Morikawa closes in on Bhatia as wind forecast steals the show at pebble beach pro am
Akshay Bhatia carries a two-shot lead into Sunday’s final round at Pebble Beach, but Collin Morikawa’s blistering 62 and a worsening wind forecast set up a dramatic finish. With $20 million on the line and a hefty winner’s check, the final wave of tee times could decide the champion.
Leaderboard shape: Bhatia’s hold, Morikawa’s charge and a stacked chase
Bhatia turned in a day that mixed hot starts with a late test of patience. He opened with a flurry—six birdies early—and despite a back nine that checked in over par, he emerged as the 54-hole leader by two shots. Morikawa answered in emphatic fashion, carding a 10-under 62 that included hitting all 18 greens in regulation, vaulting him into the final pairing and two strokes back of the lead.
The leaderboard is thick with talent that can handle a variety of conditions. Scottie Scheffler looms as a threat in tougher wind, and rising pros and seasoned veterans alike sit within striking distance. Names to watch late include players with strong wind resumes who typically gain strokes when the elements pick up; in that group are several of the week’s notable performers who could climb rapidly if conditions favor low trajectories and steady putting.
Weather, tee times and the tactical advantage
Forecasts call for a growing onshore breeze that should shape the day. Organizers moved tee times up and shifted players into threesomes from both tees to get ahead of the worst conditions. Early groups are expected to face sustained winds of roughly 6–12 mph in the morning, with a roughly 25% chance of rain. By midday the odds of precipitation climb and winds are projected to build to sustained 10–20 mph, with gusts approaching 30 mph in the afternoon. Temperatures are expected in the mid-50s.
That wave advantage is critical at this venue. Pebble Beach often plays noticeably tougher when the wind blows off the Pacific: shots fly differently, club selection changes and scoring can swing a stroke or more relative to calmer conditions. Historical performance in windy setups points to a handful of players who typically flourish when the course gets into the teeth of the breeze—those skillsets could determine who hangs on and who falls back as the afternoon progresses.
Money on the line: purse breakdown and what’s at stake
The total purse for the event is $20 million, with the winner taking home $3. 6 million and the runner-up earning $2. 16 million. Beyond the top two, the event pays out strongly across the leaderboard, rewarding deep finishes with substantial checks. The top 10 payouts run as follows:
- 1st: $3, 600, 000
- 2nd: $2, 160, 000
- 3rd: $1, 360, 000
- 4th: $960, 000
- 5th: $795, 000
- 6th: $715, 000
- 7th: $665, 000
- 8th: $615, 000
- 9th: $575, 000
- 10th: $535, 000
With large sums at stake and the leaderboard compressed, every decision—club selection into the wind, putting reads on tricky greens, and the timing of tee times—matters. Sunday’s early groups stand to benefit from milder conditions, but the drama will unfold throughout the afternoon as the sea breeze intensifies and contenders try to hold their nerve on one of golf’s most picturesque stages.
Final-round action begins early Sunday afternoon, with play and coverage running into the evening (all times ET). Expect a tactical battle as much as a scoring one: the champion will need both stellar ball-striking and weather-aware strategy to close at Pebble Beach.
