Akshay Bhatia gave himself a real chance at Pebble Beach. Even after a flat Sunday, it was another strong marker in his early-season rebound.
The 24 year old Indian American carried the 54 hole lead into the final round of the US$ 20mn AT&T Pebble Beach Pro Am, the first of the eight scheduled Signature events of the season at 19 under, but could not convert as Collin Morikawa surged to win at 22 under.
The difference was putting and momentum.
Bhatia’s putter, so sharp through the first three rounds, went quiet when it mattered most. He made only two birdies over his last 29 holes, and early bogeys on the fourth and sixth holes on Sunday, both birdie holes for him on Saturday, erased his cushion. He closed with an even-par round and slipped to a tie for sixth.
Morikawa, meanwhile, finished like a machine, making 18 birdies over his last 36 holes to pull away from a packed chase and take the title.
There was also some social media noise around Bhatia’s use of a long putter, but he reiterated during the week that his stroke was within the rules.
Even without the trophy, the bigger takeaway is form. After starting 2026 with two missed cuts, Bhatia has now put together back to back contending weeks, a T 3 at the WM Phoenix Open followed by a 54 hole lead at Pebble.
Born in California and shaped by his teen years in Wake Forest, Bhatia looks less like a player learning to win and more like one who is close again.
Photo – PGA Tour
