Today begins a battle of the pros as the Champions Classic gets under way.

[view:node_ad=5]The golfers have already hit the links at the Valencia Country club for the AT&T Champions Classic , which runs through Sunday. 

The recurring stop on the Champions Tour usually brings big names in golf, however this year the field is particularly stacked. Players like Jay Haas, Hale Irwin, Bernhard Langer, Gil Morgan, Nick Price, Tom Purtzer, Gary Player, Loren Roberts and others are all prepped to make a run for the top spot.

In a press conference, Denis Watson re-lived his emotions leading up to his dramatic come from behind victory in the Champions Classic last year.

Last year’s AT&T Champions Classic was cold and rainy. This year, the conditions should be exactly the opposite.

“I was mad as hell,” Watson said, referring to the second day of the tournament. “But I had made an incredible par on the 9th hole, and that was actually inspiring,” 

He went on to say that he just “felt good” throughout the tournament and everything came together on day three.

“I had a good day,” he said. “It didn’t seem to play as tough as it should have.”

The course at the Valencia Country Club is notoriously difficult, and the golfers know it. Dave Stockton spent the days leading up to the tournament planning his strategy.

“It’s a shot maker’s golf course,” he said. “I think the key is the par threes, they’re really difficult.”

With the most top-heavy roster ever assembled at the AT&T Champions Classic only adding to the course’s inherent difficulty, the tournament title could belong to anyone come Sunday.

Last year the final days of the tour suffered through foul weather, but this weekend is predicted to be sunny and beautiful.

Those attending the tour should take in all the sights, as AT&T will not be sponsoring this tournament next year. A new sponsor has yet to be found.