Bhatia blistering front nine keeps him at top

Akshay Bhatia reeled off six birdies in seven holes for a 4-under 68 round and a two-shot lead in the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am.

His 19-under 197 total gives him a two-stroke lead over Collin Morikawa, Sepp Straka and Jake Knapp.

The two-time PGA Tour winner began the third round in a share of the lead with Ryo Hisatsune and led by as many as five shots at one stage.

He made his first bogey on the par-3 12th and dropped another shot on the par-3 17th.

Three players – Collin Morikawa, Sepp Straka and Jake Knaap – are in the chasing pack, two strokes behind.

Morikawa hit all 18 greens in regulation during a third-round and round of the day 62, including five birdies in his final six holes

He is only the seventh player since 1985 to hit all 18 greens in regulation at Pebble Beach Golf Links. The six-time PGA Tour winner is seeking his first win since the 2023 Baycurrent Classic.

Last year, Straka held the 36-hole (by three) and 54-hole lead by one over Shane Lowry and eventual champion Rory McIlroy.

Playing in back-to-back groups, Knapp (T2/-17) and Sam Burns (T7/-14) hole out for eagles on the par-4 first hole from 130 and 156 yards, respectively.

Knapp later eagled the par-5 18^th hole to become the first player in a non-major championship at Pebble Beach Golf Links to bookend a round with eagles. He is also the tenth player during the Shotlink era to start and finish a round with eagles

Burns later birdied the 18^th hole with a chip-in from 47’ 2” off the green.

World No. 1 Scottie Scheffler is T22 at 11-under and trails by eight in bid for his 18^th straight top-10 finish on the Tour. He is tied with FedExCup leader Chris Gotterup.

Defending champion McIlroy is a further two strokes behind tied-39.

Third-Round Leaderboard