The wind at Pebble Beach is a beast, but Akshay Bhatia tamed it early to snatch the lead!
Pebble Beach, known for its stunning beauty, decided to unleash its more challenging side on Saturday. Imagine golf balls wobbling on the greens, buffeted by a chilly Pacific wind – that was the scene. Yet, Akshay Bhatia managed to navigate these tricky conditions brilliantly. He started his round with an incredible surge, sinking six birdies in just seven holes. This early brilliance propelled him to a round of 4-under 68, giving him a two-shot lead heading into the final day of the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am.
But here's where it gets a bit nerve-wracking for the players: the forecast for Sunday is even more dramatic. Starting times have been moved up by an hour in anticipation of heavy wind and rain. It's shaping up to be a true test of endurance and skill, where players will need to dig deep to hold on.
And this is the part most people miss: even with the tough conditions, spectacular golf is still being played. Collin Morikawa, a two-time major champion eager to break a two-year winless streak, put on an absolute clinic. He fired an astonishing 62, featuring a remarkable 11 birdies! This phenomenal round saw him leap 25 spots on the leaderboard, bringing him into a three-way tie for second place alongside Jake Knapp (who shot 66) and Sepp Straka (who shot 67).
Bhatia began the third round sharing the lead with Ryo Hisatsune and looked set to pull away. The classic Pebble Beach strategy when the wind is calm is to attack the opening holes, and Bhatia executed this perfectly. He birdied six of his first seven holes, with most of these putts being relatively short, and at one point, he held a commanding five-shot lead. It wasn't until his 47th hole of the tournament that he finally made his first bogey, a testament to his solid play. The increasing wind caused his tee shot on the par-3 12th to go long, and he later dropped another shot on the par-3 17th after the wind pushed his approach into a bunker and he missed a short putt.
Despite the late-round stumbles, Bhatia's score of 19-under 197 reflects a masterful performance. Even without the star-studded celebrity pairings of past years, Saturday delivered plenty of excitement.
Jake Knapp, a Southern Californian with a smooth swing, had an unforgettable start and finish. He holed out from 130 yards on the par-4 first hole for an eagle and later eagled the par-5 18th by riding the wind for an approach shot that landed within 12 feet.
Sam Burns also started his day with an eagle, even briefly taking the lead. While he didn't finish with an eagle, his round included a surprising birdie. He chipped in from a greenside bunker, with the ball bouncing off the video board behind the green before a subsequent chip rattled the pin and dropped into the cup for birdie. Burns managed a 72, leaving him five shots behind the leader, in a group that includes Tommy Fleetwood (67) and Maverick McNealy (63).
Defending champion Rory McIlroy finds himself 10 shots back. His challenging round of 72 was marred by several costly holes, including a triple bogey on the 4th (his drive landed on the beach) and a double bogey on the 18th (his drive went out-of-bounds). He also had two three-putt double bogeys from short range earlier in the week and a shank on Friday that led to a bogey on a par-5.
Scottie Scheffler's primary goal was to extend his streak of 18 consecutive top-10 finishes. He posted a bogey-free 67, gaining one shot on the leaders, but remains eight shots behind.
The final hour of play offered a glimpse into the chaotic nature of Pebble Beach in the wind. Jacob Bridgeman (68, three shots back) had to play from the beach on the 18th. Min Woo Lee (70) found himself 75 yards into the hedges across the fairway before taking a penalty drop, and then his ball kept moving on the green during his putt. This hole alone took nearly 50 minutes to complete!
Similarly, Ryo Hisatsune (74) repeatedly had his ball move on the 18th green due to the wind. He missed a 6-foot par putt and then waited, hoping the wind might push his ball into the cup. Is it fair to ask players to contend with such extreme and unpredictable conditions, or is this part of the unique challenge of a tournament like this?
As Jake Knapp aptly put it, "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 added, "I think anytime you get bad elements and stuff like that you just have to do a good job of not letting it bug you."
This tournament presents a significant opportunity for players like Knapp to secure a spot in the Masters and other prestigious Signature Events. For Collin Morikawa, this round is a huge confidence booster, especially after a challenging start to 2026. He hit all 18 greens in regulation during his spectacular round.
Morikawa shared his thoughts: "I’ve been really focused on just trying to build this momentum, just making it myself and it’s finally paid off today. We’ve got some work tomorrow, for sure."
What do you think about the unpredictable nature of Pebble Beach? Does it add to the excitement, or does it detract from the skill of the players? Let us know in the comments below!
