It’s rare that the alternate list for a PGA Tour event generates so much drama, but such was the case this week at the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am, as players tried to scramble to the Monterey Peninsula from across the country and even outside of it.
Per the San Francisco Chronicle, Jonathan Byrd was on his way to the Jacksonville, Fla., airport to catch a flight to the Web.com Tour’s Panama Championship when he realized he had forgotten his passport. It was a fortunate break, as he then found out he had cracked the field at Pebble Beach, where he opened with a 3-under 69 Thursday.
Parker McLachlin had already arrived in Panama when he found out he was in the PGA Tour field. He, too, made it to Pebble, although he had packed for an obviously warmer climate.
Got the call at 330est yesterday that I was in @attproam. I caught a 630 from Panama to SFO. Made it down to Monterey at 2am. Now wondering how many golf shirts I’ll need to layer to stay warm. O/U is 6 #ipackedforpanamaandpuertorico
— Parker McLachlin (@ParkerMcLachlin) February 7, 2019
Unlike Byrd and McLachlin, Tommy Gainey wasn’t so lucky. Already well down the alternate list — we’ll get to that in a second — Gainey scrambled on Wednesday to fly across the country after Jason Bohn withdrew, but only his clubs would make it San Francisco.
If you don’t have bad luck you have none at all! Got a call at 445that I’m in @attproam. Pack and on road to airport in 20 mins. Get to airport, plane trouble. Get to Atl with 10 mins to spare. Run to find door closed and can’t board. My bags are on the way and I’m stuck in Atl.
— Tommy Gainey (@TwoGlovesGolf) February 7, 2019
Well...wasn’t able to make it to @attproam! My clubs and clothes are in San Fran enjoying the day. I enjoyed the night lights on a roundtrip to Atlanta and back home. Next year!
— Tommy Gainey (@TwoGlovesGolf) February 7, 2019
These are just three instances of players either successfully – or unsuccessfully – making their way into the field off of this week’s alternate list. But just how far down the list did the PGA Tour have to go? With the Web.com Tour in Panama and the PGA Tour Champions in Florida this week, pretty far.
As of this replay, no fewer than 27 alternates either have accepted a spot (13, for now) or taking a pass/withdrawn early (14).
— Rob Bolton (@RobBoltonGolf) February 6, 2019
Twenty-seven alternates, the 27th of which by that count was Gainey, who was replaced by John Rollins, who shot 1 over Thursday.
It's relevant to note that all of the first nine alternates have kept their commitments (as of this reply). All knew by Monday that they were in.
— Rob Bolton (@RobBoltonGolf) February 6, 2019
After that, considering how deep some guys are, the impracticality of just getting there is counterproductive no matter the event.