Aaron Rodgers admittedly hasn't played much golf since returning for training camp last July, but it sure didn't look that way this weekend at Pebble Beach.
The Packers' quarterback and PGA professional Ben Silverman finished 26-under-par to win the 2023 Pebble Beach Pro-Am on California's Monterey Peninsula, besting Peter Malnati and Don Colleran by one shot. The pro-am competition was shortened to 54 holes due to weather suspending play Saturday.
Rodgers, who carries a 10 handicap, had a large hand in his team's victory, as Silverman missed the cut on the pro side with plus-1 through three rounds. Rodgers said Monday was the first time he'd picked up a club since reporting for training camp last July.
As winner of the event, the native Californian will have his name added to the Wall of Champions behind the first tee at Pebble Beach.
"It's really significant. It's always been on my bucket list," said Rodgers, who has played the event nine times. "I played in Tahoe for 18 years and never really sniffed higher than like eighth. But I felt good about the partnership this week. Ben's such a great guy. I knew we were going to have fun."
The final round for the pro-am was to start Sunday afternoon, but play was suspended Saturday due to high wind. Instead, only professionals finished the tournament, which was played at Pebble Beach Golf Links, Spyglass Hill Golf Course, and Monterey Peninsula Country Club Shore Course.
Each of the 156 professionals playing the Pebble Beach Pro-Am is paired with an amateur. Over the first three days of the tournament, each team played one round on each of the three courses using a better ball format.
The lowest score of the two players is the one the team records. The amateurs were allowed to use their handicaps.
"I had no confidence coming in," Rodgers joked. "I shot 86 at Sherwood on Monday and that was with a couple balls in my pocket on some holes. And I played at Cypress on Tuesday with a good friend of mine Neal ElAttrache. My caddie was out there with me too. If you would have seen that you wouldn't have expected anything this week. But something clicked in when I went to Spy. Had a good round at Monterey Peninsula on Friday. Then, we battled the wind the last couple days."
"But this is a pretty big deal for me. I'm not going to sugar coat it. It's a great week just, by itself, spending time with Ben. But winning is the sweetest."
Other celebrities who participated include Steve Young, Darius Rucker, Bill Murray, Eric Church, Josh Allen and Larry Fitzgerald, who previously won the pro-am. Rodgers said Allen gave him a little playful grief over the weather-shortened victory afterward.
"Josh Allen was telling me there's going to be an asterisk by this win because there was only three rounds," Rodgers said. "But I think that our names are going to be up there for a long time."
