Akshay Bhatia's Birdie Run Puts Him Ahead at AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am
But here's where it gets controversial... The AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am is a prestigious golf tournament, and the third round saw a thrilling battle for the lead. With a two-shot advantage, Akshay Bhatia was poised to claim victory, but the real drama was yet to unfold.
Bhatia, tied for the top spot with Ryo Hisatsune at 15 under, began the day with a burst of birdies, taking the lead by as many as five shots. However, a bogey at 17 cut his advantage to two, and the blustery conditions in California added an extra layer of challenge.
And this is the part most people miss... As the round progressed, gusts slowed play down on the final green, and Bhatia's missed putt for birdie resulted in a 68, putting him at 19 under. Meanwhile, Collin Morikawa's 10-under-par round moved him into second place at 17 under, setting the stage for a thrilling final round.
An eagle at the last hole by Jake Knapp, following a similar feat at the first, moved him into joint-second place with a 66. Austrian Sepp Straka joined the tie with a 67. Despite starting the day six shots behind, defending champion Rory McIlroy's round of even par 72 saw him trailing by 10.
Now, here's a thought-provoking question for you... With heavy rain and strong winds forecast for Sunday, how will the start times for the final round be affected, and what impact will this have on the players' strategies? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
