PEBBLE BEACH, Calif. — Akshay Bhatia performed as deliberate in {smooth} crusing climate at Pebble Seashore, getting off to a scorching begin that just about put him out of the match with a five-stroke lead on the flip.
However then the cool day turned chilly, and extra folks within the viewers have been holding espresso cups than beer cans. One of the vital lovely coastal programs on the planet introduced a troubling aspect Saturday on the AT&T Pebble Seashore Nationwide Professional-Am, however Bhatia gave it his all and crossed the end line with a 4-under 68 and a two-shot lead.
“Total, yeah, it was a bizarre day,” Bhatia stated. “I felt like we have been behind a little bit bit in direction of the tip, however I noticed that for a few of the gamers who have been on the final tee time, they simply performed loads more durable.”
And the worst could also be but to return.
Bhatia had six birdies within the first seven holes of the spherical, and was adequate early on that he by no means misplaced the lead, even going via the ultimate 11 holes with two bogeys and no birdies.
With robust winds and rain anticipated, the beginning time of the ultimate spherical was moved up by an hour, giving gamers time to cling to their seats in rain pants.
Decrease scores have been nonetheless out there. Two-time main champion Collin Morikawa, coming off greater than two years and not using a win, had 11 birdies in a spherical of 62 to maneuver up 25 spots on the leaderboard and tie for second with Jake Knapp (66) and Sepp Straka (67).
Bhatia received 47 holes of the signature occasion till he suffered his first bogey on the par-3 twelfth gap, when robust winds triggered his tee shot to go nicely over the inexperienced. On the par-3 seventeenth gap, the wind triggered his shot to fall into the bunker and he missed a 4-foot putt.
He completed thirtieth and completed thirty eighth. That is precisely what Pebble Seashore can do with the wind. Nonetheless, Bhatia completed with a 19-under 197.
Even with out “Movie star Saturday” from the outdated AT&T Pebble Seashore Professional-Am days, there was no scarcity of leisure within the third yr because the traditional clambake turned a regular occasion.
Knapp, a smooth-swinging Southern California native, began and completed with an eagle. He holed out from 130 yards on the par-4 first gap, and on the par-5 18th he hit a windy 12-foot method for eagle.
Sam Burns additionally holed out to start out the eagle’s day and take the interim lead. He did not end with an eagle, but it surely was simply as stunning – his shot from a greenside bunker hit the video board behind the inexperienced, then his chip rocked the pin for birdie.
Burns shot a 72, placing him 5 forward of a bunch that included Tommy Fleetwood (67) and Maverick McNeely (63).
He is 10 pictures behind defending champion Rory McIlroy, and he can depend that at 5 holes. He had a triple bogey (he hit the seashore on the 4th) and a double bogey (he hit the best off track on the 18th) in his third spherical of 72. On Thursday, he three-putted from 5 toes for double bogey. And on Friday’s par-5, a shank led to bogey.
Scottie Scheffler’s largest hope was to increase his streak of high 10s on the PGA Tour to 18. He shot a bogey-free 67 to place himself one stroke behind the chief, however nonetheless eight strokes behind.
The lead-up to Sunday might have come within the last hour, with two teams finishing two holes. Jacob Bridgeman, who shot a 68 and got here inside three, performed from the seashore on the 18th. Lee Min-woo (70) crossed the golf green and was within the hedge 75 yards, however ultimately he made a penalty drop on the cart path. And his golf ball stored transferring along with his putts. It took about 50 minutes to play that gap.
Hisatsune, who shot a 74, was compelled to interchange his golf ball a number of instances because it stored transferring on the 18th inexperienced. He missed his 6-foot par putt and waited greater than 10 seconds as a result of the wind threatened to knock it into the cup.
Nobody anticipated a stroll on the seashore.
“It isn’t all the time going to be nice. Funky issues are going to occur and also you simply need to cope with it,” Knapp stated. “I feel at any time when unhealthy components and issues like that come up, it’s a must to do a very good job of not letting it trouble you.”
This can be a huge likelihood for Knapp to qualify for the Masters and different marquee occasions of the yr. And at the moment is an enormous day for Morikawa, whose as soon as dependable swing has been lacking for years.
He had excessive hopes for the beginning of 2026, however missed out on a spot in Hawaii. However he feels he is heading in the right direction and rounds like this solely increase his confidence. He hit all 18 greens in regulation.
“I have been simply targeted on constructing this momentum and making it occur for myself, and at the moment it lastly paid off,” Morikawa stated. “I do have work to do tomorrow.”
