Akshay Bhatia’s charge in calm air holds up as wind returns to give him two-shot lead at Pebble Beach
PEBBLE BEACH, Calif. — Akshay Bhatia turned an early hot streak into a 4-under 68 on Saturday to take a two-shot lead into the final round of the AT& T Pebble Beach Pro-Am. Bhatia’s blistering start — six birdies in seven holes — carried him to 19-under 197, enough to withstand a blustery finish as forecasters moved up Sunday’s start times by one hour because of expected wind and rain (all times ET).
Big birdie burst sets the tone
Bhatia began the third round sharing the lead and quickly pressed an advantage when the opening seven holes played receptive. He rolled in six birdies during that stretch, five of them from inside 10 feet, and led by as many as five shots. That salvo left him in command even after the wind strengthened on the back nine.
The conditions finally bit on the par-3 12th when a gust sent his tee shot well over the green, producing his first bogey of the day after 47 holes without one. A second bogey came at the par-3 17th when the wind knocked his approach into the bunker and a 4-foot putt slid by. Bhatia went out in 30 and came home in 38, an odd split typical of Pebble Beach when the elements pick up, but he still held a two-shot cushion heading into Sunday.
Charge from the chasing pack
Low scores remained possible despite the swirling wind late in the day. Collin Morikawa carded a remarkable 62, highlighted by 11 birdies, and vaulted 25 spots into a share of second place. He was joined in that chase by Jake Knapp, who posted a 66, and Sepp Straka, who shot 67.
Knapp opened and closed his round in dramatic fashion. He holed out from about 130 yards for eagle at the par-4 first and then produced another eagle on the par-5 18th to bookend his day. Sam Burns also holed out for an early eagle, briefly taking the lead before settling for a 72 that left him five shots back. Rounds of note elsewhere included Maverick McNealy’s 63, Tommy Fleetwood’s steady 67 and Scottie Scheffler’s bogey-free 67, which extended his streak of top-10s on the tour and left him within striking distance.
Weather, drama and what to watch on Sunday
Organizers moved start times up one hour for Sunday’s final round to get ahead of an expected surge of wind and rain. Those shifting conditions are likely to make scoring more difficult and reward players who can adapt to unpredictable gusts at the coast. Bhatia’s ability to build separation early in calm air gives him a buffer, but the closing holes at Pebble Beach have a history of dramatic swings when the wind kicks in.
Several players will be chasing his pace. Morikawa’s birdie barrage shows he can go low at this venue, while Knapp’s theatrics — two eagles in a round — demonstrate the potential for quick movement up the leaderboard. Defending champion Rory McIlroy sits 10 shots back after a 72 that featured a triple bogey at No. 4 and a costly double at No. 18. He can make up ground only with near-flawless ball striking and a fast start if the wind remains manageable early on Sunday.
There was late drama on Saturday as two groups finished the 18th in lengthened fashion. Jacob Bridgeman, three back after a 68, played from the beach on 18, while Min Woo Lee’s group spent nearly 50 minutes finishing the hole after a series of rulings and a moving ball complicated the play. Those slow finishes underscored how quickly Pebble Beach can become a test of patience as much as skill.
With the leaderboard compressed and weather likely to play a major role, Sunday promises a tense final chapter. Bhatia will tee off with a narrow margin and a bold start already in hand; the big question is whether the wind can undo the cushion he built early in calmer air.
