Akshay Bhatia fired an impressive eight-under-par 64 during the second round of the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am, tying for the lead with Ryo Hisatsune at 15 under overall. This puts both players in a strong position heading into the weekend, showcasing their exceptional skills on the course.
Defending champion Rory McIlroy, despite a commendable effort that included five birdies and an eagle, finished with a 67, leaving him six strokes behind the leaders. McIlroy’s round was marred by bogeys on the 10th and 14th, but he concluded his day on a high note with a solid finish on the par-five 18th.
On a strong outing, American golfer Rickie Fowler crossed into the mix with an equally notable performance, now sitting tied for second at 14 under alongside Sam Burns. Fowler is eager to claim his first victory since July 2023, adding an extra layer of excitement to the weekend’s competition.
Among the European contingent, Austria’s Sepp Straka is making his mark as the best-placed player from the region at 12 under. Following closely is England’s Matt Fitzpatrick, with notable competitors like Keegan Bradley, Jordan Spieth, and Xander Schauffele trailing just two shots behind.
Englishman Tommy Fleetwood, after shooting a 67 on Thursday, improved to a 68 in round two, leaving him at nine under, alongside McIlroy. Ireland’s Shane Lowry is just one stroke behind them, illustrating the competitive nature of the tournament.
The standout performance came from Scottie Scheffler, who made a charge with three birdies and an eagle in a five-hole stretch after the turn to finish at six under for the first two days. Other impressive players like England’s Justin Rose and Harry Hall, along with Scotland’s Robert MacIntyre, are at five under each.
The stages are now set for the remaining rounds, all scheduled to take place at Pebble Beach, ensuring a thrilling conclusion to this prestigious $20 million PGA Tour event, which notably does not feature a 36-hole cut, allowing players to fully showcase their talents.