Akshay Bhatia’s birdie blitz withstands gusts to seize Pebble Beach lead
Akshay Bhatia opened a two-shot advantage after a third-round 4-under 68 at the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am, using a six-birdie stretch early in his round to build a lead that held up despite strengthening wind. Tournament organizers moved starting times for the final round up one hour ET amid a forecast of heavy wind and rain.
Big early run defines Bhatia’s day
Bhatia delivered the kind of front nine that separates one-day scorers from weekend favorites. He rattled off six birdies in seven holes early, converting chances both inside and outside 10 feet, and led by as many as five shots at one point. That red-hot stretch left him out in 30, but Pebble Beach’s fickle coastal breeze returned on the inward nine.
The wind finally caught up with him at the par-3 12th when his tee shot sailed over the green, producing his first bogey of the tournament after a stretch of 47 holes without one. A second bogey followed at the par-3 17th when gusts knocked his approach into sand and a short putt slid by. Still, Bhatia’s resilience preserved a 19-under total of 197 heading into the final round.
His day illustrated both the payoff of aggressive play when conditions allow and the fine margins required once the wind turns. Bhatia managed to balance risk and control long enough to keep the lead as the seaside course showed its teeth.
Chasers heat up: Morikawa, Knapp and Straka close in
Despite the blustery finish, low scores remained on the board. Collin Morikawa erupted with an 8-under 62 that featured 11 birdies and vaulted him up the leaderboard into a tie for second. His round stood out for its sheer volume of made putts and scrambling ability in gusty conditions.
Joining Morikawa at two shots off the lead were Jake Knapp and Sepp Straka. Knapp’s round included two dramatic eagles — holing out from 130 yards on the first hole and converting a long approach into the par-5 18th — bookending a hot day. Sepp Straka carded a steady 67 to keep pressure on the leader.
Sam Burns and a group including Tommy Fleetwood and Maverick McNealy lurked further back after rounds that mixed brilliance with a few costly moments. Burns produced an early hole-out eagle and managed to salvage a 72, while McNealy’s 63 demonstrated that low scoring was still attainable even as the wind intensified.
World-class names further down the card battled their own woes. Defending champion Rory McIlroy tumbled after a brutal stretch that included a triple bogey on the fourth and a drive out-of-bounds on 18, finishing at 72 and well behind. Scottie Scheffler posted a bogey-free 67 and kept his run of top-10 finishes alive but remained several shots shy of the lead.
Final-round picture and what to watch
With starting times moved up one hour ET for Sunday’s final round, players face a compressed window to navigate an expected weather swing. That scheduling change elevates the importance of managing the early holes while the wind is still building and picking smart targets off the tees once gusts become a factor.
Key elements to monitor: how well leaders handle par-3s when wind plays havoc with club selection, which players can keep their composure on holes that run along the coastline, and who can turn birdie chances into momentum before the afternoon wind intensifies. Bhatia’s ability to be aggressive when conditions permitted and conservative when they didn’t will be tested.
The stage is set for a tense final day where patience, short-game touch around the greens, and a steady tee-to-green game could determine whether Bhatia holds on or one of the charging names turns a late surge into a victory.
