Get ready for an exciting weekend at the 2026 AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am! The leaderboard is a who's who of golf royalty, but it's the young guns who are stealing the show.
Akshay Bhatia, a two-time PGA Tour winner, has emerged as the early leader after two bogey-free rounds at Pebble Beach and Spyglass Hill. His iron play has been exceptional, a key advantage on the small greens of Pebble Beach. Bhatia's performance has been nothing short of impressive, and he's determined to keep the momentum going as the professionals take center stage for the weekend.
But here's where it gets controversial: Bhatia isn't the only one in the hunt. Ryo Hisatsune, the young Japanese star, is right on his tail after a stellar start to the season. Hisatsune's putter has been on fire, and he's gaining confidence with each passing week.
And this is the part most people miss: the weather could be a game-changer. Light winds and soft greens have made scoring conditions ideal, but that's about to change. Forecasts predict winds picking up on Saturday afternoon, blowing at 17-21 mph throughout Sunday's final round, with rain adding to the challenge.
Leading the charge from the chase group is Rickie Fowler, who's looking to break his victory drought since 2023. Fowler's iron play has been exceptional this week, and he's feeling physically better than ever.
The extended time off seems to have worked wonders for Fowler, who's started the season with two top 20 finishes. But can he keep up the strong iron play on Saturday and Sunday to contend for the win?
The leaders going into the weekend are:
- Akshay Bhatia and Ryo Hisatsune (-15)
- Rickie Fowler and Sam Burns (-14)
Other contenders include Min Woo Lee, Sepp Straka, and a host of major winners like Hideki Matsuyama, Matt Fitzpatrick, and Jordan Spieth.
Chris Gotterup, who's been on a roll, is a bit further off the pace but could still make a run for his third win of the season. Defending champion Rory McIlroy is also in the mix, feeling like he left some shots on the table on Friday.
Scottie Scheffler, nine shots off the pace, is another player to watch. After a rough start on Thursday, he surged up the leaderboard with a Friday 66.
Updated odds for the 2026 AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am:
- Akshay Bhatia (+340)
- Rickie Fowler (11/2)
- Ryo Hisatsune (11/2)
- Sam Burns (6-1)
- Sepp Straka (14-1)
- Min Woo Lee (16-1)
- Jake Knapp (20-1)
- Rory McIlroy (22-1)
- Jacob Bridgeman (22-1)
- Xander Schauffele (25-1)
With the winds picking up, this tournament could take an unexpected turn. Players will need to get off to fast starts in their third round before battling through difficult weather on Sunday. When conditions get tough, ball-striking becomes crucial, which is why I'm leaning towards Fowler and Straka. But don't count out the pre-tournament favorites like McIlroy and Scheffler, who might just surprise us in these tougher conditions.
Who do you think will take home the trophy? Join the discussion in the comments and let's predict the winner!
