PEBBLE BEACH >> The reconfiguration of the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am last winter had golf fanatics thrilled and Hollywood star gazers uncertain about their feelings.

Yet, a true indicator if the changes to the format boosted the tournament’s popularity likely won’t be known until after this week’s annual event, as rain and wind washed out the final round last year.

The tournament, which tees off Thursday and runs through Sunday, has brought some of the best golfers in the world to the famed Pebble Beach links.

However, the tradeoff meant the celebrity field — often the highlight of the tournament for its more than seven-decade run — would be paired down significantly, with amateurs only playing on Thursday and Friday.

“We don’t have a real indication or benchmark of the effect of the changes,” Monterey Peninsula Foundation CEO and AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am Tournament Director Steve Johns said.

That’s because the final day of the scheduled four-day, 72-hole event was canceled because of wind, rain and power outages on the Peninsula. As a result, the tournament was shortened to 56 holes and Wyndham Clark declared the winner after he shot a course record 12-under 60 on Saturday, going from 23rd to first.

No question the weather hindered attendance figures, although the numbers earlier in the week were pointing in an upward trend.“This tournament, this site, deserves to have the best players in the world playing,” Johns said. “We had perfect attendance from the pros. I’m seeing it again this year. There are very few that haven’t committed.”

While the tradition of celebrities playing the Crosby Clambake has been cut back to just a handful for 36 holes at Spyglass Hill and Pebble Beach, seeing golf’s best players on a world-renowned course is like the Super Bowl of golf.

In fact, numerous golfers on the PGA circuit are slated to make their season debuts at Pebble Beach, including former winner Jordan Spieth and Scottie Scheffler, the PGA and world’s No. 1 ranked golfer last year.

Early indications are the weather isn’t expected to be a concern, as no rain is currently in the forecast until Saturday, when their might be a few showers. That’s a huge change from last year when the area received back-to-back atmospheric rivers with some hurricane-speed winds Sunday.

“We’ve had a nice uptick in ticket sales this past week,” Johns said. “Certainly, the forecast is favorable in the early part of the week. Last year’s weather report was dismal.”

Because Pebble Beach can hold up 35,000 fans, tickets will remain available throughout the week.

“We realize that some people wait to see what the weather indicates,” Johns said. “There are a lot of options, whether it is Tahoe or Pebble. We want to make it affordable to everyone.”

While the format did cut into the number of celebrities that will participate, along with amateurs, the Pro-Am portion still remains a big part of the event over the first two rounds.

“That’s our history and tradition to have a Pro-Am,” Johns said. “Bing (Crosby) brought that in 1947. Clint (Eastwood) kept it going. The thought was to raise money and help the economy. We have stayed true to that.”

Despite the hiccups in the weather last year, Johns said the event still raised $18 million for local charities, bringing the total to date to a quarter of a billion dollars.

“That’s our motto,” Johns said. “The amateurs can play with the pros when it counts on Thursday and Friday. You certainly can’t just jump on the court with Steph Curry, or stand in center field during a game at Oracle Park.”

Celebrities expected to take part in the tournament include singer Eric Church, as well as NBA Hall of Famer Pau Gasol, soccer legend Mia Hamm and former NFL stars Alex Smith, Steve Young and Larry Fitzgerald, with the potential of more names to come.

“We feel we’ve made this affordable to everyone,” Johns said. “You should be able to come and see this incredible piece of property. We want people to see the best golfers in the world.”

What won’t be returning – at least for another year – is Club 15, a popular gathering on the 15th hole at Pebble Beach that grew to witness crowds of nearly 500 on Saturdays for nearly two decades.

Because there are no celebrities playing on the weekend, the tradition – which included a loud but respectful crowd – was halted last year.

“We’re trying to figure it out, working with how best to reintroduce it to the tournament,” Johns said. “They’re so special in promoting amateur players. But it has to make sense.”

For Club 15 to return, it would have to be held either on Thursday or Friday, as it was geared as a wild gathering, with the celebrities known to embrace the moment.

“That (weekday) makes it tough,” Johns said. “Club 15 was so supportive. It just hasn’t landed. It’s not a negative. We want it to organically fit in our program.”

Johns is not oblivious to the fact that not everyone was elated with the changes to the Pro-Am, which has been hosted at Pebble Beach for 78 years.

“Change is never easy,” Johns said. “But as we continue to announce the pros, the ticket sales are climbing. The field we have is fantastic. This was the best decision to have the best golfers at Pebble Beach.”