From Hollywood to rap music, the saying “heart of a champion” has been memorialized as the blood pumping deep inside the veins of the individual as they reach their dream of winning. More than a feeling, the drive to win comes from both the heart and soul of the athlete. Nelly’s lyrics in his song “Heart of a Champion” say, “I’m going to make you remember me.” In 2023, two professional golfers did just that on the LPGA and PGA Tours with their solid performances at Pebble Beach Golf Links.
At age 42, major champion Justin Rose earned his 11th career PGA Tour title at the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am in February. A few months later, then-25-year-old Allisen Corpuz captured her first LPGA Tour title in July at the U.S. Women’s Open, held at Pebble Beach for the very first time.
Not only are Corpuz and Rose’s wins memorable, but so is the venue. The iconic course features small greens surrounded by bunkers that are comparable to the Old Course at St Andrews. Some golfers call Pebble Beach intimidating, while spectators fall in love with the spectacular ocean views.
As the 2024 AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am gets underway this week, 80 players will meet in the second signature event of the PGA Tour season played at Pebble Beach and Spyglass Hill Golf Course. Comparing Corpuz and Rose in their respective competitions last year, what does it take to win at the highest level of professional golf at Pebble Beach?
Experience
Rose joined the PGA Tour in 2004 and has averaged 20 events played over the last 20 seasons. In those two decades, he has averaged five top-10 finishes and 10 top-25 finishes a year. Before 2023, Rose had only competed at Pebble Beach three times, earning one top-10 finish in his first appearance in 2016.
Comparatively, Corpuz joined the LPGA Tour in 2022 and has averaged 24 events played in her first two seasons. She has averaged four top-10 finishes and 11 top-25 finishes a year since 2022. Corpuz stepped foot onto Pebble Beach for the first time last year and won by three strokes with a four-day total of 9-under (279).
Looking at these player statistics, the numbers don’t show that a win at Pebble Beach is dependent upon experience.
| Justin Rose vs. Allisen Corpuz Career Comparison |
||
|---|---|---|
|
|
Rose |
Corpuz |
| Rookie Year |
2004 |
2022 |
| Total Events Played |
411 |
54 |
| Total Top-10 Finishes |
110 (27%) |
8 (15%) |
| Wins | 11 PGA Tour and 12 International |
1 LPGA Tour |
Course Management
Both Corpuz and Rose averaged 4.25 birdies per round, keeping both players near the top of the leaderboard after each day of tournament play.
Entering their respective final rounds, Rose led by one stroke while Corpuz trailed by one stroke. After an opening bogey, Rose was then 7-under through the 14th hole before making pars on the four closing holes. Rose was the only player to record all four rounds in the 60s at the 2023 AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am and ultimately won by three strokes with a score of 18-under (269).
Corpuz was one-under through her first nine holes at Pebble Beach before making two birdies on the back nine. She finished the U.S. Women’s Open with a final-round score of 69, just one of three players to record at least two rounds in the 60s. Corpuz made the most birdies in the field and was the only player with an under-par scoring average on the par 4s. She recorded 10 birdies and four bogeys on the par 4s, six strokes better than the next competitor.
A golf course strategy with plans to maximize birdie potential on each hole and make the best in-play decisions seems to be a part of the path to win at Pebble Beach.
| Justin Rose vs. Allisen Corpuz 2023 Scoring Statistics at Pebble Beach |
||
|---|---|---|
|
|
Rose |
Corpuz |
| Total Birdies |
T21: 17 |
1st: 17 |
| Greens in Regulation |
T34: 69.44% |
4th: 65.28% |
| Putts per GIR |
3rd: 1.64 |
4th: 1.68 |
| Par 4 Scoring Average | T14: 3.95 |
1st: 3.85 |
| Final Round Score | 66 | 69 |
Overall Performance Statistics
Both Corpuz and Rose hit the fairway off the tee at the field average. Rose excelled in his approach, around the green and putting performance, averaging 2.40 strokes gained across these statistics. According to the USGA ShotCast powered by Cisco that utilized ShotLink scoring, Corpuz ranked second in strokes gained approach at Pebble Beach, gaining 2.70 strokes on the field in this statistic.
| Justin Rose vs. Allisen Corpuz 2023 Performance Statistics at Pebble Beach |
||
|---|---|---|
|
|
Rose |
Corpuz |
| Driving Accuracy |
T44: 65.45% |
T33: 76.79% |
| Strokes Gained Approach |
T14: +2.58 |
2nd: +2.70 |
| Strokes Gained Around the Green |
4th: +2.62 |
16th: +0.81 |
| Strokes Gained Putting | 14th: +1.99 |
6th: +1.27 |
From this examination of Corpuz and Rose, without defining their mindset, or weather during tournament play, or even their practice sessions prior to the event, winning at Pebble Beach is a result of so many factors. Perhaps it is having the “heart of a champion” that really tells the story each week on the LPGA and PGA Tours.
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