Amateurs 'Excused' at Pebble Beach Pro-Am; Final Round Delayed for Pros

The final round of the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am was set to begin at 7:35 AM PT, but due to inclement weather, the pros are still in the clubhouse and the ams have been, in the words of CBS golf analyst Jim Nantz, "excused." Which is a nice way of saying, "Yeah, sorry about that, but this year's event is just a three-round affair for the hackers."

UPDATE: the fourth round is now postponed until Monday. Hopefully.

Severe winds and rain have battered the Monterey Peninsula since early morning, and it's currently 54 degrees but with wind gusts approaching 60 mph. In fact, it's so dangerous on the course that Nantz and co-host Nick Faldo were advised to move their operation out of the 18th tower and indoors. Basically, it's a typical day at the British Open but without the buffoonery that has become Bill Murray.

The forecast looks bleak for the rest of the day and there's a real chance of a Monday finish. One obstacle: the weather isn't supposed to improve until late Tuesday. Oh, and in case you're wondering about the golf: 24-year-old Dustin Johnson currently has a four-shot lead over Mike Weir.

In years past, the thought of delaying the final round of the Pebble Beach Pro-Am would be a big deal; but I don't get that sense this time around. Maybe it's because casual golf fans, in today's economic climate, can't get too worked up about a bunch of millionaires only playing three rounds on one of the world's most breathtaking courses.

Or perhaps it's the completely unoriginal but completely legitimate Tiger Effect. Woods hasn't played the Pro-Am since 2002, but his 2000 seven-stroke-back-with-seven-to-play comeback is precisely the reason people tune in to watch early-season events.

Now, the tournament has been reduced manufacturing story lines around Kevin James and Ray Romano. Not quite Jack Lemon and Peter Jacobson. But, hey, nothing lasts forever. The Pebble Beach Pro-Am is a perfect example. And who knows, maybe next year God will see fit to wash out the entire tournament. Sadly, I'm pretty sure no one would miss it.

Image caption: PEBBLE BEACH, CA - FEBRUARY 15: People wait in a lounge in the Lodge at Pebble Beach overlooking the 18th hole during a weather delay before the final round of the AT&T Pebble Beach National Pro-Am at Pebble Beach Golf Links on February 15, 2009 in Pebble Beach, California. (Photo by Stephen Dunn/Getty Images)