PEBBLE BEACH, Calif. – Akshay Bhatia and Ryo Hisatsune share the lead at 15 under par after two rounds of the 2026 AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am, a testament to bogey-free golf and precise iron play on the California coast.
Bhatia followed up Thursday’s 65 at Pebble Beach with an impressive 8-under 64 at Spyglass Hill on Friday. He’s currently third in strokes gained on approach, showcasing the importance of accuracy on Pebble Beach’s notoriously small greens. The 25-year-old has also been remarkably consistent, getting up-and-down in all six attempts when missing the green.
Hisatsune, meanwhile, continued his strong start to the season, carding a solid 67 after opening with a 62. The young Japanese star seems comfortable on the poa annua greens, a surface that often challenges players.
Fowler Charges into Contention
Rickie Fowler is making a strong push, matching Bhatia’s 64 at Spyglass Hill to reach 14 under par. This performance puts him in a prime position to contend for his first victory since 2023.
Fowler, 37, has been particularly sharp with his irons, gaining 4.8 strokes on approach this week. He attributes his improved form to a healthier shoulder, a stark contrast to the discomfort he battled through in 2025. “My shoulder was bad all last year so I was just trying to manage and get through as best that I could,” Fowler explained. “I definitely earned the time off with sneaking inside that top-50, so that was a nice bonus. So that was what I was trying to work towards to, like I said, earn that time off and then be able to get into a position where I could get the body in a better spot and go play this year.”
That rest appears to have paid off, with a pair of top-20 finishes already this season. Fowler will need to maintain his iron play as conditions are expected to worsen over the weekend.
Weather Looms Large
The favorable scoring conditions of the first two days – light winds and soft greens – are expected to give way to stronger winds, blowing 17-21 mph, and potential rain on Saturday and Sunday. This shift in weather will present a challenge for the leaders, but also make it harder for the rest of the field to mount a comeback.
The Leaders
T1. Akshay Bhatia, Ryo Hisatsune (-15)
Bhatia overcame a rocky start to 2026 with a T3 finish in Phoenix and has carried that momentum to Pebble Beach. The two-time PGA Tour winner will need to stay aggressive to secure his biggest career victory.
Hisatsune has been consistently near the top, with a T2 at Torrey Pines and a T10 at TPC Scottsdale. He’s gaining confidence and learning to manage the pressure of contending.
Other Contenders
T3. Rickie Fowler, Sam Burns (-14)
T5. Min Woo Lee, Sepp Straka, Jacob Bridgeman (-12)
T8. Tom Hoge, Jake Knapp (-11)
T10. Hideki Matsuyama, Matt Fitzpatrick, Keegan Bradley, Jordan Spieth, Xander Schauffele and two others (-10)
T17. Rory McIlroy, Chris Gotterup, Tommy Fleetwood and two others (-9)
T34. Scottie Scheffler and 10 others (-6)
Burns’ strong performance is fueled by a hot putter, while Straka is looking to build on his top-10 finish at Pebble Beach last year. Jordan Spieth, among a group at 10 under, is drawing attention as fans hope to see a return to his peak form.
Rory McIlroy, the defending champion, sits at 9 under, feeling he left strokes on the course Friday. Scottie Scheffler, nine shots off the lead, is also within striking distance after a 66 on Friday, demonstrating his ability to rally.
Updated 2026 AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am Odds
- 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 expected wind increase, a fast start on Saturday will be crucial. Players who can rely on ball-striking over putting will likely have an advantage, making Fowler and Straka compelling picks. Don’t count out pre-tournament favorites like McIlroy and Scheffler, who could capitalize on tougher conditions.
