Bhatia stays bogey-free for share of Pebble lead

PEBBLE BEACH, Calif. — Far faraway from the false hopes Taylor Swift would make an look at Pebble Seashore, Akshay Bhatia and Ryo Hisatsune went about their enterprise quietly at Spyglass Hill and wound up with a share of the lead Friday within the AT&T Pebble Seashore Professional-am.

Bhatia was bogey-free over two days at Pebble Seashore and Spyglass Hill, each dry days with a gentle breeze and smooth greens that allowed for good scoring on each programs. He had six birdies and chipped in from 50 ft for eagle on the 14th gap on his approach to a 64.

Hisatsune, who opened with a 62 at Pebble Seashore, stumbled in the midst of his spherical with consecutive bogeys, which he offset with sufficient birdies (and one eagle) earlier than and after for a 67.

They had been at 15-under 129, the bottom 36-hole because the match moved to a two-course rotation in 2024 as a signature occasion.

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Rickie Fowler (64) and Sam Burns (67), each at Spyglass Hill, had been one shot behind. Xander Schauffele, Jordan Spieth and defending champion Rory McIlroy had been lurking. Scottie Scheffler lastly obtained it going by taking part in his final seven holes in 5 underneath for a 66, although the world’s No. 1 participant was nonetheless 9 pictures behind going into the weekend.

“I might say ‘inched’ can be the operative phrase there,” Scheffler stated of his progress. “We’ll see the way it shakes out on the finish of the day. I imply, it will take two fairly particular rounds, actually three particular rounds, however you are by no means out of it. We’ll see what occurs with the climate.”

The massive hypothesis Friday was not a lot the climate, but when Swift was going to point out as much as watch her fiancé, Kansas Metropolis Chiefs tight finish Travis Kelce, taking part in at Pebble Seashore.

There was a giant crowd. There was a giant buzz. There was no Swift, who is alleged to be on the town, however not on the golf course. She nonetheless led to a spike in ticket gross sales — $60,000 value when Kelce was introduced as a part of the beginner discipline, $21,000 within the 12-hour window earlier than he performed Pebble.

“It was busy with out her,” stated Mackenzie Hughes, who performed within the group. “Along with her, I believe it might have actually been pandemonium.”

The one pandemonium was protecting observe of who was going low and the place. One of the best of the climate was Thursday, and it is no shock the main 4 gamers performed Pebble Seashore that day.

“I assumed that yesterday was a very good day to be out right here,” Spieth stated after he wrapped up a 68 at Pebble Seashore. “Obtained decently difficult in the direction of the top right here immediately, however the greens are so receptive and so they’re not tremendous quick out right here proper now.

“Pebble’s going to point out extra of its tooth the subsequent two days.”

There is no such thing as a 36-hole lower at this signature occasion, apart from Kelce, Pau Gasol, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis and the remainder of the amateurs.

Bhatia, who tied for third within the Phoenix Open final week, now has gone 44 holes with no bogey over his final three rounds.

“Bogey-free round these golf programs is nice,” Bhatia stated. “Greens can get bumpy, you will get some actually powerful putts with how a lot slope’s on the greens. So I have been actually regular inside 5 to six ft. … It is simply enjoyable while you really feel such as you’re in a groove.”

McIlroy has been making an attempt to get there in his first U.S. begin this yr. He had a pair of three-putt double bogeys from the 4-foot vary that slowed him at Spyglass Hill. He began properly and was trending early on the again 9 at Pebble Seashore till he shanked a chip right into a bunker from an ungainly spot proper of the inexperienced on the par-5 14th, resulting in a bogey.

“I really feel like I have been slightly bit wasteful the final two days and perhaps not capitalized on these nice begins,” stated McIlroy, who was six pictures behind.

Scheffler felt he wasn’t scoring very properly Thursday, and he obtained extra of the identical at Spyglass Hill till a string of fine pictures, good putts and a chip in for eagle on the par-5 seventh gap. He was 9 pictures behind, with one other problem making an attempt to increase his streak of 17 straight finishes within the prime 10. He was in a tie for thirty third.

All of them head to Pebble Seashore for the ultimate two rounds, and Hisatsune figures he may not see the identical course the place he shot 62 on Thursday.

“Hopefully, no wind,” Hisatsune stated.

One factor was sure — the wind had a greater probability of exhibiting up than Taylor Swift.