"It has restored health to a moribund tournament that again has hope."

There have been many positive reviews of the first Bob Hope Classic played as the Humana Challenge, and I'll leave the final upbeat take to longtime Hope coverer John Strege, who reminds us that for all of Clinton's efforts, the long term success will depend on more high-profile entrants to the tournament.

Ultimately, of course, the players will determine the fate of the tournament, or at least its standing in tour hierarchy. Once one of its more prestigious events, one that Arnold Palmer won five times, it has a long way to go. For the 16th straight year, Tiger Woods declined to participate. Also absent was Rickie Fowler, who grew up only about 90 minutes from La Quinta and would have enhanced the appeal.

The top-ranked player who was a factor in the proceedings was David Toms, 31st in the World Ranking, who tied for sixth. Mickelson was never in contention and tied for 49th in what was little more than a tuneup for the Farmers Insurance Open near his home in Rancho Santa Fe, Calif., this week.

Not that it mattered much. For one year, at least, the tournament itself was something of a postscript to the prevailing message that was reinforced throughout the week -- health and wellness. Humana CEO Mike McCallister spoke on Sunday of "driving an agenda around health and wellness and raising the national conversation.