PEBBLE BEACH — Like nearly the entire field, Akshay Bhatia and Ryo Hisatsune capitalized on the second day of ideal weather and course conditions Friday at the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am. But the duo just did so slightly better.
Bhatia, shot a bogey-free 64 and Hisatsune, the first-round leader, rallied for a 67 to vault the twosome into co-leadership of the event’s 80th edition at 15-under-par 129.
They hold a one-stroke lead over Rickie Fowler, who had a 64, and Sam Burns, who posted a 67. The top four scorers all played at Spyglass Hill Golf Course.
After periodic heavy practice-round rains and strong winds, Spyglass Hill and Pebble Beach Links again allowed the 80-player field in the first Signature Event of the season to showcase its collective skills. Only eight players are over par after 36 holes.
“The greens can get bumpy, you can get some really tough putts with how much slope’s on the greens,” said Bhatia, now bogey-free through 36 holes. “So I’ve been really steady inside 6 to 5 feet.”
Bhatia, whose most recent of two PGA Tour wins was the 2024 Valero Texas Open, is playing in his 100th career PGA Tour tournament and moved into the tournament co-leadership on his wife’s birthday.
World No. 1 Scottie Scheffler, who began the day at even par, dropped to 1 over after the first four holes while starting on the back nine at Spyglass Hill. But Scheffler, who has 17 top-10 finishes, including seven wins dating to last March, quickly rallied.
Beginning on the 14th (his fifth hole of the round), Scheffler tallied five birdies and an eagle in his final 14 holes en route to a 66.
The 20-time PGA Tour winner, playing in the AT&T for the third time, is tied for 34th, nine shots behind. He finished tied for sixth in 2024 and tied for ninth last year.
“I felt like I played better again than my score today, which is pretty frustrating,” Scheffler said. “But I was able to get some stuff going on the back nine. So at least it was a respectable score today versus yesterday, which wasn’t very respectable.”
Scheffler was tied for 64th after his even par first round. Last week, he was 89th after the first round of the Phoenix Open and finished tied for third.
“It’s going to take two pretty special rounds, really three special rounds, but you’re never out of it,” said Scheffler. “We’ll see what happens with the weather. I’ll go practice a little bit and then rest up and get ready for tomorrow. It will be fun.”
Rory McIlroy, No. 2-ranked, shot a 67 and is grouped among five players at 9-under.
“I got off to a really good start again and then stalled on the back nine again,” McIlroy said. “So I feel like I’ve been a little bit wasteful the last two days and maybe not
capitalized on those great starts.
“It’s very low scoring, it’s soft. Hopefully, if I can get off to a good start again tomorrow and pick up a few shots early I’ll be right in the mix.”
Harris English, one of only 12 players shot over par in the first round, had the second round’s low score, a nine-birdie 63 at Pebble Beach. English, whose last of five PGA Tour wins was the 2025 Farmers Insurance Open, moved to 8-under and is among six players trailing the co-leaders by seven shots.
With the pro-am complete, the pro field will compete at Pebble Beach only on the weekend. Saturday’s forecast includes overcast skies and temperatures reaching into the mid-50s. Aksay, Hisatsune and Fowler are the final threesome beginning at 10:45 a.m.
Rainy conditions are expected to return early Sunday morning, stop for several hours and return at approximately 1 p.m. Temperatures are again forecast to reach the mid-50s.
Bhatia began the second round three shots behind Hisatsune after opening 65 at Pebble Beach. But playing in the second starting group with Vicktor Hovland on the back nine, the two-time PGA Tour titlist quickly moved to the top of the leaderboard.
After birdies on the 10th and 11th, his opening two holes, Bhatia moved to 11 under after chipping in from just left of a bunker off the 14th for an eagle 3.
“I’m just building off last week; I played really nice last week,” said Bhatia. “Then, I just started to kind of catch my groove or my stride.”
“It’s been a tough first couple of weeks (of the season), but I feel like my golf swing’s in a really nice spot, shot options are in a really nice spot and I’m starting to see some putts fall.”
Hisatsune, starting about an hour later and also on the back nine, quickly joined Bhatia at 11 under with a birdie on the 11th. He then briefly assumed his first lead of the day after a birdie on the 12th. Bhatia joined him with a birdie on the 17th.
Hisatsune stumbled with bogeys on the 18th and first hole, pushing Bhatia back into a solo lead. But Hisatsune birdied the fifth and eagled the seventh to move into the 36-hole co-lead.
If you go
The tournament runs from 8:45 a.m. until about 4 p.m. at Pebble Beach Golf Links through Sunday. Portions will be televised by the Golf Channel and CBS. For tickets and more information, visit www.attpbgolf.com.
James Raia is a former Herald staff member who has been a longtime sports correspondent for the paper. Reach him at james@jamesraia.com.
