The 2026 AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am has officially teed off, and what an electrifying start it’s been on the storied Monterey Peninsula! With the first round in the books and the second round underway today, Friday, February 13, golf fans are glued to every shot across Pebble Beach Golf Links and Spyglass Hill. This year’s tournament isn’t just another stop on the PGA Tour – it’s the first signature event of the 2026 season, and the stakes are sky-high with a $20 million purse and a field packed with the game’s elite.
Thursday’s opening round set the tone with a flurry of low scores, but none more impressive than 23-year-old Ryo Hisatsune. The Japanese sensation blazed through Pebble Beach Golf Links with a dazzling 10-under 62, grabbing the solo lead. Hisatsune, who was contending just last week in Scottsdale, is the only player to reach double digits under par so far, and his precision on the greens had fans and fellow competitors buzzing. He hit 11 of 14 fairways and capped off his round with three straight birdies on holes 16, 17, and 18. Talk about finishing strong!
Hot on Hisatsune’s heels are Keegan Bradley and Sam Burns, both just one shot behind after posting 9-under 63s on Thursday. Burns, in particular, was in the zone, delivering a bogey-free round at Pebble Beach that included a sizzling 7-under 29 on the back nine. It was his best round on Tour since a 62 at last year’s RBC Canadian Open, and it’s clear he’s carrying momentum from a strong showing at the WM Phoenix Open.
And let’s not overlook Chris Gotterup, who’s quickly becoming one of the Tour’s must-watch stars. Fresh off his dramatic playoff win at the WM Phoenix Open and already a two-time winner in 2026, Gotterup is making his AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am debut. On Thursday, he was on fire, making birdies on his first six holes at Pebble Beach – a career-high streak that had everyone wondering if he could keep the magic going. "Me and my dad had a bet when I was growing up that once I broke par, he would take me out here," Gotterup reminisced Wednesday. "So we came, I don't know how many years ago it was, but we came then, me and my brother and my dad played... just remember I have a video of my brother lipping out a putt on 18 and he fell to his knees." Now, he’s competing at the highest level on the same hallowed ground.
Returning champions and major winners are also making waves. Defending champion Rory McIlroy, making his 2026 PGA Tour debut, started on the 10th hole at Spyglass Hill and wasted no time getting into red numbers. After a solid birdie on his opening hole, he notched his first eagle of the year on the par-5 14th, holing out from a greenside bunker. Through six holes, McIlroy stood at 4 under, just two shots off the early lead. Fans are eager to see if he can mount a charge and defend his title as the action unfolds.
Jordan Spieth, a three-time major winner and 13-time PGA Tour champion, is another headline act this week. After a rollercoaster start to his 2026 campaign – a T24 at the Sony Open followed by a missed cut at the WM Phoenix Open – Spieth seems to have rediscovered his spark at a venue where he’s tasted victory before. On Thursday at Spyglass Hill, Spieth started on the 10th hole and put together a flawless, bogey-free 6-under 66, highlighted by an eagle on the 18th. That round vaulted him into a tie for fourth place, just four shots behind Hisatsune. Spieth’s fans will be watching closely as he switches over to Pebble Beach for his second round, teeing off at 1:16 p.m. ET alongside Xander Schauffele.
Speaking of Schauffele, he’s part of a loaded field that includes World No. 1 Scottie Scheffler. Scheffler, who’s been a model of consistency in signature events – finishing in the top 10 in over 92% of them since 2024 – opened with an even-par 72 at Pebble Beach, landing him tied for 62nd in the 80-player field. But don’t count him out just yet. Scheffler is chasing his eighth consecutive top-4 finish, a feat that would tie Tiger Woods for the longest such streak on Tour since 1983. The competition is fierce, and with no cut this week, every player in the field will be grinding for position and a share of the lucrative purse.
The tournament format is as unique as its setting. Each golfer plays one round at Pebble Beach and one at Spyglass Hill on Thursday and Friday before all competitors return to Pebble Beach for the weekend rounds. The field is capped at 80 players, and thanks to the no-cut policy, everyone is guaranteed a payday come Sunday. The winner will walk away with a cool $3.6 million, a hefty reward for taming two of golf’s most iconic courses.
Fans have plenty of ways to follow the action. Golf Channel is broadcasting the second round today from 3-7 p.m. ET, while PGA Tour Live on ESPN+ offers exclusive early streaming coverage beginning at 11:45 a.m. ET. For those on the go, PGA Tour Radio on Sirius XM has live coverage throughout the day as well. There’s no shortage of storylines, from young stars on the rise to established champions looking to make their mark early in the season.
Weather could play a role as the week progresses. Tuesday’s practice round was breezy, and there’s rain in the forecast, which could add another layer of challenge to already demanding layouts. Players like Akshay Bhatia and Emiliano Grillo were seen having a bit of fun with creative shots in the wind, but come competition time, every stroke will matter as the leaderboard remains tight.
With so many big names in the mix – from Rory McIlroy and Scottie Scheffler to Tommy Fleetwood, Justin Rose, and Viktor Hovland – the 2026 AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am is shaping up to be a showcase of world-class golf and high drama. And with Ryo Hisatsune setting the early pace, the chase is officially on.
As the second round unfolds, all eyes are on Pebble Beach and Spyglass Hill. Will Hisatsune hold onto his lead, or will a seasoned champion surge up the leaderboard? One thing’s for sure: the action is far from over, and with every swing, the story of this signature event continues to build.