Humana Challenge Tees Off In Presidential Style

The Humana Challenge teed off Thursday morning with a field of players that included Phil Mickelson, eighth-world-ranked Dustin Johnson, 11th-world-ranked Matt Kuchar and 2011 FedEx Cup champion Bill Haas.

The tournament’s celebrity field included singers Smokey Robinson, Alice Cooper and Michael Bolton; actors Morgan Freeman and Don Cheadle and basketball Hall of Fame member Julius “Dr. J ” Erving.

The Humana Challenge is the new name for a tournament formerly known as the Bob Hope Classic, which was played in the Palm Springs area since the late 1950s and featured celebrities and golf professionals who all played to raise money for charity.

An unexpected appearance by former President Bill Clinton brought applause from many of the audience members who were gathered at PGA West.

“I never ever imagined that I would shake hands with a former President of the United States,” said Karin Schertzer, who’s visiting from Canada.

President Clinton took time to greet, shake hands, and take photos with fans as well as the golfers on the driving range.

Clinton was walking with staff members from the Clinton Foundation, which has temporary offices set up at the tournament.

His foundation’s “Health Matters” conference helped kick off the tournament on Tuesday with a day-long event that included speakers such as Chelsea Clinton, Goldie Hawn and Dr. Deepak Chopra.

Clinton will play in the Humana Challenge on Saturday morning.

The tournament is being played at the La Quinta Country Club and the Palmer and Nicklaus Private Courses at PGA West, and airs live on Golf Channel noon to 3 p.m. today and Friday and 1-4 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday.

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