The 2026 PGA Tour season has officially taken flight, and golf fans couldn’t have asked for a more electric start. After a dramatic close to the NFL season just last week, the sporting spotlight shifts from Santa Clara to the iconic Monterey Peninsula, where the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am is underway. It’s not just any tournament—this is the first signature event of the year, and the stakes are sky-high with a $20 million purse and a whopping $3.6 million reserved for the winner.
Pebble Beach Golf Links and Spyglass Hill Golf Course in California are hosting the spectacle, running from February 12 to 15, 2026. The event’s unique format sees 80 PGA Tour professionals paired with celebrity amateur golfers for the first two rounds. Thursday and Friday feature best-ball scoring across both courses, with the pros shifting to stroke play on Pebble Beach for the weekend. It’s a blend of serious competition and star-studded fun that’s become a staple of the PGA calendar.
Defending champion Rory McIlroy is making his highly anticipated 2026 PGA Tour debut at Pebble Beach, aiming to pick up right where he left off after a sensational 2025 season. McIlroy’s previous campaign included memorable victories at Pebble Beach, the Players Championship, and a Masters triumph that sealed his career Grand Slam in dramatic overtime fashion. “Rory McIlroy put on a masterclass with every facet of his game on his way to winning last year’s AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am,” the Golf Channel noted, underscoring the Northern Irishman’s dominance on this storied course.
This year, McIlroy is paired with Jeff Rhodes, a private equity executive boasting a 5 handicap. The duo will be looking to rekindle last year’s magic, when McIlroy edged past Shane Lowry with a 21-under performance, complete with a dazzling hole-in-one. The defending champ has his work cut out for him, though, with the field stacked with talent and hungry contenders.
World No. 1 Scottie Scheffler arrives at Pebble Beach riding a white-hot streak. He’s already claimed victory at the American Express earlier this season and has notched seven consecutive top-four finishes in PGA Tour events—a feat achieved just five times since 1983, with Tiger Woods responsible for four of those runs. Scheffler’s consistency is the stuff of legend, and he’s looking to add another signature win to his growing collection. His amateur partner for the pro-am rounds is David Abeles, CEO of TaylorMade Golf Company, who brings a 2 handicap to the table.
Justin Rose, fresh off a record-setting performance at Torrey Pines, is another name to watch. The European Ryder Cup stalwart recently captured the Farmers title, reminding everyone why he’s considered one of the game’s most reliable competitors. Meanwhile, Tommy Fleetwood, Chris Gotterup, and the recently reinstated Brooks Koepka round out a field that promises fireworks at every turn.
Speaking of Gotterup, the American up-and-comer has been the revelation of the early 2026 season. With two victories already under his belt—including the Sony Open in Hawaii and the WM Phoenix Open—Gotterup has vaulted into the top five in the world rankings. At just 26 years old, his back-to-back 16-under performances have the golf world buzzing. Fans and analysts alike are eager to see if he can maintain his momentum against the tour’s elite.
Beyond the professionals, the celebrity amateur field adds a layer of intrigue and entertainment. Retired NFL quarterback Alex Smith (7 handicap) is paired with Mackenzie Hughes, while Kansas City Chiefs star Travis Kelce (10 handicap) joins forces with Keith Mitchell. Basketball Hall of Famer Pau Gasol (10 handicap) and legendary quarterback Steve Young (13 handicap) are also teeing it up, ensuring plenty of cross-sport star power on display.
The tournament’s broadcast coverage reflects its marquee status. Golf Channel handles the initial rounds and early weekend coverage, while CBS takes over for the decisive moments on Saturday and Sunday. For those on the go or outside traditional TV markets, streaming options abound—PGA Tour Live on ESPN+ offers wrap-around coverage, and featured hole streams spotlight the drama at Pebble Beach’s most iconic stretches. The action kicks off each morning, with the ESPN app starting as early as 11:30 a.m. ET for the first two rounds and even earlier for the weekend’s main events.
The AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am’s history stretches back to 1937, when Bing Crosby first invited tour pros and celebrities to Rancho Santa Fe. The event found its permanent home at Pebble Beach in 1947, with Spyglass Hill joining the rotation two decades later. Since then, the tournament has become synonymous with West Coast golf and Hollywood glitz. Legendary champions like Mark O’Meara and Phil Mickelson have each claimed five titles here, cementing their places in Pebble Beach lore.
Unfortunately, fans will have to wait a bit longer to see Justin Thomas back in action. The world No. 12 is sitting out the event as he recovers from back surgery, a blow to both the field and his supporters. But with the depth of talent assembled, the competition remains fierce and unpredictable.
For those looking to follow every shot and storyline, there’s more good news: golf fans can take advantage of a timely VPN offer, with a seven-day free trial and 87% off long-term plans. This deal makes it easier than ever to stream the action from anywhere in the world, ensuring no one misses a moment as the PGA Tour’s signature events and major championships approach.
The opening rounds promise plenty of intrigue. McIlroy and Scheffler are scheduled for marquee tee times, with the world’s top five—rounded out by Rose, Fleetwood, and Gotterup—set to duel across Pebble Beach and Spyglass Hill. The best-ball format for the pro-am rounds will crown a team champion on Friday, before the pros battle it out solo for the weekend’s massive payday.
As the sun sets on the Monterey Peninsula, the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am is already living up to its reputation as one of golf’s most captivating events. With legends and rising stars sharing the fairways, and a $20 million purse up for grabs, the only certainty is that drama awaits at every turn. Whether you’re tuning in for the golf, the celebrities, or the history, Pebble Beach is once again the center of the sporting universe this week—and the action is just getting started.