Pebble Beach week sharpens the spotlight on Akshay Bhatia amid star-laden field
The 2026 AT& T Pebble Beach Pro-Am arrives this week as the year’s first Signature Event, bringing the sport’s biggest names to the Monterey Peninsula and injecting added buzz with a full slate of celebrity amateurs. For those tracking Akshay Bhatia, Pebble’s unique exam—small greens, coastal air and Poa annua surfaces—offers a clear template for what it will take to thrive against the game’s elite in early 2026.
McIlroy’s return, Scheffler’s surge define the measuring stick
Rory McIlroy launches his season at Pebble Beach, immediately stepping into a spotlight shared with World No. 1 Scottie Scheffler, who already has a victory in hand this year and nearly added another in the desert. Both have been comfortable on the Monterey tracks, with McIlroy having lifted the trophy here last year and Scheffler banking consecutive top-10s in prior trips. With the field consolidated for a Signature Event, this week serves as a crisp barometer of where the power balance stands at the top—and how quickly others can close the gap.
Pebble’s demands: small targets, coastal breeze and Poa
Pebble Beach reads simple on a scorecard and brutal in practice. By modern standards it’s not long, but tiny greens and ocean air punish imprecision. The setup rewards controlled aggression: elite tee-to-green play sets the table, and putting—especially on Poa annua—decides the meal. Distance helps only if it translates into shorter approaches and confident conversions from mid-range. Expect strategy to matter as much as speed, particularly on a blustery afternoon when trajectories and spin become non‑negotiables.
What this means for Akshay Bhatia
For Akshay Bhatia watchers, the path to a productive week is straightforward on paper and exacting on grass. Pebble prioritizes disciplined targets, adept wedge gapping and composure on Poa, where streaky runs can define a round. In a compact, star-heavy field, minimizing damage on the short par-4s, cashing in on the scorable par-5s and rolling in the must-make eight‑to‑twelve footers are the separators. With so many eyes on the duel between McIlroy and Scheffler, any player outside that marquee pairing who flashes a spike week on the greens can vault the board in a hurry. That’s the lane available to Bhatia if the putter cooperates and the approach numbers travel.
Celebrity spotlight: handicaps that will turn heads
The parallel pro-am delivers its own leaderboard drama—and a revealing window into the field’s amateur skill levels. Handicaps range from 0 to 18, with three scratch players in the mix (Brian Ferris, Johno Harris and Chris Solomon) and a 1‑handicap for country artist Jake Owen. Former NFL quarterback Alex Smith checks in at 7, while NFL star Travis Kelce and NBA great Pau Gasol are both 10. Florida Governor Ron DeSantis is listed at 10, with Condoleezza Rice and Hall of Famer Steve Young at 13. There’s real depth through the middle too—there are 11 amateurs slotted at an 11‑handicap—suggesting plenty of movement once the winds pick up and Pebble’s greens start repelling timid chips.
Beyond the headliners: trends to monitor
Several season-defining subplots intersect here. Collin Morikawa’s putting variance remains a recurring theme; when the blade heats, his tee‑to‑green excellence typically converts into contention. Keegan Bradley is hunting for the gear that placed him among the season’s early storylines last year. And the course fit favors profiles that can pair power with poise—players who generate frequent birdie looks and maintain speed control on bumpy afternoon Poa. That’s why some fantasy players have been circling high‑ceiling options with recent form, length and confidence on these greens.
The early-season cue for 2026
With stakes elevated and the schedule just beginning to settle, Pebble Beach is more than a postcard backdrop. It’s a first checkpoint for the sport’s hierarchy and an opportunity for ambitious names to prove they can surge alongside the superstars. If the putter behaves and approach play tightens the target window, this is exactly the kind of week where a player like Akshay Bhatia can turn quiet momentum into a headline.
