINES New management, Mickelson’s role among hot topics for the tourney. 3H

• CHANGING TIMES Marketing a golf event is much different these days. Larry Bohannan column. 9H

JOEY FISHER/USA TODAY NETWORK, AND GETTY IMAGES

2H z SUNDAY, JANUARY 14, 2018 z T H E D E S E R T S U N

Hudson Swafford’s first tour victory at the CareerBuilder Challenge was not all that surprising. That’s because seven players, including four in the last 10 years, had previously made the desert’s PGA Tour event their first win. Here’s a look at those seven players who won their first event in the desert and how they did it:

BILL ROGERS Year: 1978 Host Course: Bermuda Dunes Country Club The story: In the first Monday finish in tournament history, caused by a lost day to weather earlier in the week, Rogers held off charges by Jerry McGee and Rex Caldwell in the final round to break through for his first tour win. Rogers was the only player to break 70 in all five rounds, sandwiching three 67s in the middle of the tournament with opening and closing rounds of 69. He held a two-shot lead over Peter Oosterhuis entering the final day and was never caught for a two-shot win over McGee. After the win: Rogers wouldn’t win again for three years, but in 1981 he won four times, including the highlight of his career, a fourshot win at the Open Championship. He finished his career with six PGA Tour victories, the last coming in 1983.

DONNIE HAMMOND

JHONATTAN VEGAS

Year: 1986 Host Course: Bermuda Dunes Country Club The story: Ninety holes was often not enough to determine a winner under the CareerBuilder’s old format, and that was true in 1986 for Donnie Hammond. Hammond and John Cook each finished five rounds at 25-under 335, each shooting 66 in the final round to pass fourth-round leader Jodie Mudd. Hammond made short work of the playoff, winning his first title with a birdie on the first playoff hole to deny the hometown favorite Cook the victory.

After the win: Hammond would win again on the tour three years later at the Texas Open, beating Paul Azinger by seven shots. But that would be the last of his tour victories. In 2000, he won the Lakeside Classic on what was then called the Buy.com Tour before playing on the PGA Tour Champions circuit.

Year: 2011 Host Course: Palmer Course, PGA West The story: For the third year in a row, the tournament produced a first-time winner, with Vegas winning the title in just his second start on tour. Vegas, Gary Woodland and Bill Haas, the defending champion who shot 62 in the fourth round, each shot 69 on the final day to reach a playoff.

Haas fell out of the playoff despite a birdie on the par-5 18th hole, the first playoff hole, then Vegas made a par on the second playoff hole thanks to a stellar up-anddown, while Woodland made bogey to fall.

After the win: Injuries and elbow issues limited Vegas’ effectiveness over the next few years. But Vegas returned as a winner at the 2016 RBC Canadian Open with a one-shot win over Dustin Johnson and Jon Rahm. In 2017, Vegas won the Canadian event again, this time in a playoff over Charley Hoffman. He also became the first Venezuelan player to compete in the Presidents Cup in 2017.

PAT PEREZ Year: 2009 Host Course: Palmer Course, PGA West The story: Often considered a top but temperamental talent, Perez always played well in the CareerBuilder. That was finally capped in 2009 with his first PGA Tour win with a three-shot victory over John Merrick. Perez announced himself with a 61 on the Palmer Course in the opening round, followed with a 63 and a 67, but lost the fourth-round lead at 20-under to Steve Stricker. Stricker stumbled to a 77 on a windy final day, but Perez was solid in a 69 to win the title.

After the win: It would take Perez another seven years and surgery to his shoulder before he reached the winner’s circle again. That came in the OHL Classic at Mayakoba in 2016. Perez added a third career title this season at the CIMB Classic.

CHARLEY HOFFMAN

CRAIG STADLER Year: 1980 Host Course: La Quinta Country Club The story: Another Monday finish, another first-time winner at the CareerBuilder. This time it was Craig Stadler, known as the Walrus, firing a 5-under 67 in the final round at La Quinta Country Club to hold off Tom Purtzer and Mike Sullivan by two shots. Stadler and Larry Nelson shared the 72-hole lead, but Stadler pulled away with the best round of those who finished in the top five to earn the coveted win.

After the win: The win started Stadler onto a stellar path, with 13 PGA Tour titles over the next 23 years. The highlights were his Masters victory in 1982 and his Tour Championship victory in 1991. Stadler’s last PGA Tour win came in 2003, the year he won the first two of his nine PGA Tour Champions titles.

Year: 2007 Host Course: Classic Club The story: In what had to be the coldest year the tournament has ever experienced, with frost delays throughout the week, Hoffman broke through for the win on a windy day that saw the leaders after four rounds stumble. Justin Rose and Lucas Glover led after four rounds, but Rose shot 76 and Glover shot 80 in difficult conditions. That allowed Hoffman to make up a four-shot deficit with a 71 to tie John Rollins. Hoffman won with a birdie on the first playoff hole.

After the win: Hoffman has gone on to establish himself as one of the most consistent players on the PGA Tour. He has four career wins and was a member of the victorious U.S. Presidents Cup team in 2017.

BILL HAAS Year: 2010 Host Course: Palmer Course, PGA West The story: In one of the most exciting finishes in tournament history, it was Haas who made the key shot at the right moment to win on tour for the first time, 22 years after his father Jay won the event. Matt Kuchar, Tim Clark and Bubba Watson all had chances before Haas to reach 26under par, but Kuchar three-putted the 18th hole for a par, Watson barely missed an eagle chip and Clark missed a 15-foot birdie putt.

Haas laid up on the hole, hit his approach to 12 feet and rolled in the putt for the victory.

After the win: Haas has had a strong career with seven career titles, including a second CareerBuilder victory in 2014. He also lost a playoff in the event in 2011.

Later that year Haas won both the Tour Championship and the FedEx Cup playoffs. In 2015, playing for his father whom was the captain, Haas earned the winning point for the U.S. team in the Presidents Cup.

STORY BY LARRY BOHANNAN/ PHOTOS BY WADE BYARS, LUCAS ESPOSITO, JAY CALDERON, CRYSTAL CHATHAM/THE DESERT SUN, GETTY IMAGES

DESERTSUN.COM z SUNDAY, JANUARY 14, 2018 z 3H

New management, Mickelson hot topics for this year’s event

1. NEW 5. JON RAHM MANAGEMENT fortable at times. This year’s For the first time in the tournament’s history, someone other than Desert Classic Charities is operating the event. DCC contracted with Lagardere last summer to come in and run the tournament operations, accepting that the needs of a modern PGA Tour event might require the DCC team to reach out for help. Lagardere has experience on the Web.com Tour and at the PGA Tour’s Safeway Open.

Last year the promise of Phil Mickelson as an ambassador for

8. CHARLIE REITER

weather certainly seems like it will return to traditional sunny skies.

Last year, Rahm played in the desert as a rising pro with plenty of talent. This year, Rahm returns as a winner on the PGA Tour and the European Tour and as one of the top five players in the world.

He’s the highest-ranked player in

2. PHIL’S ROLE the tournament was short-circuited a bit by questions of whether he would even tee up in the event because of recent sport hernia surgery. Mickelson did eventually play and finished 21st after flirting with the lead the first two days. This year, organizers are promising Mickelson’s presence will be more high-profile.

3. HUDSON SWAFFORD

6. THE 59S the field this year and the kind of player who can win any time he tees up.

You know a tournament has a history of low scores when a player shoots a 59 and it only ties the tournament record. Adam Hadwin’s 59 at La Quinta Country Club in the third round did at least set a tournament record for that course. As good as the players are now and as promising as the weather is, the threat of a 59 at La Quinta Country Club or the Jack Nicklaus Tournament Course at PGA West seems very real.

2017 was a rare year for golf in the desert, with rain and the threat of rain plaguing the tournament. It was all for a good cause in breaking the six-year California drought, but it was certainly something the golf tournament didn’t need as the weather kept crowds low and players uncom-

9. THE YOUNG GUNS Aside from Rahm, there are plenty of rising young stars in the CareerBuilder field this week.

Three of those players, Patton Kizzire, Austin Cook and J.J. Spaun, have won their first PGA Tour events since the last CareerBuilder. Those are the kinds of players every PGA Tour event wants in its field.

Swafford was on a long roll of excellent play without breaking through for a win when he came to the desert last year. But the La Quinta week proved the charm as Swafford rallied on the final day to edge Adam Hadwin to win his first PGA Tour event. Swafford was the first player to earn his first win in the desert since Jhonattan Vegas in 2011. Swafford returns looking for his second win this year.

4. THE WEATHER

modern golf tournament needs more than golf to attract fans and sell tickets.

Already a veteran of making the cut at one professional tournament, the Australian Open in November, the Palm Desert High School senior now gets his first start in a PGA Tour event at the CareerBuilder Challenge. Reiter will be pressed a bit harder to make the cut this week compared to the Australian event, but he’ll have plenty of support on the course.

7. THE CONCERTS Last year, the tournament debuted its concert series with Fitz and the Tantrums on the driving range at PGA West. This year, there will be two concerts, one by Huey Lewis and the News and the other by the Goo Goo Dolls. Yes, it’s a golf tournament, but the

10. THE STADIUM COURSE Let’s admit it. This course might not be as intimidating as it was in 1987 when it was first played in the event, but it’s still a heck of a challenge. The island green at the 17th hole is a stage for the event, but other features like 200-yard lakes, 20-foot-deep bunkers and hazards seemingly on each shot will keep players focused. An unfocused golfer is a player shooting in the 80s. And golfers have to survive not one but two rounds around the Stadium Course to win the CareerBuilder title.

STORY BY LARRY BOHANNAN, PHOTOS BY JAY CALDERON, RICHARD LUI, ZOE MEYERS/THE DESERT SUN, USA TODAY SPORTS

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First career PGA Tour victory continues to pay off for Hudson Swafford Larry Bohannan

Five things to know about Hudson Swafford

Every golf fan knows there are big perks to winning a PGA Tour event. There’s that large winner’s check for instance. And there’s that coveted invitation to the Masters.

But Hudson Swafford, whose first career PGA Tour win came at the 2017 CareerBuilder Challenge, has found other perks from his win.

Like trips to Malaysia, South Korea and Maui.

“This win at the CareerBuilder kind of set up my year and led into the opportunities to go over there,” Swafford said of his recent trips to the PGA Tour’s Asian swing and the Sentry Tournament of Champions.

“It’s definitely very nice, and it’s a nice way to get a little bit of a head start.”

Swafford’s one-shot victory over Adam Hadwin on a rainy Sunday afternoon last January meant more to the 30-year-old University of Georgia graduate than just a trip to Maui.

“I mean winning takes care of a lot. I can always say I am a PGA Tour winner,” Swafford said. “I can say that I finished off a good tournament in style, kind of like I always dreamed of doing. A lot of people take notice of that, when you are a PGA Tour winner. It has been huge.”

That style included three consecutive birdies down the stretch on the demanding back nine of the Stadium Course at PGA West, pushing him past Hadwin and into the winner’s circle.

For Swafford, one thing winning took care of was the question “When is Hudson Swafford going to break through?” A talented player with a Web.com Tour victory to his credit, Swafford had built the reputation on the PGA Tour as a solid, reliable player, but one without a win.

In fact, entering the CareerBuilder last year, Swafford had made the cut in 18 consecutive tournaments, at the time the longest active streak on the tour. But only one of those 18 made cuts produced a top-10 finish.

Then came the CareerBuilder Challenge, and things changed for Swafford. Opening with a 65 at La Quinta Country Club to put him tied for second after the first round, Swafford was never off the leaderboard during the week. He led after two rounds at 14-under, but slowed down with a 71 on the Stadium Course at PGA West in the third

1. His first big win came in 2012, when he won the Stadion Classic at UGA on the Web.com Tour

Palm Springs Desert Sun USA TODAY NETWORK

2. He has a degree from the University of Georgia in Consumer Economics 3. He was a three-time All-American selections while playing at the University of George and was twice named all-SEC. He had to sit out a year at college because of shoulder surgery.

4. As you would expect, Swafford is a big fan of all sports at the University of Georgia as well as other Georgia teams like the Atlanta Braves.

5. He and Harris English, another University of Georgia golfer, are often mistaken for each other, with Swafford saying their head coach at Georgia often called both Swafford and English “Hudson.”

round to enter the final day two shots behind Adam Hadwin, who shot a 59 in the third round at La Quinta Country Club.

In the final round, Swafford started sluggishly, but he started in a mix that saw at one point on the back nine a six-way tie for the lead.

Swafford’s winning run started with an 11-foot birdie on the 15th hole, then a two-putt birdie from 12 feet on the par-5 16th. At 17, Swafford drilled his tee shot to within two feet of the cup for a third consecutive birdie.

“I was a little nervous, but the great thing about it is I had the same (yardage) that I had on No. 15. I executed it perfectly,” Swafford said of the near-ace on the 17th. “Perfect hit, three-quarters 8, I want to say the number was 161, adjusted 161 from those back tees.”

A routine par was all Swafford needed in the uncharacteristic rain of the desert to close out his first victory.

“I felt really comfortable that day.

I’ve told many people if you are nervous coming down the stretch, to be honest I would be more nervous on a Friday when you don’t have your best game, trying to make the cut as opposed to winning,” Swafford said.

“Normally winning, your game is pretty good you believe in what you are doing, you have a lot of control over your game.

“So I wasn’t nearly as nervous as I thought I was going to be. Just exe-

cuting down the stretch, I started giving myself a lot of chances. I definitely take away from that experience. When I get really comfortable with my game, I know I can win.

That you can go out there and do it again for sure.”

As the golf fates would have it, Swafford’s win was his 19th consecutive made cut, but that streak ended the next week with a missed cut at the Farmers Insurance Open in San Diego. Swafford went on to miss nine cuts in 2017, but he did have the victory and three more top-10 finishes.

“Last year was my best year by far. l saw just a lot more consistency last year, getting on top of the leaderboard, getting in the final group,” Swafford said. “It just gives you a lot more confidence. I definitely feel like I belong in the last few groups on Sunday. I feel more comfortable with it. So it is contagious. Winning is contagious. It really is. It makes you hungry.”

The increase in top 10s and the increase in missed cuts might be traced back to the CareerBuilder win. With an exemption through the 2018-19 season in his pocket, with a Masters berth in hand and with 500 FedEx Cup points all but assuring Swafford could made a deep run in the FedEx Cup playoffs, Swafford found a freedom in his approach to the game after the La Quinta victory.

“You can kind of go out and be

more aggressive,” Swafford said.

“You can test new stuff. So it kind of freed me up for sure.”

It also allowed him to tinker with his schedule, particularly on the West Coast swing. In years past, Swafford and his wife would rent a house in the Coachella Valley to use as a base for his starts in California and Arizona. This year that schedule will be altered quite a bit.

“I’m going to do something different because of winning. I’m going to play the first three events. Sony I love, obviously CareerBuilder I love.

I love the desert,” Swafford said.

“Then I am going to stay an extra week in the desert after the CareerBuilder, not play Torrey (the Farmers Insurance Open). Then I am going to go to Phoenix and then I will be off until Honda (in Florida).

“I kind of struggle on the West Coast (with the) poa annua greens.

So I’m just going to kind of take that off. Winning has allowed me to do that,” he said. “And maybe play a little bit more in the middle (of the season) when normally I would be tired from chasing some West Coast starts. The weather can kind of be a little sketchy at Torrey and obviously Pebble and the same at Riviera.”

Top: Hudson Swafford just misses a birdie putt at the Stadium Course in 2017. Inset: Hudson Swafford holds the winner’s trophy last year. PHOTOS BY JAY CALDERON/THE DESERT SUN

DESERTSUN.COM z SUNDAY, JANUARY 14, 2018 z 5H

Larry Bohannan’s CareerBuilder odds

RYAN ARMOUR Height, weight: 5-9, 170 Age: 41 Residence: Akron, Ohio Turned pro: 1999 2016-17 earnings: $443,006 Career earnings: $2,714,675 2016-17 victories: None Career victories: 1 2016-17 PGA Tour statistics Scoring average: 70.965 (101st) Driving distance: 278.8 (176th) Driving accuracy: 72.72% (1st) Greens in regulation: 69.96% (5th) Sand saves: 37.33% (189th) Birdie average: 3.34 (144th) Record at the CareerBuilder 2007: 70-66-72-74-73 -- 355 T48 2008: 70-75-68-67-69 -- 349 T44 2015: 72-69-74 -- MC 2017: 71-68-70-74 — 283 T66

SANGMOON BAE Height, weight: 6-0, 175 Age: 31 Residence: South Korea Turned pro: 2004 2016-17 earnings: $1,644,014 Career earnings: $6,255,666 2017-17 victories: None Career victories: 2 2016-17 PGA Tour statistics Scoring average: N/A (N/A) Driving distance: N/A (N/A) Driving accuracy: N/A (N/A) Greens in regulation: N/A (N/A) Sand saves: N/A (N/A) Birdie average: N/A (N/A) Record at the CareerBuilder 2012: 64-69-72-66 -- 271 T14 2013: 67-69-64-70 -- 270 T27 2014: 72-67-69 -- MC

RICKY BARNES Height, weight: 6-2, 200 Age: 36 Residence: Phoenix Turned pro: 2003 2016-17 earnings: $697,624 Career earnings: $8,218,948 2015-16 victories: None Career victories: None 2016-17 PGA Tour statistics Scoring average: 71.221 (134th) Driving distance: 284.9 (153rd) Driving accuracy: 54.32% (170th) Greens in regulation: 65.53% (83rd) Sand saves: 51.05% (94th) Birdie average: 3.34 (144th) Record at the CareerBuilder 2010: 67-72-67-69-67 — 342 T33 2011: 65-70 — WD 2012: 68-69-72-69 — 278 T49 2013: 65-68-69-66 — 268 T16 2014: 74-69-66 — 209 MC 2015: 69-72-72 — MC 2016: 66-70-68-71 — 275 T34th 2017: 70-72-74 -- MC

CHAD CAMPBELL Height, weight: 6-1, 205 Age: 43 Residence: Colleyville, Tex-

as Turned pro: 1996 2016-17 earnings: $1,329.941 Career earnings: $25,837,757 2016-17 victories: None Career victories: 4 2016-17 PGA Tour statistics Scoring average: 70.509 (51st) Driving distance: 285.6 (147th) Driving accuracy: 67.21% (23rd) Greens in regulation: 69.07% (15th) Sand saves: 52.99% (68th) Birdie average: 3.36 (140th) Record at the CareerBuilder 2002: 66-70-68-67-65 — 336 T16th 2003: 68-68-65-64-77 — 342 T28th 2004: 70-68-70-67-70 — 345 T56th 2006: 63-66-68-67-71 — 335 1st 2007: 70-74-70-72 — MC 2008: 76-68-69-68-69 — 350 T50th 2009: 66-71-68-65-64 — 334 T9 2010: 79-70-64-69 — 282 MC 2011: 69-72-70-67-67 — 345 T48 2012: 71-65-77 — MC 2013: 74-67-73 — MC 2014: 71-68-68-69 — 276 T69th 2015: 68-73-73 — MC 2016: 70-71-69 — MC 2017: 66-69-66-71 -- 272 T6th

ALEX CEJKA Height, weight: 5-10, 170 Age: 47 Residence: Munich, Germa-

ny Turned pro: 1989 2016-17 earnings: $618,171 Career earnings: $12,158,873 2016-17 victories: None Career victories: 1 2016-17 PGA Tour statistics Scoring average: 71.461 (150th) Driving distance: 282.1 (164th) Driving accuracy: 67.19 (24th) Greens in regulation: 66.45% (71st) Sand saves: 40.00% (46.55th) Birdie average: 3.05 (181st)

Record at the CareerBuilder 2003: 69-66-69-65-76 — 345 T43th 2005: 69-69-72-68 — 278 MC 2006: 69-67-68-72-72 — 348 2008: 71-71-68-72 — 282 MC 2009: 68-67-68-70-69 — 342 T58th 2010: 70-74-70-72 — 286 MC 2011: 69-67-67-68-68 — 339 T13th 2015: 68-64-70-69 — 271 T15th 2016: 67-73-66-70 — 279 T42nd 2017: 71-75-67 -- MC

KEVIN CHAPPELL Height, weight: 6-0, 180 Age: 31 Residence: Fresno, Calif.

Turned pro: 2008 2016-17 earnings: $3.149.615 Career earnings:

FAVORITES

ODDS BEST FINISH

Jon Rahm Patrick Reed Jason Dufner Phil Mickelson Bill Haas Jhonattan Vegas Zach Johnson Hudson Swafford

6-1 7-1 8-1 10-1 12-1 14-1 14-1 18-1

CONTENDERS

ODDS BEST FINISH

COMMENT

Brandt Snedeker Adam Hadwin Si Woo Kim Brendan Steele Jimmy Walker Patton Kizzire David Lingmerth

20-1 22-1 25-1 25-1 30-1 30-1 30-1

When healthy, a threat to win anywhere In Sunday’s final group the last two years Can he re-discover Players magic?

Top 10 two of the last three years here Looking to get back on track this season Playing the best golf of his career Has lost twice in playoffs in the desert

Charlie Reiter

T34 (2017) Now one of the game’s elite players 1st (2014) Strong record in the desert event 1st (2016) Playing some strong golf since last year 1st (2002, 2004)Perfect place to snap winless streak 1st (2010, 2015)Always a threat in the desert 1st (2011) Tour wins in last two seasons T3 (2014) Two-time major winner could go low 1st (2017) Defending champion could strike again

T8 (2012) 2nd (2016) T9 (2016) T2 (2015) T23 (2013) T42 (2016) 2nd (2013, 2016) 500-1 debut

$14,155,587 2016-17 victories: 1 Career victories: 1 2016-17 PGA Tour statistics Scoring average: 70.779 (69th) Driving distance: 305.0 (23rd) Driving accuracy: 58.78 (119th) Greens in regulation: 65.25 (109th) Sand saves: 42.75% (174th) Birdie average: 3.69 (56th) Record at the CareerBuilder 2011: 68-69-68-69-70 -- 342 T48th 2012: 65-68-72-70 -- 275 T30th 2013: 68-69-67-62 -- 266 T8th 2014: 70-70-63-72 -- 275 T58th 2016: 73-66-66-76 -- 281 T61st

STEWART CINK Height, weight: 6-4, 205 Age: 44 Residence: Duluth, Ga. Turned pro: 1995 2016-17 earnings: $1,463,922 Career earnings: $35,648,262 2016-17 victories: None Career victories: 6 2016-17 PGA Tour statistics Scoring average: 70.213 (30th) Driving distance: 296.7 (65th) Driving accuracy: 55.13 (160th) Greens in regulation: 68.76 (18th) Sand saves: 38.40% (185th) Birdie average: 3.86 (20th) Record at the CareerBuilder 1997: 68-68-69-68-66 — 339 T9th 1998: 65-67-67-68-69 — 336 T6th 1999: 70-71-67-73-66 — 347 T24th 2000: 67-69-75-67 — MC 2001: 71-67-72-68 — MC 2002: 67-68-73-70 — MC 2003: 68-68-67-68-74 — 345 T43rd 2004: 71-68-68-70-67 — 244 T50th 2005: 68-68-71-66-69 — 342 T23rd 2006: 68-71-66-71-69 — 345 T26th 2011: 72-70-69-72 — MC 2013: 66-67-66-68 — 267 T10th 2014: 73-63-71-68 — 275 T58th 2015: 70-74-71 — MC 2016: 67-71-70 — MC 2017: 70-70-71 -- MC

AUSTIN COOK Height, weight: 5-7, 160 Age: 26 Residence:

Arkansas Turned pro: 2014 2016-17 earnings: $0 Career earnings: $1,868,263 2016-17 victories: None Career victories: 1 2016-17 PGA Tour statistics Scoring average: N/A/ (N/A) Driving distance: N/A/ (N/A) Driving accuracy: N/A/ (N/A) Greens in regulation: N/A/ (N/A) Sand saves: N/A/ (N/A) Birdie average: N/A/ (N/A) Record at the CareerBuilder Debut event

BEN CRANE Height, weight: 5-11, 165 Age: 41 Residence: Westlake, Texas Turned pro: 1999 2016-17 earnings: $618,483 Career earnings: $20,792,029 2016-17 victories: None Career victories: 5 2016-17 PGA Tour statistics Scoring average: 71.091 (116th) Driving distance: 278.5 (178th) Driving accuracy: 67.97% (16th) Greens in regulation: 65.68% (93rd) Sand saves: 54.48% (116th) Birdie average: 3.33 (149th) Record at the CareerBuilder 2002: 69-69-70-66-67 — 341 T42nd 2003: 69-66-69-66-79 — 349 T61st 2004: 68-64-65-69-68 — 334 T5th 2005: 73-66-68-68-72 — 347 T53rd 2006: 68-69-68-69-74 — 348 T30th 2008: 66-69-69-67-71 — 342 T12th 2009: 63-70-70-69-69—341 T54th 2010: 70-69-70-64-73 — 346 T52nd 2012: 65-63-70-7— 269 T8th 2013: 71-68-71— MC 2014: 70-64-65-68 — 267 T9th 2015: 72-73-68 — MC 2016: 66-69-67-71 — 273 T24th 2017: 72-68-72 -- 212 MC

JOHN DALY Height, weight: 5-11, 215 Age: 51 Residence: Arkansas Turned pro: 1987 2016-17 Champions

COMMENT

Palm Desert amateur in first PGA Tour start

earnings: $806,922 Career PGA Tour earnings: $1,000,583 2016-17 Champions victories: 1 Career PGA Tour victories: 1 2017-17 Champions PGA Tour statistics Scoring average: 70.56 (34th) Driving distance: 297.6 (1st) Driving accuracy: 66.47 (61st) Greens in regulation: 72.97% (17th) Sand saves: 53.57% (19th) Record at the CareerBuilder 1992: 70-74-68-69 -- MC 1997: 65-73-64-66-69 -- 337 7th 1998: 66-75-75-67 -- MC 1999: 69-66-66-73-72 -- 346 T21 2000: 72-76-69-68 -- MC 2002: 69-67-65-72-66 -- 339 T31 2003: 69-73-64-66-75 -- 347 56th 2004: 68-68-64-72-67 -- 340 T30 2005: 72-66-68-71-75 -- 352 T75th 2008: 71-70-71 -- WD 2014: 72-68-70 -- MC 2015: 69-74-75 -- MC

JASON DUFNER Height, weight: 5-10, 180 Age: 40 Residence: Auburn, Ala. Turned pro: 2000 2016-17 earnings: $3.310.341 Career earnings: $24,441,429 2016-17 victories: 1 Career victories: 5 2016-17 PGA Tour statistics Scoring average: 70.259 (34th) Driving distance: 294.6 (78th) Driving accuracy: 63.76% (54th) Greens in regulation: 67.21% (44th) Sand saves: 42.06% (176th) Birdie average: 3.78 (40th) Record at the CareerBuilder 2007: 74-66-74-66-76 — 356 T53rd 2009: 69-65-67-71-72 — 338 T34th 2010: 72-67-64-69-68 — 340 T18th 2011: 68-72-69-67-67—343 T33rd 2012: 71-63-68-68 — 270 T12th 2015: 76-65-69 — MC 2016: 67-68-064-70 — 263 1st 2017: 71-66-73-68 -- 278 T25th

ROBERT GARRIGUS Height, weight: 5-11, 190 Age: 40 Residence:

Florida Turned pro: 1997 2016-17 earnings: $880,905 Career earnings: $13,940,782 2016-17 victories: None Career victories: 1 2016-17 PGA Tour statistics Scoring average: 70.712 (64th) Driving distance: 300.7 (37th) Driving accuracy: 59.52% (111th) Greens in regulation: 69.52% (9th) Sand saves: 48.51% (121st) Birdie average: 3.96 (14th) Record at the CareerBuilder 2006: 70-71-69-70-66 -- 346 T19 2007: 69-73-79-74 -- MC 2009: 67-65-64-66-73 -- 335 T14 2012: 73-64-61-68 -- 266 T2 2013: 66-67-69-66 -- 268 T16 2014: 70-70-69 -- MC 2015: 71-68-68-74 -- 284 72nd 2016: 71-66-68-72 -- 277 T49 2017: 68-69-66-73 -- 276 T17

BRIAN GAY Height, weight: 5-10, 165 Age: 46 Residence: Florida Turned pro: 1994 2016-17 earnings: $942,372 Career earnings: $19,543,099 2016-17 victories: None Career victories: 4 2016-17 PGA Tour statistics Scoring average: 70.585 (54th) Driving distance: 278.7 (177th) Driving accuracy: 65.47% (38th) Greens in regulation: 65.53% (145th) Sand saves: 54.17% (45th) Birdie average: 3.37 (138th) Record at the CareerBuilder 2001: 67-69-70-73 — MC 2002: 70-65-68-72-68 — 343 T52nd 2003: 69-68-69-74 — MC 2005: 73-70-69-68 — MC 2006: 73-73-67-64-74 — 350 T44th 2007: 71-70-69-72-74 — 356 T53rd 2008: 71-67-71-68-71 — 348 T38th 2009: 65-70-72-63-66 — 336 T19th 2010: 71-65-70-68-65 — 339 15th 2011: 69-69-66-70-62 — 336 5th 2012: 69-68-72-68 — MC 2013: 67-66-67-63 — 263 1st 2014: 69-71-69 — MC 2015: 75-75-70 — MC 2016: 75-75-70 -- MC 2017: 70-73-74 -- MC

LUCAS GLOVER Height, weight: 6-2, 195 Age: 38 Residence: Greenvile, S.C. Turned pro: 2001 2016-17 earnings: $1,955,822 Career earnings: $19,812,466 2016-17 victories: None Career victories: 3

2016-17 PGA Tour statistics Scoring average: 70.139 (26th) Driving distance: 298.6 (50th) Driving accuracy: 65.37% (40th) Greens in regulation: 69.94% (6th) Sand saves: 49.33% (109th) Birdie average: 3.70 (54th) Record at the CareerBuilder 2006: 66-75-70-67-66 — 344 T10th 2007: 69-68-66-65-80 — 348 T13th 2008: 70-71-69-71-71 — 352 T62nd 2009: 65-68-68-67-68 — T19th 2013: 71-69-65-67 — 272 T47th 2014: 72-67-70 — MC 2015: 68-69-66-68 — 271 T15th 2016: 66-71-65-70 — 272 T17th 2017: 72-67-069-72 -- 280 T41st

BILL HAAS Height, weight: 6-2, 185 Age: 35 Residence: Greenville, S.C. Turned pro: 2004 2016-17 earnings: $2,842,173 Career earnings: $28,830,472 2016-17 victories: None Career victories: 6 2016-17 PGA Tour statistics Scoring average: 70.001 (19th) Driving distance: 293.0 (92nd) Driving accuracy: 59.27% (117th) Greens in regulation: 67.91% (27th) Sand saves: 503.57% (55th) Birdie average: 3.47 (112nd) Record at the CareerBuilder 2005: 67-66-68-71-72 — 244 T34th 2006: 68-69-70-69-70 — 346 T19th 2007: 68-73-67-70-72 — 350 T27th 2008: 69-68-69-68-69 — 343 T12th 2009: 68-68-67-67-67 — 337 T25th 2010: 68-66-66-66-64 — 330 1st 2011: 69-68-68-62-66 — 333 T2nd 2012: 71-69-70-70 — 280 T64th 2013: 70-68-71 — MC 2014: 65-66-67-67 — 269 T18th 2015: 67-63-69-67 — 266 1st 2016: 66-66-69-68 — 269 T9th 2017: 68-72-68-68 -- 276 T17

ADAM HADWIN Height, weight: 5-9, 155 Age: 30 Residence: Abbotsford, British Columbia, Canada Turned pro: 2009 2016-17 earnings: $3,455,012 Career earnings: $6.020,840 2016-17 victories: 1 Career victories: 1 2016-17 PGA Tour statistics Scoring average: 70.583 (53rd) Driving distance: 291.3 (108th) Driving accuracy: 63.20% (65th) Greens in regulation: 65.08% (114th) Sand saves: 61.11% (7th) Birdie average: 3.63 (79th) Record at the CareerBuilder 2015: 72-70-66-68 — 276 T48th 2016: 66-66-64-72 — 268 T6th 2017: 71-69-59-70 -- 269 2nd

CHARLES HOWELL III Height, weight: 5-11, 155 Age: 38 Residence: Orlando, Fla. Turned pro: 2000 2016-17 earnings: $2,606,383 Career earnings: $34.014,955 2016-17 victories: None

2016-17 PGA Tour statistics Scoring average: 72,253 (185th) Driving distance: 289.8 (118th) Driving accuracy: 57.03% (142nd) Greens in regulation: 59.63% (187th) Sand saves: 47.92% (128th) Birdie average: 3.11 (175th)

Record at the CareerBuilder 2002: 65-67-71-66-64 — 333 T6th 2003: 71-71-70-71 — MC 2004: 70-69-70-75 — MC 2007: 70-71-72-69-76 — 358 T65th 2010: 68-69-66-71-67 — 341 T26th 2011: 66-66-70-67-70 — 339 T13th 2012: 69-70-68-71 — 278 T49th 2013: 67-65-67-64 — 263 T2nd 2014: 73-68-65-69 — 275 T58th 2015: 67-68-72-70 — 277 T56th 2016: 68-67-66-69 — 270 T11th 2017: 67-68-70-70- -- 275 T12

Record at the CareerBuilder 2016: 67-71-64-67 -- 269 T9

Career victories: 2

BILLY HURLEY III Height, weight: 5-10, 170 Age: 35 Residence:

Virginia Turned pro: 2006 2016-17 earnings: $719,579 Career earnings: $4,784,649 2016-17 victories: None Career victories: 1 2016-17 PGA Tour statistics Scoring average: 71.176 (128th) Driving distance: 276.9 (183rd) Driving accuracy: 60.57% (90th) Greens in regulation: 63.61% (142nd) Sand saves: 43.48% (168th) Birdie average: 3.58 (93rd) Record at the CareerBuilder 2014: 72-71-69 -- MC 2015: 68-69-68-71 -- 276 T48

LEE JANZEN Height, weight: 6-0, 175 Age: 53 Residence: Minnesota Turned pro: 1986 2016-17 Champions earnings: $1,032,574 Career PGA Tour earnings: $16,038,979 2016-17 victories: None Career PGA Tour victories: 8 2016-17 PGA Tour statistics Scoring average: 74.303 (N/A) Driving distance: 281.3 (N/A) Driving accuracy: 51.14% (N/A) Greens in regulation: 58.33% (N/A) Sand saves: 100.00% (N/A) Birdie average: 3.76 (N/A) Record at the CareerBuilder 1991: 73-66-69-67-68 -- 343 T35 1992: 69-68-76-67-64 -- 344 T24 1197: 71-70-70-66-65 -- 342 T20 1998: 69-67-71-69-72 -- 348 T52 2001: 70-68-70-68-67 -- 343 T40 2002: 69-69-66-74 -- MC 2003: 71-68-68-71 -- MC 2004: 66-73-67-68-67 -- 341 T36 2005: 75-68-73-66 -- MC 2006: 71-65-68-78 -- MC 2007: 71-66-71-71-73 -- 352 T39 2008: 66-77-71-69 -- MC 2009: 74-71-63-68 -- MC 2010: 69-70-66-70-72 -- 347 T57 2011: 68-73-68-74 -- MC 2012: 69-66-72-69 -- MC 2013: 73-72-68 -- MC 2014: 75-67-70 -- MC 2015: 71-73-72 -- MC

ZACH JOHNSON Height, weight: 5-11, 164 Age: 41 Residence: Cedar Rapids,

Iowa Turned pro: 1988 2016-17 earnings: $2,362,968 Career earnings: $42,913,027 2016-17 victories: None Career victories: 12 2015-16 PGA Tour statistics Scoring average: 70.393 (40th) Driving distance: 286.9 (140th) Driving accuracy: 67.53% (22nd) Greens in regulation: 64.21% (129th) Sand saves: 51.64% (81st) Birdie average: 3.53 (100th) Record at the CareerBuilder 2004: 66-67-70-68-69 — 338 T20th 2012: 68-65-65-71 — 269 T8th 2013: 66-66-70-67 — 269 T23rd 2014: 65-68-68-62 — 263 T3rd 2015: 69-70-70 — MC 2016: 73-71-67 — MC 2017: 72-68-73 -- MC

JAMES HAHN Height, weight: 6-1, 180 Age: 36 Residence: Los Angeles Turned pro: 2003 2016-17 earnings: $1,841,314 Career earnings: $7,960,615 2016-17 victories: None Career victories: 2

Height, weight: 6-2, 175 Age: 26 Residence: Birmingham, Ala. Turned pro: 2014 2016-17 earnings: $784,758 Career earnings: $3,489,655 2016-176 victories: None Career victories: 1

Record at the CareerBuilder 2013: 63-67-72-68 -- 264 T4 2014: 70-68-69-66 -- 273 T38 2015: 67-67-73-65 272 T20

Height, weight: 5-11, 182 Age: 22 Residence: South Korea Turned pro: 2012 2016-17 earnings: $2,681,177 Career earnings: $6,339,016 2016-176 victories: 1 Career victories: 2

2016-17 PGA Tour statistics Scoring average: 70.371 (37th) Driving distance: 296.9 (62nd) Driving accuracy: 54.72% (166th) Greens in regulation: 67.01% (52nd) Sand saves: 51.35% (87th) Birdie average: 3.51 (102nd)

SMYLIE KAUFMAN

2016-17 PGA Tour statistics Scoring average: 70.925 (93rd) Driving distance: 293.9 (86th) Driving accuracy: 63.14% (67th) Greens in regulation: 66.09% (82nd) Sand saves: 47.97% (126th) Birdie average: 3.39 (133rd)

SI WOO KIM

2016-17 PGA Tour statistics Scoring average: 71.432 (148th) Driving distance: 304.5 (25th) Driving accuracy: 54.79% (164th) Greens in regulation: 65.26% (108th) Sand saves: 48.67% (120th) Birdie average: 3.65 (71st) Record at the CareerBuilder 2016: 68-69-67-67 — 271 T14th 2017: 71-69-71-74 -- 285 T72

CHRIS KIRK Height, weight: 6-3, 175 Age: 32 Residence: Atlanta, Ga. Turned pro: 2007 2016-17 earnings: $1,216,047 Career earnings: $15,432,652 2016-17 victories: None Career victories: 4 2016-17 PGA Tour statistics Scoring average: 71.255 (136th) Driving distance: 287.0 (139th) Driving accuracy: 63.93% (51st) Greens in regulation: 66.73% (62nd) Sand saves: 51.26% (90th) Birdie average: 3.69 (56th) Record at the CareerBuilder 2011: 69-68-67-66-70 — T7th 2012: 68-68-74-72 — 277 T42nd 2013: 68-71-71 — MC 2015: 70-68-69-70 — 277 72nd 2017: 69-66-68-74 -- 277 T21

KEVIN KISNER Height, weight: 6-3, 175 Age: 33 Residence: Akin, S.C..

Turned pro: 2006 2016-17 earnings: $4,766,936 Career earnings: $13,580,417 2016-17 victories: 1 Career victories: 2 2016-17 PGA Tour statistics Scoring average: 70.294 (35th) Driving distance: 289.5 (120th) Driving accuracy: 67.76% (19th) Greens in regulation: 66.38% (75th) Sand saves: 52.14% (77th) Birdie average: 3.60 (85th) Record at the CareerBuilder 2011: 72-71-72-070 -- MC 2012: 68-73-68-72 -- 281 T66 2014: 66-70-69-69 -- 274 T48th 2015: 68-71-71 -- MC 2017: 70-69-71-68 -- 278 T25

PATTON KIZZIRE Height, weight: 6-5, 215 Age: 31 Residence:

Alabama Turned pro: 2008 2016-17 earnings: $1,110,395 Career earnings: $4,261,435 2016-17 victories: None Career victories: 1 2016-17 PGA Tour statistics Scoring average: 71.598 (162nd) Driving distance: 293.0 (92nd) Driving accuracy: 52.54% (178th) Greens in regulation: 63.52% (147th) Sand saves: 50.00% (102nd) Birdie average: 3.59 (90th) Record at the CareerBuilder 2016: 71-67-69-69 -- 276 T42 2017: 65-71-73-72 -- 281 T50

MARTIN LAIRD Height, weight: 6-2, 190 Age: 35 Residence: Scottsdale, Ariz.

Turned pro: 2004 2016-17 earnings: $1,759,706 Career earnings: $15,722,717 2016-17 victories: None Career victories: 3 2016-17 PGA Tour statistics Scoring average: 70.450 (46th) Driving distance: 296.9 (62nd) Driving accuracy: 65.66% (37th) Greens in regulation: 65.86% (90th) Sand saves: 47.20% (139th) Birdie average: 3.47 (112th) Record at the CareerBuilder 2008: 71-69-71-70-70 — 351 T56th 2009: 67-68-68-68-70 — 341 T54th 2010: 73-72-71-67 — 283 MC 2011: 68-68-64-66-74 — 340 T22nd 2012: 66-69-67-69 — 271 T14th 2013:69-69-66-68 — 272 T47th 2014:69-66-68-68—271 T25th 2015:68-66-68-69 — 271 T15th 2016: 70-67-69-71 — 277 T49th 2017: 68-66-71-69 -- 274 T9

DAVID LINGMERTH » Height, weight: 6-1, 185 » Age: 30 » Residence:

Sweden » Turned pro: 2010 » 2016-17 earnings: $1,070,754 » Career earnings: $8,197,513 » 2016-17 victories: None » Career victories: 1 2016-17 PGA Tour statistics Scoring average: 70.755 (67th) Driving distance: 290.6 (113th) Driving accuracy: 63.67% (56th) Greens in regulation: 63.11% (158th) Sand saves: 56.06% (67th) Birdie average: 3.67 (63rd) Record at the CareerBuilder 2013: 68-64-69-62 -- 263 T2nd 2014: 69-68-69-72 -- 278 T78th 2015: 68-72-65-68 -- 273 T24th 2016: 68-68-62-65 -- 263 2nd 2017: 69-68-71-71 -- 279 T34th

6H z SUNDAY, JANUARY 14, 2018 z T H E D E S E R T S U N

ANDREW LOUPE » Height, weight: 6-1, 185 » Age: 29 » Residence: Baton Rouge, La. » Turned pro: 2011 » 2016-17 earnings: $273,070 » Career earnings: $2,095,316 » 2016-17 victories: None » Career victories: None 2016-17 PGA Tour statistics Scoring average: 72.803 (189th) Driving distance: 311.3 (6th) Driving accuracy: 45.93% (189th) Greens in regulation: 59.83% (186th) Sand saves: 39.80% (182nd) Birdie average: 3.04 (182nd)

PHIL MICKELSON Height, weight: 6-3, 200 Age: 47 Residence: Rancho Santa Fe Turned pro: 1992 2016-17 earnings: $2,102,599 Career earnings: $84,045,437 2016-17 victories: None Career victories: 42 2016-17 PGA Tour statistics Scoring average: 70.168 (28th) Driving distance: 293.5 (89th) Driving accuracy: 55.05% (162nd) Greens in regulation: 62.85% (163rd) Sand saves: 53.33% (58th) Birdie average: 3.86 (20th) Record at the CareerBuilder 1993: 71-68-76-71 — MC 1994: 72-70-76-69 — MC 2000: 67-72-64-68-68 — 339 T16th 2002: 64-67-70-65-64 — 330 1st 2003: 70-68-63-69-67 — 337 T6th 2004: 68-63-64-67-68 — 330 1st 2005: 66-64-70-068-71 — 339 T12th 2006: 66-69-68-67-71 — 341 T5 2007: 70-70-69-66-78 — 353 T45 2012: 74-69-66-69 — 278 T49th 2013: 72-67-66-66 — 271 T37th 2015: 71-66-68-68 — 273 T24th 2016: 68-65-66-68 -- 267 T3 2017: 68-66-73-70 -- 277 T21st

KEVIN NA Height, weight: 5-11, 167 Age: 34 Residence: Las Vegas Turned pro: 2001 2016-17 earnings: $1,728,351 Career earnings: $24,418,555 2016-17 victories: None Career victories: 1 2016-17 PGA Tour statistics Scoring average: 70.399 (41st) Driving distance: 283.7 (158th) Driving accuracy: 61.26% (84th) Greens in regulation: 65.51% (102nd) Sand saves: 54.55% (40th) Birdie average: 3.80 (34th) Record at the CareerBuilder 2004: 68-68-68-71-68 — 343 T47th 2005: 68 — WD 2007: 68-71-75-66-80 — 360 73rd 2008: 69-69-70-69-76 — 353 T66th 2009: 70-69-69-73 — MC 2010: 69-66-67-69-66 — 337 T8th 2011: 69-67-68-65-67 — 336 T5th 2012: 66-68-73-68 — 275 T30th 2013: 69-70-70-MC 2014: 68-68-68-70 — 274 T48th 2015: 69-68-69-70 -- 276 T48 2016: 71-66-62-68 -- 267 T3 2017: 71-70-69-74 -- 284 T70th

SEAN O’HAIR Height, weight: 6-2, 165 Age: 35 Residence: West Chester, Pa. Turned pro: 1999 2016-17 earnings: $1,873,856 Career earnings: $22,620,689 2016-17 victories: None Career victories: 4 2016-17 PGA Tour statistics Scoring average: 70.801 (72nd) Driving distance: 297.5 (58th) Driving accuracy: 60.61% (89th) Green in regulation: 64.60% (73rd) Sand saves: 51.41% (86th) Birdie average: 3.60 (85th) Record at the CareerBuilder 2006: 71-67-71-78 — MC 2013: 70-71-74— MC 2014: 70-69-69— MC 2015: 68-67073-67 — 275 T41 2016: 70-67-68-69 -- 274 T28 2017: 67-69-69-69 -- T9

GEOFF OGILVY Height, weight: 6-2, 180 Age: 39 Residence: Melbourne, Australia Turned pro: 1998 2015-16 earnings: $397,595 Career earnings: $29,765,029 2015-16 victories: None Career victories: 8 2016-17 PGA Tour statistics Scoring average: 71.464 (149th) Driving distance: 291.9 (80th) Driving accuracy: 61.24% (75th) Greens in regulation: 63.65% (142nd) Sand saves: 45.54% (140th) Birdie average: 3.36 (135th) Record at the CareerBuilder 2002: 74-69-64-066-66 — 339 T31st 2003: 67-69-70-65-75 — 346 T51st 2004: 69-67-63-71-68 — T20th 2005: 75-68-67-67-75 — 352 — T75th 2013: 70-65-70-65 — 270 T27th 2014: 74-70-68 — MC 2016: 73-67-68 -- MC

RYAN PALMER Height, weight: 5-11, 175 Age: 41 Residence: Colleyville, Texas Turned pro: 2000 2016-17 earnings: $772,560 Career earnings: $21,722,037 2016-17 victories: None Career victories: 3 2016-17 PGA Tour statistics Scoring average: 71.116 (121st) Driving distance: 303.2 (27th) Driving accuracy: 57.76% (132nd) Greens in regulation: 66.46% (70th) Sand saves: 43.59% (167th) Birdie average: 3.19 (166th) Record at the CareerBuilder 2004: 67-70-69-66-70 — 342 T3rd 2005: 67-67-72-72 — MC 2006: 70-69-67-66-72 — 344 T10th 2007: 69-70-71-74 — MC 2009: 70-65-66-66-73 — 340 T48th 2010: 72-67-64-69-72 — 344 T42 2011: 67-71-65-67-64 — 334 T4 2012: 69-71-71 — MC 2013: 65-69-66-65—T6th 2014: 64-65-70-63— 262 2nd 2015: 71-61-68-69 — 269 T10th 2016: 67-66-66-73 -- 272 T17 2017: 70-72-73 -- MC

SCOTT PIERCY Height, weight: 6-0, 185 Age: 39 Residence: Las Vegas, Nev. Turned pro: 2001 2016-17 earnings: $1,317,452 Career earnings: $15,211,573 2016-17 victories: None Career victories: 3 2016-17 PGA Tour statistics Scoring average: 71.235 (135th) Driving distance: 295.9 (72nd) Driving accuracy: 59.68% (107th) Greens in regulation: 66.75% (59th Sand saves: 37.96% (186th) Birdie average: 4.06 (9th) Record at the CareerBuilder 2009: 66-66-70-65-69 -- 336 T19 2010: 76-71-72-69 -- MC 2012: 70-72-78 -- MC 2014: 71-66-71 -- MC 2015: 69-70-67-68 -- 274 T30 2017: 69-69-71-71 -- 280 41st

JON RAHM Height, weight: 6-2, 220 Age: 23 Residence: Phoenix Turned pro: 2016 2016-17 earnings: $6,1223,248 Career earnings: $7,195,782 2016-17 victories: 1 Career victories: 1 2016-17 PGA Tour statistics Scoring average: 69.561 (8th) Driving distance: 305.8 (20th) Driving accuracy: 58.66% (120th) Greens in regulation: 68.61% (21st) Sand saves: 59.12% (12th) Birdie average: 4.11 (7th) Record at the CareerBuilder 2017: 71-66-70-72 -- 279 T34th

PATRICK REED Height, weight: 6-0, 200 Age: 26 Residence: Houston, Texas Turned pro: 2011 2016-17 earnings: $3,055,111 Career earnings: $18,891,257 2016-17 victories: None Career victories: 5 2016-17 PGA Tour statistics Scoring average: 70.453 (47th) Driving distance: 295.6 (75th) Driving accuracy: 57.18% (138th) Greens in regulation: 62.17% (173rd) Sand saves: 51.09% (92nd) Birdie average: 3.75 (43rd) Record at the CareerBuilder 2013: 74-68-68—MC 2014: 63-63-63-71—260 1st 2015: 65-70-67-71 — 273 T24th 2016: 69-69-68-72 -- 278 T56 2017: 69-71-60-65 275 T12

RORY SABBATINI

Height, weight: 5-10, 165 Age: 41 Residence: Fort Worth, Texas Turned pro: 1998 2016-17 earnings: $741,617 Career earnings: $30,248,168 2016-17 victories: None Career 2016-17 PGAvictories: Tour statistics 6 Scoring average: 70.833 (88th) Driving distance: 291.6 (105th) Driving accuracy: 64.91% (43rd) Greens in regulation: 67.35% (39th) Sand saves: 52.04% (78th) Birdie average: 3.83 (29th) Record at the CareerBuilder 2000: 67-67-66-64-68 — 332 2nd 2001: 71-68-66-71-76 — 352 74th 2006: 71-68-68-64-73 — 344 T10 2011: 70-66-77-69 — MC 2012: 68-68-68-67 — 217 T14th 2013: 69-75-69—MC 2014: 68-67-67-71—273 T38th 2015: 71-68-63-71 — 273 T24th 2016: 68-69-80 -- MC 2017: 70-72-69-74 -- 285 T72

SAM SAUNDERS Height, weight: 6-0, 175 Age: 30 Residence: Denver Turned pro:

2009 2016-17 earnings: $678,117 Career earnings: $2.055,430 2016-17 victories: None Career victories: None

2016-17 PGA Tour statistics Scoring average: 72.097 (157th) Driving distance: 303.1 (48th) Driving accuracy: 52.86% (241st) Greens in regulation: 66.11% (187th) Sand saves: 35.71% (234th) Birdie average: 3.00 (225th) Record at the CareerBuilder 2010: 74-67-71-80 — 282 MC 2011: 73-72-71-68 — MC 2012: 73-76-69 — MC 2015: 77-69-80 — MC 2016: 75-73-77 -- MC 2017: 70-71-75 -- 278 MC

JOHN SENDEN Height, weight: 6-4, 2000 Age: 45 Residence: Australia Turned pro: 1992 2015-16 earnings: $989,841 Career earnings: $21,356,798 2015-16 victories: None Career victories: 2 2016-17 PGA Tour statistics Scoring average: 70.717 (57th) Driving distance: 289.7 (95th) Driving accuracy: 60.07% (97th) Greens in regulation: 68.86% (21st) Sand saves: 48.15% (11th) Birdie average: 3.53 (86th) Record at the CareerBuilder 2002: 64-65-69-67-70 — 335 T13th 2003: 69-068-74-64-73 — 348 T57th 2004: 66-72-62-73-69 — 342 T41st 2005: 69-67-64-68-69 — 337 T6th 2006: 70-63-68-67-73 — 341 T5th 2007: 73-64-68-72-74 — 351 T33rd 2008: 68-73-66-68-69 — 344 T22nd 2009: 67-70-65-64-68 — 334 T9th 2010: 68-69-68-68-70 — 343 T39th 2011: 66-68-77-073 284 MC 2012: 69-64-68-67 — 268 T6th 2013: 72-66-68-69 — 275 T65th 2014: 71-70-66-69 -- 276 T69 2016: 71-72-65 -- MC

WEBB SIMPSON Height, weight: 6-2, 175 Age: 32 Residence: Charlotte, N.C. Turned pro: 2008 2016-17 earnings: $3,209,646 Career earnings: $25,380,983 2016-17 victories: None Career victories: 4 2016-17 PGA Tour statistics Scoring average: 70.018 (20th) Driving distance: 286.5 (142nd) Driving accuracy: 66.26 (28th) Greens in regulation: 65.49% (104th) Sand saves: 61.49% (5th) Birdie average: 3.68 (61st) Record at the CareerBuilder 2009: 68-66-64-66-69 — 333 T-5th 2010: 67-72-66-66-71 — 342 T33rd 2011: 68-69-67-68-67 — 339 T13th 2013: 73-70-65—MC 2014: 69-70-67-64—270 T23rd 2015: 70-66-68-64 — 268 T7th 2016: 70-65-68-69 -- 272 T17 2017: 75-70-66-72 -- 283 T66

SCOTT STALLINGS Height, weight: 6-0, 195 Age: 32 Residence: Knoxville, Tenn.

Turned pro: 2007 2016-17 earnings: $955,337 Career earnings: $8,910,590 2016-17 victories: None Career victories: 3 2016-17 PGA Tour statistics Scoring average: 70.811 (73rd) Driving distance: 297.6 (57th) Driving accuracy: 57.04% (141st) Greens in regulation: 67.89% (28th) Sand saves: 44.26% (166th) Birdie average: 3.40 (130th) Record at the CareerBuilder 2011: 71-68-69-72 — MC 2012: 74 — WD 2013: 66-65-63-70 — 264 T4th 2014: 68-69-69-69— 275 T58th 2015: 68-67-71-73 — 279 T64th 2016: 70 - WD 2017: 67-71-69-66 -- 273 8th

BRANDT SNEDEKER Height, weight: 6-2, 175 Age: 37 Residence: Nashville Turned pro: 2004 2016-17 earnings: $1,625,806 Career earnings: $32,390,437 2016-17 victories: None Career victories: 8 2016-17 PGA Tour statistics Scoring average: 70.055 (23rd) Driving distance: 281.6 (165th) Driving accuracy: 63.58% (62nd) Greens in regulation: 67.11% (48th) Sand saves: 56.25% (28th) Birdie average: 4.06 (9th) Record at the CareerBuilder 2007: 70-73-69-69-76 -- 357 T60 2010: 70-69-65-65-68 -- 338 T10 2011: 70-70-69-70 -- MC 2012: 64-68-66-71 -- 269 T8th 2013: 67-68-67-67 -- 269 T23 2014: 72-64-69-70 -- 275 T58 2015: 71-67-72 -- MC

J.J. SPAUN Height, weight: 5-9, 185 Age: 27 Residence: Los Angeles Turned pro: 2012 2016-17 earnings: $1,122,611 Career earnings: $2,100,747 2016-17 victories: None Career victories: 1 2016-17 PGA Tour statistics Scoring average: 70.999 (105th) Driving distance: 291.5 (107th) Driving accuracy: 635.11% (42nd) Greens in regulation: 67.12% (47th) Sand saves: 45.45% (158th) Birdie average: 3.50 (105th) Record at the CareerBuilder Debut event

BRENDAN STEELE

$9,812,335 2016-17 victories: None Career victories: 2

Height, weight: 6-2, 175 Age: 34 Residence: Newport Beach Turned pro: 2005 2016-17 earnings: $2,907095 Career earnings: $12,684,421 2016-17 victories: None Career victories: 3

2016-17 PGA Tour statistics Scoring average: 72.644 (N/A) Driving distance: 299.4 (N/A) Driving accuracy: 58.44 (N/A) Greens in regulation: 69.70% (N/A) Sand saves: 40.00% (N/A) Birdie average: 3.82 (N/A)

2016-17 PGA Tour statistics Scoring average: 70.503 (50th) Driving distance: 300.4 (40th) Driving accuracy: 62.88 (69th) Greens in regulation: 67.26% (42nd) Sand saves: 43.33% (169th) Birdie average: 3.81 (32nd) Record at the CareerBuilder 2011: 67-71-74-68 — MC 2012: 70-69-70-72 — 281 T66th 2013: 72-70-64-67— 273 T56th 2014: 70-70-69— MC 2015: 67-68-68-64 -- 267 T2nd 2016: 68-65-68-74 -- 275 T34 2017: 68-64-70-70 -- 272 T6

SHAWN STEFANI Height, weight: 6-2, 2005 Age: 36 Residence: Baytown, Texas Turned pro: 2005 2016-17 earnings: $404,377 Career earnings: $4,972,970 2016-17 victories: None Career victories: None 2016-17 PGA Tour statistics Scoring average: 70.983 (104th) Driving distance: 294.0 (84th) Driving accuracy: 60.53% (91st) Greens in regulation: 66.48% (69th) Sand saves: 45.71% (152nd) Birdie average: 3.31 (152nd) Record at the CareerBuilder 2013: 68-69-69-70 -- 276 T72nd 2015: 75-66-63-67 -- 271 T15th 2016: 72-74-65 -- MC 2017: 74-69-67-70 -- 280 T41st

KEVIN STREELMAN Height, weight: 5-10, 175 Age: 39 Residence: Scottsdale, Ariz.

Turned pro: 2001 2016-17 earnings: $1,313,327 Career earnings: $16,079,365 2016-17 victories: None Career victories: 2 2016-17 PGA Tour statistics Scoring average: 70.873 (85th) Driving distance: 294.0 (84th) Driving accuracy: 66.01% (30th) Greens in regulation: 66.67% (64th) Sand saves: 49.66% (107th) Birdie average: 3.44 (122nd) Record at the CareerBuilder 2008: 67-72-74-69 — MC 2010: 70- 71- 63- 64- 70 — 338 T10th 2011: 69-67-70-70-67 — 343 T33rd 2012: 70-66-75 — MC 2013: 66-65-66-67 — 267 T10th 2015: 71-69-66-69 -- 275 T41st 2016: 68-69-66-67 -- 270 T11 2017: 71-70-74 -- MC

HUDSON SWAFFORD Height, weight: 6-3, 200 Age: 30 Residence: Lakeland, Fla. Turned pro: 2011 2016-17 earnings: $2,246,090 Career earnings: $4,915,226 2016-17 victories: 1 Career victories: 1 2016-17 PGA Tour statistics Scoring average: 70.618 (55th) Driving distance: 305.1 (22nd) Driving accuracy: 60.27% (94th) Greens in regulation: 68.21% (23rd) Sand saves: 51.53% (83rd) Birdie average: 3.69 (56th) Record at the CareerBuilder 2014: 65-71-70-65 -- 271 T25 2015: 74-66-69 -- MC 2016: 71-69-66-72 -- 278 T56 2017: 65-65-71-67 -- 268 1st

VAUGHN TAYLOR Height, weight: 6-0, 160 Age: 41 Residence: Lakeland, Fla. Turned pro: 1999 2016-17 earnings: $797,385 Career earnings: $14,820,338 2016-17 victories: None Career 2016-17 PGAvictories: Tour statistics 3 Scoring average: 71.044 (109th) Driving distance: 282.4 (161st) Driving accuracy: 68.28% (14th) Greens in regulation: 66.67% (64th) Sand saves: 55.80% (32nd) Birdie average: 3.69 (56th) Record at the CareerBuilder 2007: 69-70-69-65-78 -- 351 T33 2008: 70-68-68-69-66 -- T8 2009: 63-67-64-68-76 -- 338 T34 2010: 66-67-73-65-67 -- 338 T10 2011: 71-66-69-68-67 -- 341 T25 2012: 69-68-75 MC 2017: 68-72-67-73 --- 280 T41st

D.J. TRAHAN Height, weight: 6-3, 185 Age: 37 Residence: Mt. Pleasant, S.C. Turned pro: 2003 2016-17 earnings: $15,155 Career earnings:

Record at the CareerBuilder 2006: 73-72-70-67 — MC 2007: 76-72-71-70 — MC 2008: 67-67-68-70-65 — 335 1st 2009: 65-67-65-68-70 — 335 T14th 2010: 69-68-65-68-66 — 336 7th 2011: 71-68-65-69-74 — 347 T61st 2012: 71-68-75 — MC 2013: 69-68-68-68— 279 T56th 2014: 75-68-80 — MC 2015: 68-71-69-71 -- 279 T64th 2016: 74-7073 -- MC 2017: 71-73-74 -- MC

CAMERON TRINGALE Height, weight: 5-8, 170 Age: 27 Residence: Akron, Ohio Turned pro: 2012 2016-17 earnings: $792,814 Career earnings: $9,770,281 2016-17 victories: None Career victories: None 2016-17 PGA Tour statistics Scoring average: 71.343 (142nd) Driving distance: 280.9 (168th) Driving accuracy: 58.15% (128th) Greens in regulation: 64.39% (127th) Sand saves: 52.94% (69th) Birdie average: 3.47 (112th) Record at the CareerBuilder 2011: 67-67-71-70-74 -- 349 T68 2012: 68-64-71-72 -- T30 2013: 65-72-66-68 -- 271 T37 2014: 69-64-70-69 -- 273 T38 2015: 69-70-68-67 -- 274 T30 2016: 69-68-67-67 - 271 T14 2017: 74-76-69 -- MC

HAROLD VARNER III Height, weight: 6-2, 185 Age: 30 Residence: Laguna Niguel Turned pro: 2009 2016-17 earnings: $918,779 Career earnings: $2,422,199 2016-17 victories: None Career victories: None 2016-17 PGA Tour statistics Scoring average: 70.966 (102nd) Driving distance: 302.4 (29th) Driving accuracy: 59.61% (110th) Greens in regulation: 67.68% (32nd) Sand saves: 47.97% (126th) Birdie average: 3.58 (93rd) Record at the CareerBuilder 2016: 69-69-71 -- MC 2017: 65-70-77 -- MC

JHONATTAN VEGAS Height, weight: 6-3, 230 Age: 33 Residence: Houston, Texas Turned pro: 2008 2016-17 earnings: $2,478,980 Career earnings: $9,479,539 2016-17 victories: 1 Career victories: 3 2016-17 PGA Tour statistics Scoring average: 71.054 (111th) Driving distance: 301.3 (33rd) Driving accuracy: 57.67% (133rd) Greens in regulation: 65.93% (88th) Sand saves: 45.74% (151st) Birdie average: 3.60 (85th) Record at the CareerBuilder 2011: 64-67-67-66-69 — 333 1st 2012: 70-72-70 — MC 2013: 68-69-73— MC 2014: 70-68-67-69 — 274 T48th 2015: 72-74-67 -- MC 2016: 74-70-71 -- MC 2017: 65-75-68-71 -- 279 T34

CAMILO VILLEGAS Height, weight: 5-9, 160 Age: 35 Residence: Medillin, Col-

ombia Turned pro: 2004 2016-17 earnings: $971,420 Career earnings: $19,529,942 2016-17 victories: None Career victories: 4 2016-17 PGA Tour statistics Scoring average: 70.881 (87th) Driving distance: 288.7 (124th) Driving accuracy: 54.37% (169th) Greens in regulation: 61.88% (177th) Sand saves: 46.96% (141st) Birdie average: 3.79 (37th) Record at the CareerBuilder 2012: 63-68-72-69 -- 272 T19th 2013: 71-667-67-67 -- 272 T47th 2014: 70-66-68-68 -- 272 T33rd 2016: 75-66-73 -- MC 2017: 73-68-73 -- MC

JOHNSON WAGNER Height, weight: 6-3, 230 Age: 37 Residence: Amarillo, Texas Turned pro: 2002 2016-17 earnings: $685,306 Career earnings: $11,300,603 2016-17 victories: None Career victories: 3

2016-17 PGA Tour statistics Scoring average: 71.429 (147th) Driving distance: 288.1 (128th) Driving accuracy: 63.18% (66th) Greens in regulation: 66.93% (55th) Sand saves: 51.49% (84th) Birdie average: 3.30 (154th) Record at the CareerBuilder 2007: 66-67-74-67-74 -- 348 T13 2008: 67-71-73-65-72 -- 348 T38 2009: 70-67-69-70 -- MC 2010: 75-70-73-67 -- MC 2012: 68-67-66-65 -- 266 T2 2013: 66-70-67-68 -- 271 T37 2014: 72-66-68-65 -- 271 T25 2016: 72-74-67 -- MC 2017: 71-71-72 -- MC

JIMMY WALKER Height, weight: 6-3, 230 Age: 38 Residence: Oklahoma City Turned pro: 2001 2016-17 earnings: $1,101,162 Career earnings: $22,856,503 2016-17 victories: None Career victories: 6 2016-17 PGA Tour statistics Scoring average: 71.155 (123rd) Driving distance: 295.7 (74th) Driving accuracy: 56.59% (145th) Greens in regulation: 63.57 (143rd) Sand saves: 57.89% (18th) Birdie average: 3.40 (130th) Record at the CareerBuilder 2010: 71-68-69-72 -- MC 2012: 70-66-71-72 -- 279 T54 2013: 66-70-66-67 -- 269 T23

NICK WATNEY Height, weight: 6-2, 180 Age: 36 Residence: Fresno Turned pro: 2001 2016-17 earnings: $824,162 Career earnings: $24,887,201 2016-17 victories: None Career victories: 5 2016-17 PGA Tour statistics Scoring average: 70.685 (59th) Driving distance: 300.9 (35th) Driving accuracy: 55.67% (156th) Greens in regulation: 66.43% (72nd) Sand saves: 56.10% (29th) Birdie average: 3.32 (150th) Record at the CareerBuilder 2005: 65-70-66-69-73 — 343 T29th 2006: 68-76-66-67-72 — 349 T35th 2007: 71-68-71-68-70 — 348 T12th 2009: 66-71-72-63-65— 337 T25th 2015: 67-64-71-68 -- 270 14th 2016: 73-71-69 -- MC 2017: 67-74-72 -- MC

BUBBA WATSON Height, weight: 6-2, 180 Age: 39 Residence: Bagdad, Fla. Turned pro: 2002 2016-17 earnings: $1,223,129 Career earnings: $36,677,562 2016-17 victories: None Career victories: 9 2016-17 PGA Tour statistics Scoring average: 71.175 (127th) Driving distance: 305.8 (20th) Driving accuracy: 59.50% (112th) Greens in regulation: 62.87% (161st) Sand saves: 46.32% (147th) Birdie average: 3.49 (106th) Record at the CareerBuilder 2007: 71-72-75-71 -- MC 2008: 70-71-66-72-66 -- 345 T26 2009: 62-69-68-63-75 -- 337 T25 2010: 66-62-68-69-66 -- 331 T2 2011: 66-71-72-72 -- MC

MIKE WEIR Height, weight: 6-2, 180 Age: 47 Residence: Utah Turned pro:

1992 2016-17 earnings: $0 Career earnings: $27,943,409 2016-17 victories: None Career victories: 8 2016-17 PGA Tour statistics Scoring average: 73.632 (N/A) Driving distance: 257.6 (N/A) Driving accuracy: 60.82% (N/A) Greens in regulation: 51.59% (N/A) Sand saves: 57.14% (N/A) Birdie average: 2.00 (N/A) Record at the CareerBuilder 1999: 67-71-74-66-71 -- 349 T32 2000: 68-69-72-72 -- MC 2002: 66-68-67-69-73 -- 343 T52 2003: 67-64-65-67-67 -- 330 1st 2004: 70-67-68-70-67 342 T47 2005: 71-73-70-70- -- MC 2006: 67-69-68-66-70 -- 341 T5 2007: 72-68-69-70-76 -- 355 T48 2008: 70-70-68-70-73 -- 351 T56 2009: 62-70-67-66-67 -- 332 T3 2010: 67-67-67-67-66 - 334 6th 2011: 72-75-71-72 -- MC 2013: 67-75-67 -- MC 2014: 73-69-70 -- MC 2015: 80-75-74 -- MC

MARK WILSON Height, weight: 5-8, 145 Age: 43 Residence: Elmhurst, Ill. Turned pro: 1997 2016-17 earnings: $100,286 Career earnings: $15,310,189 2016-17 victories: None Career victories: 5 2016-17 PGA Tour statistics Scoring average: 71,850 (N/A) Driving distance: 277.3 (N/A) Driving accuracy: 63.27% (N/A) Greens in regulation: 63.49% (N/A) Sand saves: 50.00% (N/A) Birdie average: 3.14 (N/A) Record at the CareerBuilder 2007: 70-72-71-69-69 — 351 T33rd 2009: 66-66-72-72 — MC 2011: 69-73-70-67-71 — 347 T61st 2012: 66-62-67-69 — 264 1st 2013: 77-66-66— MC 2014: 74-66-73 — MC 2015: 64-73-69-68 -- 274 T30th 2016: 72-66-67-73 -- 278 T56 2017: 72-76-71 -- MC

DESERTSUN.COM z SUNDAY, JANUARY 14, 2018 z 7H

Parking, tickets, schedule for tournament Phil Mickelson pumps his fist after sinking his shot from the fringe on No. 16 at the La Quinta Country Club during the first round of the CareerBuilder Challenge in 2017. RICHARD LUI/THE DESERT SUN

How it works

Larry Bohannan

Palm Springs Desert Sun USA TODAY NETWORK

What it is The 59th annual CareerBuilder Challenge, featuring many of the top PGA Tour stars, returns to the desert at three Coachella Valley courses – La Quinta Country Club, the Stadium Course at PGA West and the Nicklaus Tournament Course at PGA West.

Who is playing Defending champion Hudson Swafford is joined in the field by top stars like World Golf Hall of Famer and two-time CareerBuilder Challenge champion Phil Mickelson, who is serving as the tournament’s ambassador. Among others in the field are world No. 3 Jon Rahm, Ryder Cup participant and 2014 CareerBuilder champion Patrick Reed, two-time CareerBuilder winner Bill Haas, 2016 winner Jason Dufner, major championship winners Bubba Watson, and past CareerBuilder Challenge winners Brian Gay (2013), Mark Wilson (2012), Jhonattan Vegas (2011), Chad Campbell (2006) and Corey Pavin (1987).

When Thursday through Sunday. Gates open at 8 a.m. First tee times 8:40 a.m.

Purse $5.9 million, with $1,062,000 going to the winner.

Television All four rounds will be broadcast by Golf Channel from noon to 4 p.m.

Play in the 54-hole pro-am portion of the tournament begins at 8:40 a.m. on all three courses. Each foursome will include two pros and two amateurs, and each amateur will be assigned one of the pros for the day. The pro-am twosome will play a better-ball format with the amateur using his or her own full handicap.

Daily prizes on each course will be awarded in gross and net divisions. The pro-am division ends after Saturday’s play for most players, but the three low gross and three low net amateurs will play Sunday, when the low 70 pros and ties from the first three days of the pro event continue on the TPC Stadium Course at PGA West.

Ticket information Tickets are available at the gate during the tournament. Daily tickets are $30 (valid one day only, Thursday to Sunday; Weekly grounds badges are $75 (grounds only, Wednesday to Sunday) when purchased online ahead of the tournament.

At the gate, a daily ticket is $40, a weeklong pass $100. Wednesday ticket (at PGA West only) is $15; Veterans tickets (Thursday only) $25. Military tickets $15.

Kids 15 and under free with an accompanying adult. Military and first responders are also free.

Parking All general parking for La Quinta Country Club, Nicklaus Tournament and TPC Stadium courses at PGA West will be off of Jefferson Street between Ave. 52 and Ave. 54. Shuttle busses will run from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily. Parking is $10 per day or a week-long parking pass can be purchased for $30.

CAREERBUILDER CHALLENGE SCHEDULE Monday 8:30 a.m.: Pro player practice rounds at all three courses (not open to the public)

Tuesday 8:30 a.m.: Pro player practice rounds at all three courses (not open to the public)

Wednesday 8:30 a.m.: Pro player practice rounds at all three courses (open to the public) 8:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m.: The Bob Hope Legacy Pro-Am at Stadium Course at PGA WEST

Thursday 8:30 a.m.: First round of tournament play for 156 pros and 156 amateurs at all three courses TV: Golf Channel from noon to 4 p.m.

Pre-game coverage begins at 11 a.m.

Friday 8:30 a.m.: Second round of tournament play for 156 pros and 156 amateurs at

Cell phone policy The PGA Tour has adopted a policy that allows fans to bring their cell phone onto the course during play. Cell phones must be set to silent (vibrate) and may be used in designated mobile device areas.

Cell phones may not be used for photography or video.

FAN EXPERIENCES Available to all ticketholders that day: MUSIC Concerts on Friday and Saturday will begin immediately after play concludes.

Friday’s concert on the PGA West Resort practice range will feature Huey Lewis and the News. Saturday’s concert will feature the 1990s band The Goo Goo Dolls. Concert is included with the pur-

all three courses 4:45 p.m.: (approximately) Huey Lewis and the News perform on the PGA West Resort practice range TV: Golf Channel from noon to 4 p.m.

Pre-game coverage begins at 11 a.m.

Saturday 8:30 a.m.: Third round of tournament play for 156 pros and 156 amateurs at all three courses 4:45 p.m.: (approximately) The Goo Goo Dolls perform on the PGA West Resort practice range TV: Golf Channel from noon to 4 p.m.

Pre-game coverage begins at 11 a.m.

Sunday 8:30 a.m.: Final round of tournament play for low 70 players and ties plus low three net and low three gross amateurs from first three rounds at Stadium Course at PGA WEST TV: Golf Channel from noon to 4 p.m.

Pre-game coverage begins at 11 a.m.

Trophy presentation: Bob Hope Memorial Trophy Presentation immediately following play on the 18th green, Stadium Course at PGA West.

chase of at least a daily ticket.

FOOD & DRINK Vons Fan Pavilion: This hospitality area for the tournament located behind the 18th green will feature local restaurants, wine tastings, cocktails and craft beer. Admission to the pavilion and other hospitality areas is included in the price of a daily ticket. That includes the Casamigos Club 17 on the 17th Green and the Michelob Ultra Beer Fore Birdies on the 16th Green/17th Tee. Bob Hope Promenade: The main entrance to the tournament this year opens up to Bob Hope Promenade – a fan engagement area featuring the popular Food Truck frenzy and a variety of vendors, merchandise, cocktails and beer. It is located between holes 10, 11, 16, 17 and 18 of the Stadium Course.

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Adam Hadwin joined the elite group last year with his round at La Quinta When Adam Hadwin fired a 13-under 59 at La Quinta Country Club last year in the third round of the CareerBuilder Challenge, he joined a unique club in desert golf history. • A 59 is generally good enough to easily be the best round of its kind in a tournament or at a golf course. But Hadwin’s 59 was only good enough to become the fourth PGA Tour-sanctioned 59 in the Coachella Valley. And it was only good enough to be the second 59 in the history of the CareerBuilder Challenge. • Whether it is the weather, the smooth greens or the wide fairways, the Coachella Valley seems ripe for sub-60 rounds. Remember, the desert is also the longtime home of Al Geiberger, the original Mr. 59 on the PGA Tour with his famous round in the second round of the 1977 tour event in Memphis.

• Here’s a look at the four players who have broken 60 in the desert and what their rounds looked like in tour-sanctioned events:

DAVID GOSSETT Score: 59 Course: Nicklaus Tournament Course, PGA West Date: Dec. 2, 2000 Event: PGA Tour qualifying school, fourth round The story: Less than two years after Duval’s fabled 59, David Gossett was considered by many to be a can’t-miss prospect when the six-day qualifying tournament came to PGA West. Just 1-over through three rounds, Gossett caught fire in the fourth round with 11 birdies and something no other 59 had until that day, a hole in one. Gossett aced the par-3 third hole, his 12th hole on the day. He finished the round with four consecutive birdies, including an 8-foot putt on the closing hole to complete the 59. Gossett didn’t break 70 in the other five rounds of the tournament, finished 68th and did not earn his PGA Tour exemption for 2001.

DAVID DUVAL Score: 59 Course: Arnold Palmer Private Course, PGA West Date: Jan. 24, 1999 Event: Bob Hope Chrysler Classic (fifth round) The story: Duval, at the time perhaps the best player in the world though he was ranked behind Tiger Woods in the world rankings, started the day seven shots behind leader Fred Funk.

But Duval torched the Palmer Course with 11 birdies and one dramatic eagle for just the third 59 in PGA Tour history. The eagle came on the closing par-5 18th hole when Duval hit a 5-iron to just six feet and made the putt with a few fist pumps added for good measure. When Steve Pate missed an eagle putt in the final group, Duval had the tournament victory with a 26-under 334 for five rounds.

HARRISON FRAZAR Score: 59 Course: Nicklaus Tournament Course, PGA West Date: Dec. 6, 2008 Event: PGA Tour qualifying tournament, fourth round The story: Frazar, a veteran of the PGA Tour, was back in Q-school to secure a playing exemption for the next year. Frazar said he hadn’t made a putt in two years, “but they all went in today.” Just 1-under through four holes, Frazar lit up the course after that, playing the last five holes of the front nine in 5-under, then making seven consecutive birdies on the back nine ending with a 40-foot putt on the 17th hole. Frazar actually had a putt for a 58, but his 18-footer on the 18th hole curled just to the right of the cup.

The round gave Frazar a four-shot lead in the event, and Frazar went on to be medalist in the six-day event.

ADAM HADWIN Score: 59 Course: La Quinta Country Club Date: Jan. 22, 2016 Event: CareerBuilder Challenge, third round The story: Just one week after Justin Thomas shot a 59 in the PGA Tour’s Sony Open, Adam Hadwin added his name to the sub-60 club with the second 59 in the history of the CareerBuilder Challenge. Hadwin, a Canadian who had contended for the CareerBuilder title in 2015, started the third round 10 shots behind the leader Hudson Swafford. Hadwin quickly made his move with six consecutive birdies starting on the second hole, then birdied the ninth for a front-nine 29. Five more consecutive birdies starting on the 11th hole moved him to 12 under, and a birdie on the 17th pushed him to 13 under.

A birdie on the 18th would have given him a 58, but he instead made an up-and-down par from behind the green for the 59. The next day on the Stadium Course at PGA West, Hadwin shot 70 and finished one shot behind Swafford, who shot 67 on the day.

STORY BY LARRY BOHANNAN, PHOTOS BY RICHARD LUI/THE DESERT SUN, GETTY IMAGES

DESERTSUN.COM z SUNDAY, JANUARY 14, 2018 z 9H

Event marketers try to keep up with times Larry Bohannan Columnist Palm Springs Desert Sun USA TODAY NETWORK

It once was a relatively simple thing to market a PGA Tour event.

All you had to do was open the gates and say something like “Arnold Palmer is playing this week,” or “Jack Nicklaus is going after another title here this week.” You could toss in names like Greg Norman or Tom Watson. Maybe it helped if you had Bob Hope or Bing Crosby to headline the event.

Starting in 1997, you only needed to say Tiger Woods’ name to get people to buy tickets or turn on their television sets, even if you didn’t have a celebrity host or a field full of Hollywood stars or professional athletes from other sports.

Somewhere along the line, that stopped being enough. Somewhere along the line, golf just wasn’t enough to get big crowds to come to a tournament.

Whether it was a golf season that seems to never end, star players who tailored their schedule around majors and World Golf Championships or just the hectic, non-stop nature of the world, just having good golf to offer fans was no longer enough to get people to commit to coming to the golf course.

It probably doesn’t help that golf itself has struggled in recent years, with fewer people playing the game and a new generation under the age of 30 seemingly not as interested in the game as their parents or grandparents.

Many tournaments – and the CareerBuilder Challenge in La Quinta is one of those tournaments – have struggled in the transition from the old marketing world to the current world of, well, whatever it is that gets people to come to a golf tournament.

That, more than anything is what the 2018 CareerBuilder Challenge is all about. Change is a constant at the desert’s PGA Tour event, but generally those changes have been about the golf courses (13 layouts in 59 years for the event) or sponsorships (three sponsors in the last 11 years). Heck, the tournament has even had two comedians as host and made a radical change in the format in 2012, chopping an entire day and an entire course from the rotation.

But this year’s changes are about connecting to the Coachella Valley as a community. Yes, it would seem easy for

Canadian fans watch from the 17th hole during the CareerBuilder Challenge at the Stadium Course at PGA West in January. HARRY HOW/GETTY IMAGES

Huey Lewis signs autographs for fans during the 2009 CareerBuilder Challenge.

MARILYN CHUNG/THE DESERT SUN

a golf tournament to connect to a desert that still features more golf courses than many states have. But it hasn’t been all that easy in recent years. A lot of rain

didn’t help matters in 2017, keeping fans away for most of the week.

And so the 2018 CareerBuilder Challenge dawns with a new operating

company, Lagardere Sports, running the tournament for Desert Classic Charities. And the focus is less on hard-core golf and hard-core golf fans than it is on the casual golf fan or even the non-golf fan, the person who has either never felt a connection to the tournament or who has drifted away from the tournament in recent years.

So instead of one concert, as was featured in 2017 with Fitz and the Tantrums, there will be two concerts at the event this year. If Jon Rahm and Phil Mickelson aren’t enough to get people to buy tickets, maybe Huey Lewis and the News or the Goo Goo Dolls can get them to the golf course, the thinking goes.

And there are on-course hospitality opportunities like the new Vons Pavilion behind the 18th hole at the Stadium Course at PGA West, the Beers for Birdies tent at the 16th hole and the Casamigos tent at the 17th hole. All offer a chance to see golf, but also offer a chance to indulge in passions like food and spirits without really focusing on golf. And they all come with the basic admission ticket, just like the concerts.

What about the golf? Yes, there will be those who will scream that the golf festival idea kind of turns its back on the golf tournament itself. Why spend $30 to go to a golf tournament if you aren’t going to watch the golf or follow around a favorite player or sit at a hole and watch the top players walk by?

The mistake there is thinking that golf is the reason for the tournament.

Raising money for local charities is the purpose of the tournament and has been since the event debuted in 1960.

The tournament has struggled in recent years to do as well as it would like in that regard. What once was $1.5 million a year for charities in the desert has dropped to half of that.

A golf tournament alone won’t make enough money these days, and a concert alone won’t make the kind of money Desert Classic Charities would like to make.

But maybe a combination of golf, concerts, food and wine will help the tournament make more money for Coachella Valley youth charities.

That would be the kind of change everyone would be happy with.

Larry Bohannan is The Desert Sun golf writer. He can be reached at (760) 778-4633 or larry.bohannan@desert sun.com. Follow him on Facebook or on Twitter at @Larry_Bohannan.

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10H z SUNDAY, JANUARY 14, 2018 z T H E D E S E R T S U N

STADIUM COURSE, PGA WEST

BY THE NUMBERS

T PC STAD I UM C O UR SE

2017 scoring average: 71.588 2017 easiest hole: No. 8, par-5, 557 yards, 4.584 2017 rounds under 70: 50

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2017 rounds under par: 117

6

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2017 rounds over par: 77 2017 rounds 80 and over: 0

7

15

2017 ratio birdies/eagles to bogeys/ over: 864/311

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CareerBuilder Course record: 64, Dominic Bozzelli (2017)

5

TOUGHEST HOLE

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No. 6, 225 yards, par-3 2017 scoring average: 3.227

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This par-3 is pretty simple but pretty demanding. Golfers must hit a tee shot that is all carry over a large lake to get to a flat but large green. Throw in some wind and some rain, like in 2017, and the hole becomes very difficult in a rarity for the CareerBuilder. The hole produced 32 birdies last year but 43 bogeys and four triple bogeys or higher. It is a beast of a hole.

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OF NOTE In its two years back in the tournament, the Stadium Course has proven it remains one of the toughest and most intimidating courses in the country. The course may not be as tough as it was when it was played for one year in the event in 1987, but it still features tough bunkers and large lakes. The course designed by Pete Dye hosted the Skins Game six times starting in 1986.

— Larry Bohannan, The Desert Sun

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Low scores come from great greens CareerBuilder courses can yield exceptional rounds Larry Bohannan

The greens in the desert have always been the talk of the tour.

Each year when the PGA Tour rolls into the Coachella Valley, fans start expecting low scores. Not just the low scores you might find at other PGA Tour events, but eye-popping bushels of birdies and eagles.

Remember, this is the only tournament on tour where the tournament record is 59, and it’s been shot twice. It a tournament where 30-under was becoming a minimum to win the tournament when the tournament was still a five-day event. It’s the tournament where it seems like a 62 is expected each of the four rounds of the event.

But why do the desert courses yield such low scores? The recreational golfer might find La Quinta Country Club and the Nicklaus Tournament Course at PGA West to be pretty demanding, and the Stadium Course at PGA West to be one of the toughest courses in the world.

For the PGA Tour players in the CareerBuilder Challenge, though, the courses can be pretty simple.

Start with the idea that these are some of the best players in the world, and they can score well on any course.

Add in the idea that the desert courses tend to be friendly and relatively short by today’s standards. For the defending champion of the CareerBuilder Challenge, there is another reason the scoring can be so good in the desert.

“What PGA West and La Quinta Country Club do with their golf courses is incredible, the shape of the golf courses,” said Hudson Swafford. “We travel to some of the best places around the world, but the constant talk in the lockerroom is always comparing and going back to the greens at PGA West and La Quinta.”

The greens in the desert, both at the current CareerBuilder courses and courses played in the past, have always been the talk of the tour. With smooth overseeded rye greens and players with short irons in their hands on many holes, it’s no wonder that a 59 seems to

be a constant threat at the tournament.

But the truth is the three courses in the rotation these days are quite different from one another, another charm of the CareerBuilder event.

Start with La Quinta Country Club, the last of the golf courses built in the 1950s to be played in the desert tournament. The course features the characteristics of a 1950s course, especially being relatively flat with the homes often lining both sides of a hole.

But a renovation several years ago made the bunkers deeper and the greens a bit tougher. The front nine can still be a scoring delight, especially with back-to-back par-5s at the fifth and sixth holes that are reachable in two for most pros.

The Nicklaus Tournament Course has turned out to be the easiest of the three courses since it joined the tournament in 2015. With dramatic architecture like deep bunkers and large lakes, the course still offers generous fairways that allow players to hit big drives. The shared double green of the ninth and 18th holes is a unique feature for the tournament.

Easily the toughest of the three courses is the Stadium Course at PGA West. Despite renovations that have made the course easier than its oneyear stint in the tournament in 1987 and despite players hitting the ball farther than 30 years ago, the Stadium Course still produces the highest scoring average of the tournament.

Even with just four rounds in the tournament these days instead of five, it’s possible the CareerBuilder Challenge courses can produce a winning score of around 25-under. Just ask Swafford, who won at 20-under in 2017 under difficult weather conditions.

“They kind of set the bar high for golf course shape. We always are talking about how good PGA West can be, how good of shape it is in,” he said. “So just comparing that to other golf courses, they always set the bar too high, which is no complaint.”

Palm Springs Desert Sun USA TODAY NETWORK

Golfers on the Stadium Course 18th hole during the third round of a past CareerBuilder Challenge. PHOTOS BY RICHARD LUI/THE DESERT SUN

Spectators watch on the 18th hole on the Stadium Course during the third round of a recent CareerBuilder Challenge.

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LA QUINTA COUNTRY CLUB

BY THE NUMBERS 2017 scoring average: 69.635 2017 easiest hole: No. 6, Par-5, 527 yards, 4.333 2017 rounds under 70: 72 2017 rounds under par: 122 2017 rounds over par: 20

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2017 rounds 80 and over: 0 2017 ratio birdies/eagles to bogeys/ over: 695/308

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La Quinta

CareerBuilder Course record: 59, Adam Hadwin (2017)

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TOUGHEST HOLE No. 14, 469 yards, par-4

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2017 scoring average: 4.179 The toughest hole on the course was a little tougher than usual in 2017, in part because of weather conditions. This par-4 requires a combination of distance and accuracy off the tee to avoid not only trees but out of bounds to the left of the fairway. The OB stakes come perilously close to the left edge of the green. The putting surface is also surrounded by three bunkers. Trees down the left edge of the fairway will catch their share of marginal shots.

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z No. 20 on The Desert Sun list of the top 100 holes in the desert

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First played in the tournament in 1964, La Quinta Country Club is the only golf course still in the rotation that was built in the 1950s. For years the golf course was in a rotation, alternating years with Tamarisk Country Club. Golfers who won the event when it was hosted at La Quinta were Tom Nieporte, Bruce Devlin, Rik Massengale and Keith Fergus.

The course sports the only back-toback par-5s in the tournament rotation, the fifth and sixth holes. — Larry Bohannan, The Desert Sun

JACK NICKLAUS TOURNAMENT COURSE, PGA WEST

BY THE NUMBERS 2017 scoring average: 70.744 2017 easiest hole: No. 11, Par-5, 525 yards, 4.385 2017 rounds under 70: 52 2017 rounds under par: 102

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2017 rounds over par: 35 2017 rounds 80 and over: 2 2017 ratio birdies/eagles to bogeys/ over: 657405

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CareerBuilder Course record: 62, Kevin Na (2016)

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TOUGHEST HOLE 8

No. 8, 170 yards, par-3 2017 scoring average: 2.376 The Nicklaus Tournament Course has a collection of tough par-3s, but this par-3 is ranked as the toughest in 2017.

The tee shot on this hole is over a large lake to a large green with plenty of swales and pin positions to make the hole play a little different each day. The green is also surrounded by bunkers to the left and back and the lake to the front and the right. Even a precise tee shot might require a good two-putt for a par.

OF NOTE The Nicklaus Tournament Course made its debut in the tournament in 2016 with the lowest scoring average of the three courses in the rotation. The course is no stranger to tournament golf, having hosted the PGA Tour qualifying tournament for many years in the 1990s and throughout the 2000s. Harrison Frazar famously shot a 59 on the course during the Q-school. The course also hosted the PGA Grand Slam of Golf twice in 1992 and 1993. — Larry Bohannan, The Desert Sun

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