No one has ever won three Callaway Golf Pebble Beach Invitationals in a row, nor has anyone ever won three consecutive AT&T Pebble Beach National Pro-Ams.

This week, veteran Tommy Armour III can achieve one of the feats.

Starting Thursday, the Pebble Beach Invitational, which annually features stars of today and tomorrow from the LPGA, PGA, Champions and Nationwide Tours, tees off at Del Monte Golf Course, Spyglass Hill and Pebble Beach Golf Links. In its 38^th year, the Invitational is the only event in golf where players from all of the major tours compete head-to-head for the same purse.

Each of the last two years, it’s been Armour who’s walked away as the winner, and this time around the recently turned 50-year-old will be playing from the Champions Tour tees.

Again though, he’ll have to fend off some talent.

Among those slated to tee of are rising stars Rickie Fowler and Jamie Lovemark. Fowler, 20, recently made a splash by finishing second in the Justin Timberlake Shriners Hospital for Children Open and the Frys.com Open. Lovemark, 21, also finished as runner-up at the Frys.com Open.

Others in the mix include former PGA Championship winner Rich Beem and former Invitational winner Rocco Mediate (PGA Tour), Jim Thorpe and former First Tee Open winner Scott Simpson (Champions Tour), Monterey native and 2010 LPGA rookie-to-be Mina Harigae and Derek Lamely and Chris Tidland. This past season, Lamely had five Top-10 finishes on the Nationwide Tour to earn his 2010 PGA Tour card. Tidland also earned his PGA Tour card thanks to six Top-10 Nationwide finishes.

“The thing I’m most looking forward to this year is the influx of young guns competing against some of the veterans in the tournament,” tournament director Bill Sendell said.

To make things fair, the tournament utilizes an innovative tee-placement system based on the average length of shots on each tour. “We make sure the courses are set up in a way where no matter what tour you’re on, you’re hitting the same iron into the green,” Sendell said

While the event is unique for the players, it’s also a one-of-a-kind for fans. Along with free admission, spectators are granted “inside the ropes” access, meaning they can follow their favorite players directly down the fairways.

From Thursday through Saturday, play will be held simultaneously at Del Monte, Spyglass Hill and Pebble Beach. Following Saturday’s third round, a cut will be made with the low

The purse for this year’s championship is $300,000, with $60,000 going to the winner.