PEBBLE BEACH – Gil Morgan, seeking his first win this season with an 11-season $1 million earnings streak in jeopardy, will defend his 2007 title beginning Friday at the Wal-Mart First Tee Open.

Former titlists Craig Stadler, Hale Irwin and Scott Simpson – all also winless this season – are in the field with last week's Champions Tour winner Tom Kite and first-time entrants John Cook and Jeff Sluman.

The 54-hole tournament, played at Pebble Beach Golf Links and Del Monte Golf Course, features 78 pros competing for the $315,000 winner's share of a $2.1 million purse.

Each pro will also be paired with a junior player from First Tee chapters from throughout the United States in the pro-junior competition.

Last year, Morgan set the record of 11 straight seasons of at least $1 million when he claimed his 25th Champions Tour victory at the First Tee Open.

Morgan, 60, shot a bogey-free final round 67 at Pebble Beach. His 14-under 202 total gave him a two-stroke win over Irwin, his longtime rival who won the event in 2005.

“I kept watching Hale, he always seems to be there when I'm around,” said Morgan, who has only one top-10 finish in 18 tournaments, with only seven remaining this season.

“Usually he (Irwin) ends up winning most of the time, so that was the difference. He won a lot more than I did in those situations when we were neck and neck.”

Irwin, who had final-round 69, is the all-time leading tournament winner with 45 on the Champions Tour. But Irwin has struggled this season and doesn't have any top-10 finishes in 16 tournaments.

Simpson, who won the First Tee Open in 2006, finished second last week to Kite at the Boeing Classic. The former U.S. Open winner has seven top-10s in 21 tournaments this season and is 10th on the money list with $931,564.

Stadler, who won the inaugural event in 2004, has five top-10 finishes this season in his 16 tournaments. The tournament's four previous winners have combined for 126 PGA Tour and Champions Tour titles, including 16 major championship wins.

Kite's victory last week was his first since the 2006 season, when he was victorious twice on the Champions Tour and also finished second twice.

Bernard Langer, who debuted on the Champions Tour last year in the First Tee Open and leads the Champions Tour money list ($1,650,923), is not entered.

Jay Haas ($1,588,869), who's second on the money list, as well as Loren Roberts ($1,320,302) and John Cook ($1,259,718), respectively third and fourth on the money list, are also entered.

Numerous celebrities, including actor/comedian Bill Murray, former network television commentator Stone Phillips, former All-pro wide receiver Jerry Rice and actor/director Clint Eastwood and his wife Dina Eastwood, also will are scheduled to participate.