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Phil Mickelson will play for the first time in 2017 at the CareerBuilder Challenge. (Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)
• COURSE: TPC Stadium Course at PGA West, 7,113 yards, par 72. Pete Dye’s brutish design is back for a second straight edition after a far better reception in its second trial than its first. The course was unveiled at the 1986 Skins Game and joined the Bob Hope rota in 1987, but lasted just one year when players petitioned for its removal. Charged with building golf’s toughest venue, Dye sculpted a bumpy moonscape with deep bunkers, pushed-up greens and lots of water. Said noted columnist Jim Murray: “You need a camel, a canoe, a priest and a tourniquet to get through it.” The Skins Game stayed five more years, and the course later staged six editions of the TOUR’s qualifying finals. The event’s pro-am format also will utilize PGA West’s Nicklaus Tournament course (7,159/72) and La Quinta Country Club (7,060/72) in the first three rounds.
• FEDEXCUP: Winner receives 500 points.
• CHARITY: Desert Classic Charities, which since 1960 has contributed more than $57 million to build and maintain Eisenhower Medical Center and reach out to other Coachella Valley charities. A broad giving portfolio includes outlets offering social services, mentoring programs for children, or food and safe shelter.
• FIELD WATCH: Two-time champion Phil Mickelson, now a Challenge ambassador, and U.S. Ryder Cup hero Patrick Reed join defending champion Jason Dufner for the year’s traditional first stop on the U.S. mainland. … Reed, now No. 8, is the highest ranked among three players in the top 30 of the Official World Golf Ranking. … Nick Watney, now down to No. 478 in the world, makes just his third start after sitting out most of last season to recover from a herniated disc.
• 72-HOLE RECORD: 260, Patrick Reed (2014). Note: Steve Stricker shot 255 over the first 72 holes in 2009, when the Hope was a five-round tournament.
• 18-HOLE RECORD: 59, David Duval at PGA West/Palmer Private (5th round, 1999). Stadium Course record: 63, Jonathan Fricke (2nd round, 2008 Qualifying Finals*), Whee Kim (2nd round, 2012 Qualifying Finals*). Nicklaus Tournament record: 59, Harrison Frazar (4th round, 2008 Qualifying Finals*). La Quinta CC record: 61, Lennie Clements (3rd round, 1994). Note: Q-School does not count as an official PGA TOUR event.
• LAST YEAR: Dufner ended a victory drought of nearly 2 ½ years, using a clutch off-the-rocks par save at No. 17 to force a playoff with David Lingmerth before winning on the second extra hole. A closing 2-under-par 70 was enough for Dufner to hold on against Lingmerth’s blistering finish, with the Swede posting 62-65 on the weekend to nearly steal victory. Lingmerth, though, missed a birdie chance to win on the first extra hole before finding water at the second. Dufner notched his fourth career victory and first since winning the 2013 PGA Championship at Oak Hill. Mickelson was four shots back after a closing 68, taking a share of third with Kevin Na and Andrew Loupe.
• STORYLINES: Mickelson returns for his usual first start of the calendar year, ending a 3 ½-month layoff that was slightly shorter than most of his recent offseasons. He last teed it up at the Safeway Open in October, earning a share of eighth. … Lingmerth, also a playoff loser in 2013, returns once again in quest of gold in the desert. He was part of a three-man playoff in the 2013 edition, when Brian Gay outlasted the Swede and Charles Howell III in two extra holes. … Twelve of the past 13 Challenge winners have been U.S.-born champions. The exception: Venezuela’s Jhonattan Vegas (2011).
• SHORT CHIPS: La Quinta CC is marking its 46th year in the rotation, missing only eight editions since its debut in 1964. That’s a longer tenure than all but four PGA TOUR venues. … Seventeen of Mickelson’s 42 career wins have come during the West Coast Swing, the most recent coming at the 2013 Waste Management Phoenix Open. … Spencer Levin, Peter Malnati and Brian Stuard are set for their TOUR-high eighth starts of the season. For Levin and Malnati, that’s every event for which they’ve been eligible.
• TELEVISION: Thursday-Sunday, 3-7 p.m. ET (Golf Channel).
• PGA TOUR LIVE: Thursday-Friday, 11 a.m.-3 p.m. (featured groups), 3-7 p.m. (featured holes).
• RADIO: Thursday-Saturday, 1-7 p.m.; Sunday, 2-7 p.m. (PGA TOUR Radio on SiriusXM and PGATOUR.com).
For more on all the courses in the TPC network, visit TPC.com.
Play where the pros play. To book your tee time at TPC Stadium Course at PGA West, visit TeeOff.com.
And we arrive back in the lower 48.
All that needs to be said about this week , Phil is playing, enjoy watching the greatest correct handed golfer ever play the game the correct way.
BFT with a strong week, but could not overtake Bobcat who holds on to the lead,
Good Luck this week , registration is still open if anyone reads and wants tojoin
