Sepp Straka dominates AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am with strong lead
- Sepp Straka shot a second consecutive 65 in the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am.
- Rory McIlroy struggled in the latter part of his round, shooting a 70 and falling six strokes behind Straka.
- The tournament's weather conditions became increasingly challenging, impacting scores as the event continued.
In the United States, at the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am, Sepp Straka completed a remarkable performance on Friday by shooting a 7-under 65. This achievement led to him establishing a three-shot lead over his competitors, notably Rory McIlroy and Scottie Scheffler. Straka's round was particularly impressive as he achieved most of his score before the weather conditions worsened. The temperature dropped, and rain began to fall, complicating the play for other golfers. Rory McIlroy, initially a contender, faced a challenging back nine where a series of four bogeys dropped him significantly from the leaderboard behind Straka. McIlroy managed to clinch an eagle on the 18th hole with a 25-foot putt, but his final score of 70 left him at a six-shot deficit. His struggles were highlighted by a rough phase in which he experienced four bogeys within a six-hole span. Additionally, Scottie Scheffler, playing his first tournament of the season after recovering from a hand injury, also finished with a 70 after an unexpected turn of events on the 18th, where he salvaged a par after a tricky shot from the beach. At the halfway stage, Russell Henley, who shot a second round 69, and Cam Davis, with a 68, were tied for second place, chasing Straka's leading score. Justin Rose joined the ranks of those trying to keep pace with Straka, finishing on 10-under alongside Tony Finau and Tom Kim after they all matched Straka’s lower scoring rounds. The tournament format makes this weekend's round exclusive to professional players, as the amateur partners are not part of the final two rounds. Sepp Straka's consistent performance came after winning The American Express tournament just a month prior and demonstrates his capability in high-pressure situations. Players and fans alike are concerned about how the weather changes might affect course conditions, noted Tony Finau, expressing that the course was in pristine shape earlier. The mental endurance through the unpredictable weather proves vital in the coming rounds as conditions are predicted to continue changing.