Bold start: Akshay Bhatia’s hot streak at Pebble Beach just flipped the script on a windy, unpredictable weekend, and this is the moment you’ll want to replay in your mind. But here’s where it gets controversial: even with his early surge, the real test is still to come as the weather ramps up and the field tightens.
Pebble Beach revealed its tougher side on Saturday, with gusty winds and chilly Pacific air making the greens talk back. Bhatia built a commanding gap by hitting six birdies in seven holes, signing for a 4-under 68 and grabbing a two-shot lead in the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am.
The looming drama: the final round’s start time was nudged up an hour due to expectations of stronger winds and rain. Players will have to grip their rain pants as they chase scores under tougher conditions.
Low scores didn’t vanish from the scoreboard. Collin Morikawa, chasing his first victory in more than two years, blasted 11 birdies in a round of 62 to surge into a three-way tie for second with Jake Knapp (66) and Sepp Straka (67). Morikawa’s performance underscores how aggressive play can pay off even when the weather bites.
Bhatia began Round 3 tied for the lead with Ryo Hisatsune and seemed poised to run away, especially during the opening stretch. Pebble Beach still rewards attacking play when the wind isn’t howling—the early holes offered a perfect platform for birdie-birdie-birdie. He capitalized with six birds, only one longer than 10 feet, and at one point led by as many as five.
However, the wind intensified, and the mountain of a course humbled him. He carded his first bogey at the par-3 12th after his tee shot landed long of the green due to the shifting breeze, then another bogey at the 17th when wind pushed his shot into a bunker and he missed a crucial 4-foot putt. He finished the front nine in 30 and the back nine in 38, finishing at 19-under 197, still in control but feeling the sea‑spray of Pebble’s mishaps.
The day’s theater wasn’t limited to Bhatia. Jake Knapp, a smooth swinger from Southern California, began and ended with an eagle—hole-out from 130 yards on the first, then an approach to 12 feet for eagle on the 18th—highlighting how wind and course quirks can shape moments of brilliance.
Sam Burns also looked to seize the day with an Eagle to start, though he finished with a 72, five back of the leaders. His final tally left him in a chasing pack that included Tommy Fleetwood (67) and Maverick McNealy (63).
Defending champion Rory McIlroy stood ten shots back after a rollercoaster third round of 72, featuring a triple bogey at the beach-adjacent No. 4, a double bogey from a drive out of bounds at No. 18, and earlier double-bogey woes from five feet on Thursday. His round encapsulated the difficulty: three-putt doubles and a shank here and there, all under the pressure of defending and chasing.
Scottie Scheffler’s ambition was to extend his PGA Tour top-10 streak to 18, and a flawless 67 kept him within shouting distance, though eight behind the leader.
As the sun dipped, the final round’s destiny seemed to hinge on two unfinished groups finishing two holes. Jacob Bridgeman, at three back after a 68, played the 18th from the beach—an audacious finish that showcased Pebble’s wild card moments. Min Woo Lee battled wind and the hedges, ending up taking a penalty drop, and his final hole drama stretched for about 50 minutes as his ball rolled anxiously along the cart path and greenside greens.
Hisatsune’s 74 highlighted how persistent such conditions can be: replacing his ball on the 18th green, missing a six-foot par putt, and waiting as wind teased the cup, illustrating why Pebble Beach is famous for producing drama almost regardless of standings.
Knapp offered a practical reminder: when elements turn hostile, keep your cool. “It’s not going to be pretty at all times. You’re going to have some funky stuff happen and just have to deal with it,” he said. That mindset might be the difference between a Masters invitation and another missed opportunity for the year’s signature events.
For Morikawa, this round is a lift after a rocky start to 2026 and a missed cut in Hawaii. Hitting all 18 greens in regulation, he signaled that his swing rhythm might be returning, even if the path forward requires more fine-tuning.
Would you call this Pebble Beach’s true test of grit, or simply a reminder that even elite players can be undone by the weather? Share your thoughts on how much wind and luck influence a golf round, and who you think will rise to the top in Sunday’s volatile finish.
