Lowery back to defend title at Pebble Beach

2009-02-10

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PEBBLE BEACH, California (Ticker) - Steve Lowery defends his title as the PGA Tour continues its swing through the West Coast at the Pebble Beach National Pro-Am.

The $6.1 million event, which starts Thursday, will be played at Pebble Beach Golf Links, Spyglass Hill Golf Course and Poppy Hills Golf Club. All three courses are par-72 and all are just under 7,000 yards.

Last year, Lowery broke an eight-year victory drought and picked up his third PGA Tour title with a birdie on the first playoff hole to outlast Vijay Singh. Lowery entered the fial round three-strokes off the lead.

Singh also is in the field this week, making his second start of the season. Singh, who won this event in 2004, is making his return to the tour after arthroscopic surgery on his right knee in mid-January to repair a torn meniscus.

Jim Furyk and Phil Mickelson also are in the field this week. Furyk is coming off a 2008 season in which he led the tour in top-10 finishes with nine, but did not record a victory for the first time since the 2004 season.

Mickelson has had success here as the Pebble Beach Pro-Am is one of four events he has won three or more times. Mickelson, who won here by five in 2007, has five top-three finishes in 13 appearances.