Issue link: http://www.e-digitaleditions.com/i/784242
Shaking Up The Line Up New Talent and Ser vices at the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am B Y A L A N S H I P N U C K • P H OTO G R A P H Y B Y M A R C H O W A R D C A R M E L M A G A Z I N E • W I N T E R 2 0 1 7 129 J UST WHEN YOU THOUGHT THE AT&T PEBBLE BEACH PRO-AM COULDN'T GET ANY BETTER, ALONG CAME THE 2016 VERSION. ONE OF THE STRONGEST FIELDS OF PROFESSIONALS IN THE TOURNAMENT'S HISTORY ENJOYED PERFECT WEATHER FOR FOUR DAYS, AND IN THE END IT CAME DOWN TO THE PRINCE OF PEBBLE, FOUR-TIME CHAMPION PHIL MICKELSON, BATTLING A DOWN-ON- HIS-LUCK JOURNEYMAN NAMED VAUGHN TAYLOR, RANKED 447TH IN THE WORLD AND GOING ON MORE THAN A DECADE WITHOUT A WIN. THE DRAMA LASTED UNTIL THE FINAL PUTT, WHEN MICKELSON MISSED A DO-OR-DIE 5-FOOTER. THAT HANDED THE VICTORY TO TAYLOR, WHO HAD BEEN IN SUCH A CRUSHING SLUMP HE WAS CONTEMPLATING QUITTING THE GAME. IN FRONT OF A NATIONAL TV AUDIENCE, THE VICTORIOUS TAYLOR AND HIS WIFE LEOT DISSOLVED INTO TEARS, AND THEIR CLOSE BOND AND PALPABLE GRATITUDE MADE FOR THE FEEL-GOOD STORY OF THE GOLF SEASON. "I'M SO THANKFUL, SO LUCKY TO BE HERE," SAID TAYLOR, WHO HAD BEGUN 2016 IN GOLF'S MINOR LEAGUES; HE SNEAKED INTO THE PRO-AM FIELD AT THE LAST SECOND AS AN ALTERNATE. "SO MANY PEOPLE HAVE HELPED ME GET HERE. OH, MAN, THERE WERE A LOT OF DARK DAYS AND NIGHTS. I'VE WORKED HARD BUT I COULDN'T HAVE DONE IT WITHOUT MY FAMILY, MY WIFE, MY TEACHERS, ALL MY FRIENDS. IT'S BEEN A LONG TIME [SINCE I'VE WON]. I DIDN'T THINK IT WAS GOING TO HAPPEN. I WORKED SO HARD AND JUST KEPT GET- TING KNOCKED DOWN AND KNOCKED DOWN. AND I JUST CAN'T BELIEVE IT ACTUALLY HAPPENED."