One of the highlights for spectators at this week's AT&T Pebble Beach National Pro-Am is the star gazing. Seventeen-Mile Drive is another. Of course, that used to only refer to a gorgeous stretch of road along the Pacific Coast in Northern California.

Other than a couple of guys named Jack Nicklaus and Tom Watson, the power players didn't necessarily have much of an edge at this renowned PGA TOUR stop that used to be known as the Crosby Clambake. Bing hosted. Bling bling, then as now, visited. The only sting came from the not uncommon cold rains.

In recent times, however, guys known for spanking it have found a way to outmuscle Pebble Beach Golf Links, a siren song of a layout, and its sidekicks, Spyglass Hill and Poppy Hills. Six of the last eight have been won by players who could bring it: Tiger Woods, Phil Mickelson (twice), Davis Love III (twice), and Vijay Singh. Of course, all these fellows bring other skills to the table; they do more than blast it.

Still, a betting man (the TOUR Insider knows that's not you, dear reader) could do worse than picking a rookie this week -- especially newly minted FBR Open champion J.B. Holmes -- or one of one of the four others ranked among the top 10 in driving distance among the 180-player field: Bubba Watson, Camilo Villegas, Steve Bowditch or Robert Garrigus. Or other top-10 drivers Charles Warren, Tag Ridings, or Will MacKenzie.

By the way, throw the driving distance averages of the seven men together, multiply by 14 (the number of driving holes on any of the three par-72 layouts) and divide by 1,760 yards (which constitutes a mile), and do you know what you potentially get in one round?

Yep, a little more than 17 miles worth of drives.

Last year: Thanks largely to an opening 10-under-par 62 at Spyglass Hill Golf Course, Phil Mickelson became the first wire-to-wire winner over 72 holes in the tournament's 68-year history. Mickelson, who began the final round with a seven-shot cushion, closed with a 1-over 73 at Pebble Beach for a 19-under 269 total, four ahead of Mike Weir and one shy of Mark O'Meara's tournament record.

How he did it: He made 24 birdies, most in the field. That usually works. Mickelson was third in driving distance and fifth in greens in regulation, an effective combination that takes stress off anyone's game.

If the course (Pebble Beach Golf Links) could talk: No paunch in the middle for me. Play holes 8-12 at par or better, where I am strongest, and you'll be able to throw some knockout blows on the field.

Strange but true: There are 34 priority rankings for eligible members of the TOUR, beginning with winners of the U.S. Open or PGA Championship (which once carried a lifetime exemption but since 1998 is good for five years), and ending with veteran members who have made 150 cuts. The last event to feature at least one player from each category: the 2003 B.C. Open. (Thanks, stat ace Dave Lancer.)

True but not necessarily strange: Mickelson, who knows how to go low, played so well through the first three rounds last year at Pebble Beach (20 under par) that he would have made the cut on his own ball in the pro-am portion of the tournament.

Worth knowing:

• Watch for Mike Weir to shine at this week's AT&T Pebble Beach National Pro-Am even if the sun doesn't. He's been eighth or better in five of his last six appearances, including second last year, fourth in 2004 and third in 2003. Seventeen of his last 24 rounds have been under par.

• Since winning his fifth title at Pebble Beach in 1997 with four straight 67s and a record 20-under-par total, Mark O'Meara has finished no better than 15th and has only four rounds in the 60s, none lower than 68.

• In case anyone is interested, PinnacleSports.com already has posted odds of 50-1 that Tiger Woods, 2-for-2 this year, will win the Grand Slam.

• Look for a good week out of Bill and Jay Haas, who are playing together for the first time in a TOUR event. They've been in the same field but not the same pairing, and they could inspire each other.

• No one has made a bigger early-season jump in the world rankings than Henrik Bjornstad. The first Norwegian to have his card on the TOUR moved up 401 spots, from 900th to 499th following his tie for 10th in the Buick.

Phil Mickelson won at Pebble Beach in 1998 and 2005. (Clarke/WireImage)

• Lon Hinkle, the 1979 champion, is slated to play in his first TOUR event since 2004. Hinkle, who hasn't made a TOUR start other than at Pebble since 1998, the last year he made a cut, joins fellow Champions Tour members Jay Haas, Craig Stadler, Roger Maltbie, Peter Jacobsen, and Scott Simpson (who hooks up again with actor Bill Murray).

• There's some drama abroad this week. Four-time TOUR winner Robert Allenby aims to keep his amazing run in his native Australia going at the Johnny Walker Classic in Perth. The first-ever winner of the Australian Open, PGA and Masters in consecutive weeks late last year, Allenby is coming off a tie for 55th in his 2006 TOUR debut at Phoenix. His competition Down Under includes No. 3 Retief Goosen, defending champion Adam Scott, U.S. Open champ Michael Campbell and former Masters champ Fred Couples.

• Players making their TOUR season debuts this week include former TOUR winners Notah Begay III, Dan Forsman, and Sandy Lyle, and potential European Ryder Cup member Graeme McDowell of Northern Ireland.

TI's strength of field index: Ah glitterati to go with TOUR talent … and some little slices of golf heaven to showcase them. 8.0.

TI's power ranking for the AT&T Pebble Beach National Pro-Am: 1. Mike Weir, 2. Vijay Singh, 3. Luke Donald, 4. Davis Love III, 5. Mark O'Meara.

Parting shot: "I had to laugh reading (in the newspaper) about having a game plan. There is no game plan in golf. Out here you just have to see what you've got everyday and go from there." -- Jay Haas