McIlroy Falters as Bhatia Leads into Wild Pebble Beach Finale

Defending champion Rory McIlroy saw his hopes of retaining the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am fade on Saturday after a costly triple-bogey during a chaotic third round in California.

McIlroy made a bright start at Pebble Beach, picking up two birdies in his opening three holes, but momentum quickly vanished at the fourth. A wayward drive, a mishit recovery shot and a poor bunker effort combined to produce a damaging three-over-par seven, sending him tumbling down the leaderboard.

Despite adding four birdies later in the round, a bogey on the 10th and a double-bogey at the closing hole meant McIlroy finished the day level par. He now sits 10 shots off the pace heading into Sunday.

At the top of the leaderboard, American Akshay Bhatia holds a narrow advantage at 19-under-par. Bhatia had earlier built a commanding five-shot lead with a blistering start, birdieing six of his first seven holes, but tougher afternoon conditions saw him drop shots coming home.

“I felt like I lost ground toward the end,” Bhatia admitted. “Then I realised how much harder it was playing for those in the later tee times.”

World No.1 Scottie Scheffler carded a bogey-free 67 to climb the standings but still trails by eight shots, while Collin Morikawa surged into contention with the round of the day, a superb 62.

England’s Tommy Fleetwood remains in touch, sitting tied seventh, five shots off the lead.

“It’s not going to be pretty,” said Jake Knapp. “You just have to deal with whatever the conditions throw at you.”

The final round of the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am gets underway earlier than scheduled, with unpredictable weather set to test even the world’s best.