The PGA heads to the desert this weekend, in La Quinta, Palm Springs, for the PGA Humana Challenge, previously known as the Bob Hope Classic, which has been running for over 50 years.
The Humana Challenge is being held in partnership with the Clinton Foundation, benefiting their global health-related charities. President Bill Clinton himself will tee it up in an honary foursome on Saturday at 1:20 pm EST, playing with Greg Norman, Scott McCarron and Humana CEO Mike McCallister.
But on the PGA leaderboard, the big news this weekend is the return of Phil Mickelson, who's playing in his first PGA tournament of the year. Phil has a good history here, with two victories in 2002 and 2004, so all eyes will be on Phil.
The defending champion is Jhonattan Vegas, who had his breakout victory here in 2011. Also making their 2012 debuts are top PGA players Matt Kuchar and Dustin Johnson, and currently playing well are Johnson Wagner, Charles Howell II (CH3), Harrison Frazar, and Steve Stricker. Anthony Kim will be the local favorite, as he's a 2003 graduate of La Qunita High School.
The Humana Challenge is a unique format, played on three different courses, including PGA West on their Nicklaus and Palmer courses, and then the neighboring La Quinta Country Club, with the final round on Sunday played on the Palmer course at PGA West.
Top celebrities competed in the popular pro-ams held this week, icluding Michael Bolton, Don Cheadle, Julius "Dr J." Erving, Morgan Freeman and local rocker Alice Cooper.
On World Golf Tour this weekend...
Don't miss a special offer this weekend on the new NIKE virtual golf balls available on WGT!