Featured Group: Bill Haas, G. Gervin, R. Cook, J. Erving

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At each PGA TOUR event this season, a featured pairing will be highlighted prior to the first round. Here is the featured pairing for Wednesday at the Bob Hope Classic.

LA QUINTA, Calif. -- Even at a lanky 6-foot-2, Bill Haas will be dwarfed by two of his playing partners this week as he returns to defend his title at the Bob Hope Classic.

Haas is playing with two of the NBA's most enduring stars -- George Gervin and Julius Erving, who both stand 6-foot-7 -- in the first round of the 90-hole event. Amateur Richard Cook completes the foursome that will tee off the 10th hole at Silver Rock Resort at 1 p.m. ET.

But what the former Wake Forest standout might give up on the basketball court, Haas more than compensates for in his chosen profession after getting his first two PGA TOUR wins last year.

Haas's win at the Bob Hope Classic was particularly special since his father Jay, who won the tournament in 1988, and brother Jay Jr. were in the gallery. The two became the eighth father-son combination to win on the PGA TOUR.

Haas showed a flair for the dramatic in that final round, too. He two-putted the par-5 18th hole for birdie to break out of a tie with Matt Kuchar, Bubba Watson and Tim Clark and win by one. Haas closed with a 64 to earn the win.

Later in the year, Haas captured the Viking Classic and finished 31st in the FedExCup standings. His $2.9 million in earnings doubled his previous best and left him 20th on the money list, as well.

Haas is back in Palm Springs after a solid eighth-place showing at the Hyundai Tournament of Champions two weeks ago. He shot three rounds in the 60s at Kapalua and knows from experience it will take many more of those to become the only the second player (Johnny Miller did it in 1975-76) to successfully defend his title.

The Bob Hope Classic, one of two celebrity pro-ams on the PGA TOUR schedule, is contested over five days with the celebrities and other amateurs competing the first four. The field is cut to the low 70 and ties at the end of Saturday's play and only those professionals play in the finale on the Palmer Private Course.

Gervin, who was known by the name "The Iceman," was one of the NBA's premier shooting guards, averaging 26.2 points for his career. A teammate of Erving's with the Virginia Squires in the American Basketball Association, Gervin is a 5 handicap golfer.

Erving, better known as "Dr. J," played forward and was known for his athletic play above the rim and signature slam dunks. A member of the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame like Gervin, Dr. J's handicap is 15.