Defending champion Rory McIlroy sits six shots behind the leaders halfway through the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am, maintaining hopes of a strong finish at Pebble Beach. After shooting a second-round 67, McIlroy reached nine-under-par, trailing the Americans Akshay Bhatia and Ryo Hisatsune, who share the lead.
McIlroy’s late birdie on the 18th hole helped solidify his position in the tournament, keeping him in touch with the leaders as the competition moves forward.
Leaders and Notable Competitors
Akshay Bhatia posted an impressive eight-under-par round of 64 at Spyglass Hill, highlighted by an eagle and six birdies, allowing him to tie with overnight leader Ryo Hisatsune at 15-under-par. Close behind the Americans Rickie Fowler and Sam Burns are just one stroke back, while Austria‘s Sepp Straka trails them by two shots.
England’s Matt Fitzpatrick is among a sizable group at 10-under-par, alongside fellow Englishman Tommy Fleetwood and McIlroy, all vying for position as the weekend approaches. World No. 1 Scottie Scheffler made a late surge by gaining five shots over his final seven holes, reaching six-under-par overall.
McIlroy Reflects on Performance and Upcoming Challenge
Despite mixed results during the round, McIlroy acknowledged his ample opportunities to score better but expressed confidence in staying competitive. He said,
“I feel like I wasted a few shots out there or at least just wasn’t efficient with my scoring and didn’t capitalise on my good start the last couple of days.”
“I played pretty good but with the weather coming in on Sunday, [Saturday’s] going to be a really important day to get yourself in position.”
Looking ahead to the weekend, McIlroy noted the potential impact of Sunday’s conditions:
Sunday looks like it could be pretty messy and a lot of things could happen, so the closer you are to the lead Sunday the better. Even if I am a few behind going into Sunday, everyone will have a chance given those conditions.
Implications for the Final Rounds at Pebble Beach
The tight leaderboard and approaching challenging weather create an open contest for the final rounds of the Pebble Beach Pro-Am. With McIlroy, Bhatia, Hisatsune, and others closely grouped, Saturday’s play will be key to positioning before Sunday’s potentially unpredictable conditions. The outcomes over the weekend could significantly alter the standings as players adapt to changing wind and weather at Pebble Beach and Spyglass Hill.
Live coverage of the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am continues on Sky Sports Golf, giving golf fans extensive access to the unfolding tournament drama at one of the sport’s most iconic venues.
