It’s The Cinderella Story Bill Murray Overcomes Rain, Exploding Ball To Claim Win

Fans who stuck around after the third round of the AT&T Pebble Beach National Pro-Am was postponed were treated to an impromptu celebrity shootout featuring a thinly disguised Nick Faldo and an exploding ball.

Play was canceled Saturday because of intermittent rain and soggy greens. On the scenic 18th hole at the Pebble Beach course, several small pools of water had collected on the fairway.

Pro-Am favorite Bill Murray, dressed in denim overalls, teed off on the 14th hole with an exploding ball, then made par by landing a 50-foot uphill putt.

Murray and partner Glen Campbell went on to win the event, which was largely created for CBS television when action at the soggy AT&T was put off until today.

That’s why Jeff Maggert’s one-stroke lead through the second round may turn out to be a final-round lead.

While it’s possible the tournament would be extended to Monday, it’s likely it will be shortened to 54 holes, meaning today’s round may be the last. And more rain could end the tournament altogether. At least three rounds have to be played for the event to be considered official money.

“I won! I won! Glen and I won!” Murray said after his shootout victory.

Other players Saturday included Kevin Costner, John Denver, Clint Eastwood, James Woods and Huey Lewis. The celebrities played the four final holes of Pebble Beach in pairs, with the worst teams eliminated after each hole.

A teenage girl, tromping though the mud to find a vantage point on the 15th hole, commented to her friends, “I’m only doing this for Kevin Costner.”

Despite the rain, the shootout had its share of moments. Faldo appeared in a long wig, introducing himself as “Fanny Faldo,” after his own caddie, Fanny Sunesson.

Costner delighted fans on the 15th hole by driving into the crowded bleachers, then searching for the ball.

Denver and partner Michael Chiklis of the television series “The Commish,” were eliminated after a drive-off on the 18th hole, leaving Murray and Campbell to battle Costner and partner Andy Garcia.

On the deciding putt-off, Murray came about 2 inches closer to the hole than Garcia.

Bob Allen, chairman of the board at AT&T, presented Murray and Campbell with a check for $20,000.

“I can’t believe I’m giving a check to someone dressed like you,” Allen said to Murray.

“I can’t believe I’m taking a check from someone like you,” Murray replied.

Murray, star of the films “Caddyshack” and “Groundhog Day,” said he planned to donate his half of the prize money to the John Steinbeck museum in Monterey, Calif.