Sepp Straka Leads AT&T Pebble Beach as McIlroy, Lowry Chase \ Newslooks \ Washington DC \ Mary Sidiqi \ Evening Edition \ Sepp Straka recovered from a costly trip to the beach with a strong finish, reclaiming the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am lead with a 2-under 70. Rory McIlroy and Shane Lowry trailed by one shot, both carding 65s in challenging conditions. With six players within two strokes of the lead, and Scottie Scheffler lurking six back, the final round promises an intense finish.
AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am: Quick Looks
- Sepp Straka Leads: Despite a costly trip to the beach on the 10th hole, Straka rebounded with four birdies in his last five holes to reclaim the lead at 16-under.
- McIlroy’s Flawless Round: Rory McIlroy played a bogey-free 65, saving par six times from the rough and bunkers, keeping him just one shot behind Straka.
- Lowry’s Fast Start: Shane Lowry opened with birdie-eagle-birdie, overcame mid-round mistakes, and closed strong with two late birdies to match McIlroy’s 65.
- Tough Weather Conditions: The cold, whipping wind at Pebble Beach made shot-making difficult, with even top players struggling to control distances.
- Final Round Showdown: With six players within two shots and Scottie Scheffler lurking six back, Sunday promises an exciting finish.
Deep Look
Sepp Straka’s third round at the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am was anything but routine. The Austrian-born golfer looked to be in control early, but a wayward approach on the 10th hole sent his ball over the cliff and onto the beach, nearly derailing his round. Instead of attempting an impossible recovery shot from the sand, Straka took the penalty, salvaged a bogey, and battled back with four birdies in his last five holes. His 2-under 70 put him back on top at 16-under 200, leading by one shot over Rory McIlroy and Shane Lowry.
The Irish duo handled the cold, whipping winds at Pebble Beach better than most. McIlroy played a bogey-free round, chipping his way through treacherous conditions for a flawless 65. Lowry, meanwhile, started birdie-eagle-birdie, weathered a few mistakes in the middle, and finished strong with two late birdies for an identical 65.
McIlroy and Lowry Shine in Windy Conditions
McIlroy’s steady play was a masterclass in adapting to the elements. As the wind picked up on the sixth hole, he turned to caddie Harry Diamond and adjusted his approach.
“Let’s try to chip the ball around today,” McIlroy said. “I feel like I didn’t make a full swing after that.”
It worked. The four-time major champion saved par six times from bunkers and deep rough, including a crucial up-and-down from thick grass on the 10th green that helped him keep his momentum.
Lowry, who started the tournament with a hole-in-one at Pebble Beach’s seventh hole, was equally impressive. Despite now living in Florida, he drew on his roots in Ireland’s unpredictable weather to stay sharp.
“It might suit me somewhat, but I don’t enjoy it,” Lowry admitted. “I live in Florida for a reason.”
Straka’s Rollercoaster Round
Straka looked poised to run away with the tournament when he built a four-shot lead early in the round. Then came the disaster on the 10th hole. His approach shot sailed right, past the cliff, and onto the beach below. Instead of attempting a miraculous escape, he took the penalty stroke and settled for bogey.
That wasn’t the end of his struggles. Two more bogeys on the next two holes suddenly left him trailing McIlroy and Lowry. But Straka refused to let the moment define his round. He birdied the 14th and 15th holes, then sank a stunning 30-foot birdie putt on the par-3 17th— the only birdie of the day on that hole. He capped it off with another birdie on the 18th, reclaiming the lead.
“That was a key up-and-down to just to keep the momentum of the round going,” Straka said.
Ryder Cup Feel at the Top
The leaderboard has a distinct European flavor, reminiscent of last year’s Ryder Cup-winning squad from Marco Simone. Straka’s nearest challengers, McIlroy and Lowry, were his teammates in Rome. Justin Rose, another Team Europe veteran, sits just two shots back after a 66.
Scottie Scheffler, the world’s No. 1 golfer, lurks six shots behind. Playing in his first event of 2025 after recovering from a freak hand injury, Scheffler ground out a 69 despite missing key birdie opportunities. His only birdie on a par-5 hole came at the 18th, but he’s still close enough to make a Sunday charge.
“I hung in there on a day where I didn’t have my best stuff,” Scheffler said.
A Sunday Showdown Awaits
With six players within two shots of the lead, the final round is set up for a dramatic finish. McIlroy has often struggled on the West Coast, but he has put himself in prime position to win in California for the first time since 2015.
“There are a few courses in the world that you would like to win on, and this is definitely one of them,” Lowry said.
Straka, however, has proven his resilience. Coming off a win in the California desert, he has another opportunity to close out a tournament against some of the game’s best.
With winds expected to remain strong, patience and shot-making will be at a premium. The AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am is still up for grabs, and Sunday promises to be a thrilling finale.
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