Golf: At Pebble Beach, Mike Kern has Jason, Phil & longshot Brandt

The AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am, which used to be more commonly known as your Bing Crosby, is this week’s stop on the PGA Tour. So you’ll no doubt be seeing no shortage of shots of Bill Murray and many other of the usual celebrity suspects trying not to hack it up too much while hanging out with the real golfers. Another tradition unlike many others, all in the name of fun and star power.

But there’s a tournament to be won, and we’re going to try and sort it out. Last week most of the guys we said were worth considering actually did pretty well. It’s just that none of them won. But yo, it’s a big field.

So once again, here goes.

The favorite is Dustin Johnson, at 5-1. As well he should be. This is his first start over here since the Tournament of Champions in Maui in early January, where he finished fourth as the fave. He won last week on the European Tour (Saudi International). He won this event in 2009 and ’10, and led the 2010 U.S. Open at Pebble Beach after three rounds before imploding on the final day. It happens.

In my yearlong pool that I have to pick before the season starts (can only use each player once, and you get whatever money they earn), I actually took Johnson in the U.S. Open. Which will be held at Pebble in June. He, of course, won his only major at the U.S. Open in 2016 at Oakmont. After nearly winning it the year before.

Anyway, pardon the digression.

Jason Day is next, at 9-1. In four starts this year he hasn’t been out of the top 13. He was fifth two weeks ago, in his last appearance. He tied for second here last year (with Johnson, Phil Mickelson and Chez Reavie). He also has a fifth, fourth and sixth at this tourney.

Tony Finau is 18-1, even though he doesn’t win much. He missed the cut last week in Phoenix. But he’s usually at least on the leaderboard somewhere.

Jordan Spieth, Tommy Fleetwood and Matt Kuchar are at 20-1. Spieth hasn’t won since the 2017 British Open. But he’s still Jordan Spieth, even if that hasn’t been worth as much lately. Fleetwood, who really emerged last year, is making his first PGA appearance since October. Kuchar, who won last month in Hawaii, is coming off a tie for fourth (as is Reavie, who’s listed at 30-1. Just saying).

Then there’s Mickelson, at 25-1 (same as Adam Scott). He’s a four-time winner of this thing. More to the point, he’s been second in two of the last three. Not shabby for an old bloke. And he almost won a few weeks back.

Branden Grace, who was runner-up a week ago, is 30-1. And Brandt Snedeker, who won this in 2013 and 15, is 50-1. He also was fourth two years back. But he is my man in that yearlong pool. So there is always that to factor in.

Me, I would at least put a little on Snedeker, just because that’s pretty good odds on someone who’s been known to get on hot streaks with his putter.

Other than that, I think I would take a close look at Day. And perhaps, again because of the number, Lefty. It’s probably asking too much, but the way Phil is playing gives you reason to think it’s still a possibility.

So spread it around a little and hope that one of them comes through. Hopefully even at the longest odds.

I just want something to root for on the back nine Sunday, especially now that I have no more football bets to look forward to for another eight months. Hate that.

March Madness can’t get here soon enough.