Rodgers captures Pro-am title
Packers QB combines with Silverman for one-stroke victory
PEBBLE BEACH, Calif. — Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers finally gets his name on the Wall of Champions behind the first tee at Pebble Beach, joining a long list that includes Tiger Woods, Jack Nicklaus and Arnold Palmer.
Justin Rose would love nothing better than to be on an adjacent plaque for winning the PGA Tour event at Pebble.
Rose, whose third round was suspended by wind strong enough to blow his golf ball across the green, returned Sunday morning at Monterey Peninsula by playing 10 holes in 6 under for a 65 that gave him a one-shot lead in the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-am.
The final round was to start Sunday afternoon, featuring only professionals, and there was no way for the tournament to finish until Monday.
The only champions crowned Sunday were Rodgers and Ben Silverman of Canada, who held on for a one-shot victory in the proam portion of the event. The prize is their name listed on the wall, which features pro-am winners, tournament winners, USGA champions at Pebble and more.
“It's really significant,” Rodgers said, whose Packers failed to reach the NFL playoffs for only the fourth time in his 15 years as the starter. “It's always been on my bucket list.”
Rodgers did his share of heavy lifting. Silverman, coming off a Korn Ferry Tour win, finished at 1-over 216 and missed the cut. Rodgers, playing off a 10 handicap, said he had not played golf since training camp until last Monday.
They finished at 26-under par, one shot ahead of Peter Malnati and Don Colleran, the retired president and CEO of Fedex whose name already is on the wall.
Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen and Keith Mitchell were four behind.
Minus the weather, the leading 25 pro-am teams would have played Sunday afternoon.
After a wild week of weather, the final round features everyone on the same course at Pebble Beach in roughly similar conditions. It still feels more like a marathon than a sprint because it will be played over two days.
Rose was simply happy to be there. This is his first 54-hole lead since he won at Torrey Pines four years ago, though his form has been trending upward toward the end of last year and early into 2023.
He was at 12-under 203. “The morning couldn't have gone better,” Rose said, whose 10 holes were punctuated by an eagle on the par-5 16th.
Eight players were within three shots of the lead.
DP World: Daniel Gavins won the Ras Al Khaimah Championship after a wild finish that saw the Englishman twice find the water on the last hole before rolling in a title-clinching putt from 26 feet.
Asian: Abraham Ancer of Mexico closed with a 2-under 68 for a two-shot win over Cameron Young in the Saudi International.