Morikawa Ends Title Drought As Bhatia Finishes Tied-Sixth At AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am

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Collin Morikawa ended a long wait for another PGA TOUR title with a composed win at the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am, edging Sepp Straka and Min Woo Lee by one shot, while Akshay Bhatia slipped from a two-stroke lead to finish tied-sixth after a testing final round.

Morikawa closed with a 5-under 67 in strong winds to reach 22-under 266. Straka and Lee finished one behind after late charges, and World No. 1 Scottie Scheffler tied for fourth alongside Tommy Fleetwood. Bhatia’s closing 72 left the 54-hole leader three shots behind the champion.

The two-time major winner had not lifted a trophy since the Baycurrent Classic in Japan in October 2023, a run of 45 starts without a victory. At Pebble Beach, Morikawa handled the pressure best, especially over the closing stretch as several contenders briefly shared the lead.

Morikawa’s key moment came on the par-5 18th. From 235 yards, Morikawa struck a 4-iron that started over the ocean wall and used the wind to drift back towards the green. The ball finished on the collar, and Morikawa safely two-putted from there to seal the championship.

Scheffler almost produced a stunning comeback. Starting eight strokes behind, Scheffler went 7-under through seven holes and signed for a 63. The round included three eagles, and a 6-iron to 30 inches on the 18th briefly tied Scheffler for the lead before Morikawa’s late response.

The contest reached a tense climax on the final hole. Morikawa had to wait around 20 minutes between shots after Jacob Bridgeman’s approach from sandy ground near the beach rolled into the ocean. Despite the delay and fierce Pacific winds, Morikawa stayed calm and protected the narrow advantage.

Akshay Bhatia, Collin Morikawa and AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am pressure

Lee applied pressure with a closing 65 that included birdies on each of the last two holes. Morikawa also dropped a shot on the par-3 17th, which tightened the leaderboard again. Yet Morikawa’s steady play on the 18th ensured a long-awaited return to the winner’s circle at a key PGA TOUR event.

Bhatia’s challenge faded during a difficult final day. The 54-hole leader had started with a two-shot cushion but lost the advantage within the opening four holes. Over the last 29 holes of the tournament, Bhatia managed only two birdies and signed for an even-par 72.

The limited scoring on Sunday left Bhatia three strokes short of Morikawa’s winning total and in a tie for sixth place. Conditions were demanding, with swirling winds adding uncertainty to approach shots and putts. Fellow Indian-American Sahith Theegala recorded a 71 and finished tied-60th, well back of the leaders.

Morikawa later shared that the victory carried extra personal meaning, as Morikawa and Morikawa’s wife are expecting their first child in spring. The success at Pebble Beach, achieved under shifting winds and heavy pressure from several pursuers, underlined Morikawa’s ability to close out elite events after a long title drought.