PEBBLE BEACH, Calif. -- They’ve won Grammys and sold millions and millions of CDs. They’ve been nominated for Oscars and watched their movies rake in millions and millions of dollars. They’ve performed in front of sold-out arenas and stadiums and entertained countless thousands and thousands of people.

Yet, nothing prepares them for this. This is the AT&T Pebble Beach National Pro-Am. Play other Pro-Ams and while they’re great, they’re just one day. This is three days of grinding to make the cut. Every shot has pressure. There are no gimme putts. Nervousness is as common as hearing the ocean waves crash.

“I’ve played in sold out stadiums before half a million people, but this makes me nervous,” said Justin Timberlake.

And that was just before the 3M Celebrity Challenge, which featured a crowd that was just a fraction of what will be here over the next four days. Wait until Timberlake, who’s playing at the AT&T Pebble Beach National Pro-Am for the first time, starts playing in the tournament in front of what’s predicted to be record crowds thanks to the forecast of postcard perfect weather over the next four days.

“It’s nervewracking,” said Huey Lewis, a 10-handicapper who’s been coming here for nearly 20 years and made the cut four times. “It’s tougher to keep it together, to keep your composure.”

Just ask some of the old-timers, the guys who have played in a few of these. Making the cut becomes a badge of honor. They can tell you how many cuts they’ve made over the years. Documentaries have been made about this struggle. Just last year, HBO aired the story of Ray Romano’s quest to play on Sunday, only to see him looking at the Saturday leaderboard as it showed he once again missed the cut.

He’s not alone. Samuel L. Jackson, a 7 handicap, has never made the cut. Kenny G., a scratch golfer, has made it just once. Of course, that was a pretty good year as he won the amateur title in 2000. Same for Andy Garcia, who’s an 11-handicap. His lone cut made was in 1997, when he won the title.

And Bill Murray, perhaps the face of the AT&T Pebble Beach National Pro-Am, has made the cut just three times. Of course, Murray, a 14-handicap, is quick to point out that’s not including the couple of times when he was near the top of the leaderboard and the tournament was shortened.

So, why do they torture themselves? They could be off anywhere doing just about anything. They’re success affords them that luxury, just like it allows them to play five times a week, like Dennis Quaid, a 2-handicap, does.

“It’s the most beautiful setting in golf and you get to play with the best players in the world,” Quaid said. “It puts pressure on your game and it makes you that much better. It’s just a magical setting.”

Still, as breathtaking as Pebble Beach is -- and it’s so eye-popping, drool-inspiring good looking that it’s surprising James Woods hasn’t dated it -- it’s not enough to take the celebrities’ mind off their problems on the course.

“It’s hard to sometimes remember we’re here to have a good time,” Lewis said. “Jack Lemmon was the best at that. I played with Lem and he’d have an 8 but he’d still smile and laugh with the fans. He had fun even though he never made the cut. He knew that’s what he was here for.”

Another reason they come to play is it is an actual tournament. Handicaps are factored in but everyone has a chance to win the championship.

“It’s real competition,” Kenny G. said. “Most pro-ams are just one day with a pro, but this is three or four days of playing with your pro, of having to hit good shots. There may be times you pick up your ball, but there are more times where you need to hit a big shot. I played in the final group on Sunday and it was amazing. Winning was one of my greatest achievements, definitely the highlight of my golf career.”

Lewis sums it up the best when he notes it’s a tradition like no other for the celebrity.

“It’s the Masters of the pro-am circuit,” Lewis said.