The AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am, held on the scenic Monterey Peninsula, is underway as its first Signature Event of the 2026 PGA Tour season. With a roster of 80 top-tier players competing across Spyglass Hill and Pebble Beach Golf Links, the tournament presents a challenging test of golf along the California coast. This year, the event unfolds without world No. 1 Scottie Scheffler, opening the door for others to vie for the title in his absence.
Examining Potential Champions in Scottie Scheffler’s Absence
Scottie Scheffler’s absence creates uncertainty and opportunity among contenders. Jason Day, making his 16th tournament appearance, remains a notable figure despite past near-misses. The Australian golfer, who has never missed a weekend cut at this event, has yet to claim a win here but boasts nine top-10 finishes and thirteen top-25 placements. His affinity for coastal courses and Poa annua greens, specifically at Pebble Beach and Torrey Pines, boosts his confidence heading into the competition. Betting markets show Day as an outsider at near +5000 odds, a risky choice that some might consider.
Other players ready to capitalize on Scheffler’s absence include Daniel Berger, the 2021 champion. Berger started 2026 strongly with a tied 6th at the Sony Open in Hawaii and maintained good form with a top-16 finish at TPC Scottsdale. His consistency is underscored by three top-10 finishes in his three prior appearances at Pebble Beach. Berger’s controlled play, marked by a minimal number of bogeys at the WM Phoenix Open, provides reason for optimism for another strong showing here. He also presents value for bettors at +950, with the option to hedge in the Top 10 market.
Players Showing Top-10 Form Flowing Into Pebble Beach
Si Woo Kim arrives in impressive shape, having secured a top-10 finish (T3) for three tournaments in a row, a first in his professional career. The South Korean star’s streak of eleven consecutive finishes within the top 21 demonstrates remarkable consistency, further supported by solid past performances at Pebble Beach, including twelfth and fourteenth place finishes in 2025 and 2024, plus a shared fourth placing in 2021. His form and history at the course make him a player to watch closely in this tournament.
Nick Taylor, the 2020 Pebble Beach winner, enters the pro-am tournament on a solid run with finishes of T28, T27, and T13 to start the season. Taylor’s exceptional record of cashing in nine out of 11 Pebble Beach appearances, particularly his last seven, underlines his comfort with the venue’s challenging terrain and small greens. Known for his ball-striking precision, Taylor is well-suited to the coastal course conditions where putting often plays second fiddle to tee-to-green accuracy.
Consistent Top-20 Performers Poised at the Pro-Am
Sahith Theegala is back in form after recovering from health issues in 2025, showing strong finishes—T18 or better—in his last three tournaments. Theegala is making his third consecutive appearance at the Pro-Am, this time as a sponsor exemption, indicating the event organizers’ faith in his abilities to excel despite the extra pressure on debutants. His recent results suggest that he could be a formidable competitor, capable of breaking through in this signature event without Scottie Scheffler.
Tom Hoge, the 2022 Pebble Beach champion, has been off the radar with a missed cut and a tied 70th finish in recent outings but is still a strong contender for this no-cut event. Hoge posted consistent finishes of T17 and T6 at this venue in prior seasons, and four of his last five tournaments at Pebble Beach have resulted in a top-17 placing. His previous victory and recent track record justify a renewed focus on him as a potential winner this year.
Leading Contenders from the UK and Ireland
Among European players, Justin Rose represents the hottest ticket. The 45-year-old Englishman is the only player from this group with a win in 2026. Rose has posted strong results recently, including a tied 11th and tied 3rd in his season’s two events so far, following his 2023 victory. With odds just under 5-to-1, he stands out as a reliable veteran in a field also featuring notable UK players making their season debut: Rory McIlroy (+255), Tommy Fleetwood (+420), and Shane Lowry (+920). Alongside them are Robert MacIntyre (+570), Matt Fitzpatrick (+570), Harry Hall (+890), Aaron Rai (+1225), and Marco Penge (+2000), with only Fitzpatrick showing recent form at T9 in the WM Phoenix Open.
Emerging Players and Group F Dynamics
Pierceson Coody, seeking his first victory in just his fourth event of the season, has demonstrated consistent performances with top-20 finishes across all his starts so far in 2026. Sharing this strong form with Si Woo Kim in their group, Coody will confront the challenge of adapting rapidly to pro-am pressures, especially under the spotlight without Scottie Scheffler. On the other hand, group favorite Rickie Fowler has been solid but has yet to deliver a standout performance at Pebble Beach. Fowler’s current form keeps him in the mix, but the underdog status for Coody adds an intriguing storyline for bettors and fans alike.
Course Conditions and Strategic Outlook
The Pebble Beach course, famed for its small, fast greens and coastal wind challenges, favors players with precise ball-striking ability over sheer putting prowess. This, combined with the event’s setting across multiple courses including Spyglass Hill, requires competitors to combine accuracy with adaptability. The unique challenges posed by the Champion’s Hole at Pebble Beach underscore the importance of maintaining composure and strategic shot selection under intense tournament pressures.
As the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am progresses, the absence of Scottie Scheffler actually amplifies the tournament’s unpredictability. This year’s competition widens the field of serious contenders, injecting additional restlessness and heightened anticipation among players and fans. Additionally, for bettors, the DraftKings Sportsbook offers expanded prop markets and strategic betting opportunities to explore throughout the event.
Looking Ahead: What This Means for the Season
The tournament doubles as an early indicator of emerging talent and form, setting the tone for the remainder of the PGA Tour season. Performances at Pebble Beach often forecast player confidence and trajectory, with many hopefuls leveraging this event to catapult themselves into higher FedExCup standings. The ongoing absence of Scottie Scheffler could spark fresh rivalries and shift betting dynamics as the season unfolds.
With significant monetary and ranking stakes, plus the prestige of a Pebble Beach victory, all eyes remain fixed on the Monterey Peninsula to witness who seizes this unexpected opening. The blend of seasoned veterans like Daniel Berger and Justin Rose alongside hungry newcomers such as Pierceson Coody heightens the tension and excitement, all set against one of golf’s most picturesque backdrops. This mix assures that the 2026 AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am will be remembered as a fiercely contested and unpredictably thrilling chapter in PGA Tour history.
