The cliffs of Pebble Beach have witnessed decades of golfing theater, but this latest AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am delivered a finale worthy of its storied coastline. Collin Morikawa emerged from a pressure-packed Sunday with precision and poise, edging out a surging field that included world No. 1 Scottie Scheffler and four-time major champion Rory McIlroy in a dramatic PGA Tour thriller.
A Leaderboard Packed With Firepower
Morikawa entered the final round knowing there would be no margin for comfort. Pebble Beach, with its narrow fairways and treacherous greens perched above the Pacific, demanded control on every swing. Early momentum shifted repeatedly as contenders jostled for position, and the leaderboard quickly evolved into a showcase of elite talent.
Scheffler, steady and methodical, began to apply familiar pressure. The Texan unleashed a series of birdies that electrified the back nine, demonstrating the consistency that has kept him at the summit of the world rankings. His ball-striking was clinical, his tempo unshaken. Each precise approach narrowed the gap and intensified the atmosphere along the closing stretch.
Meanwhile, others lurked within striking distance, but it was clear that the battle would revolve around three names. Every tee shot felt consequential. Every putt carried amplified weight. Pebble Beach’s dramatic backdrop only heightened the sense that something special was unfolding.
McIlroy’s Late Charge Ignites the Coastline
Then came the surge that shifted the tone of the afternoon. Rory McIlroy, never one to fade quietly, ignited his round with a powerful late push. His towering drives split fairways with authority, and his irons found targets with increasing aggression. Birdies began to stack up.
The galleries responded in kind. Roars echoed across the cliffs as McIlroy trimmed the deficit, transforming what had seemed like a controlled duel into a three-man sprint toward the finish. The tension was unmistakable. Momentum appeared fluid, swinging with each converted putt.
McIlroy’s closing stretch embodied the fearless style that has defined his career. Yet Pebble Beach demands more than boldness; it punishes even slight miscalculations. With Scheffler pressing and McIlroy surging, the stage was set for a decisive response.
Composure Under Pressure Defines a PGA Tour Champion
Through the noise and mounting urgency, Morikawa remained unflinching. Where challengers attacked with visible intensity, he executed with quiet efficiency. His iron play, long regarded as one of the sharpest weapons in the game, repeatedly set up critical scoring opportunities.
A pivotal birdie during the closing holes provided slim breathing room, but the margin remained razor-thin. Morikawa faced the final stretch aware that even the smallest error could unravel four days of disciplined work. Instead, he delivered exactly what the moment required—fairways found, greens held, and putts rolled with conviction.
As Scheffler and McIlroy completed their rounds with impressive finishes, Morikawa’s steady hand proved just enough. The final holes became a study in composure, and when the last putt dropped, it confirmed a victory forged under maximum pressure.
The AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am did not simply produce another champion. It delivered a contest shaped by late charges, elite shot-making, and a closing stretch that demanded absolute control. In the end, Morikawa navigated it best, holding off two of golf’s biggest stars to secure a triumph that reinforced his standing among the game’s elite.
