The anticipation surrounding the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am surged significantly when news broke that Travis Kelce, the tight end for the Kansas City Chiefs and fiancé of pop star Taylor Swift, would be participating in the event. This excitement translated into ticket sales, with nearly $60,000 worth of tickets sold within just 12 hours of the announcement. Although Swift ultimately did not attend, her potential presence attracted a large crowd at the iconic Pebble Beach venue in California.
The event, which pairs celebrities with PGA Tour professionals over the first two rounds, saw significant turnout at the Pebble’s Spyglass Hill course on Friday. Kelce played alongside Tour pros Keith Mitchell, Mackenzie Hughes, and retired NFL quarterback Alex Smith. The buzz surrounding Swift’s possible appearance was palpable, drawing in fans eager to catch a glimpse of the couple. “It was busy without [Swift],” Hughes told the Associated Press. “With her, I think it would have literally been pandemonium.”
Despite the absence of Swift, the tournament director, Steve John, noted that the event had already benefited from her star power. The surge in ticket sales included approximately $21,000 in tickets sold between Kelce’s tee times for the first and second rounds, resulting in over 1,000 fans lining the fairway on Friday morning. To accommodate the possibility of Swift’s presence, the tournament organized enhanced security measures, transportation around the course, and even a private suite with a view of the 18th green.
Had Swift been present, she would have witnessed a dramatic end to Kelce’s round. According to Golfweek, Kelce inadvertently struck a fan in the gallery with his second shot. After ensuring the fan was okay, he signed an autograph, picked up his ball, and walked off the course. Kelce and Mitchell finished tied for T35 on the pro-am leaderboard at 11 under par, while Keegan Bradley and venture capitalist Mark Meeker took the top spot in that division with a score of 20 under par. Akshay Bhatia led the professional leaderboard by one stroke at 15 under.
The AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am continues to capture the public’s imagination, and the event’s ability to draw in crowds, even based on mere speculation, highlights the intersection of sports and celebrity culture. The hope of Taylor Swift’s attendance may have been enough to electrify the atmosphere this year, creating an unforgettable experience for both players and fans alike.
