AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am Opens 2026 PGA TOUR Signature Season
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The AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am is set to launch the 2026 PGA TOUR Signature season with a world-class field, challenging coastal weather and renewed focus on several leading players, as Pebble Beach Golf Links again provides one of the most distinctive stages in professional golf.
Persistent wind and rain have done little to diminish enthusiasm at Pebble Beach this week. Even during a midweek squall, players and amateurs continued to test themselves at the famous par-3 seventh hole, underscoring the course’s draw in all conditions.
Pro-am participants and professionals alike have embraced the elements, with reports of Jordan Spieth, Viktor Hovland and Jake Knapp playing through heavy weather and enjoying the challenge. The atmosphere reflects what many players describe as the unique appeal of Pebble Beach, where the experience of competing on a storied layout often outweighs concerns about scoring or comfort.
Chris Gotterup, recalling his first round at Pebble Beach as a teenager, highlighted how the venue connects current competitors with their earliest memories of the game. Recent practice rounds produced viral clips of Akshay Bhatia and Emiliano Grillo battling gale-force winds on the seventh hole, reinforcing Pebble Beach’s reputation as both scenic and exacting.
That blend of history, difficulty and familiarity for fans, many of whom know the holes from television coverage even if they have never played them, helps make the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am one of the most closely watched events on the PGA TOUR calendar.
Rory McIlroy enters 2026 without the weight of a long-winless major streak, shifting attention to how he will shape the next phase of his career. After a brief experiment with cavity-back irons, McIlroy has returned to his traditional blade setup, describing the trial as concluded.
Questions also surround other leading players. Collin Morikawa continues to search for improved form on the greens and a putter configuration that delivers consistent results, while Xander Schauffele’s ceiling in the new season remains a central topic as observers assess how his game will translate to the 2026 schedule.
Analysts have identified at least five major questions for top stars, including Morikawa and Schauffele, as the year begins. Expert predictions for Pebble Beach notably omit current world No. 1 Scottie Scheffler from the consensus pick, leaving the title race comparatively open in the view of some observers.
Sahith Theegala arrives at Pebble Beach after describing 2025 as a largely lost season due to injury. Now healthy, he has made all four cuts to start 2026, sits 12th in the FedExCup and has recorded top-10 finishes in half of his starts, indicating early momentum.
Ryan Gerard is emerging as another early-season standout. Following consecutive runner-up finishes to open the year and an additional top-15 result in Phoenix, he will make his debut in a Signature Event at Pebble Beach. His performance this week is expected to show whether his strong start signals a longer-term breakthrough.
Other players are seeking to reverse recent trends. Ludvig Ã…berg, who began the year by withdrawing from La Quinta due to illness before missing the cut at Torrey Pines, is aiming to stabilize his form in what is considered a pivotal season for the Swede.
Morikawa also enters Pebble Beach looking to improve. After missing the cut in Hawaii and recording a modest result in Phoenix, he is attempting to recapture the level of play that defined his strong 2025 campaign, with putting performances a focal point for any resurgence.
Several featured groups will draw attention over the first two rounds. Xander Schauffele and Jordan Spieth, both major champions seeking to elevate their form, are grouped together and will play on Thursday afternoon at Pebble Beach.
McIlroy begins his 2026 season alongside Ryan Fox at Spyglass Hill, the same course where he opened last year with a hole-in-one on his way to a round of 66 and a dominant overall performance. Observers will watch closely to see whether he can replicate that fast start.
World No. 1 Scottie Scheffler is paired with Hideki Matsuyama, offering a close look at two of the game’s leading approach players and short-game specialists. Their group is expected to be one of the most closely followed of the opening day.
The AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am remains one of the PGA TOUR’s most visible events, combining elite competition with a long-running pro-am format and a course widely recognized by fans. The tournament also serves as a key early checkpoint in the FedExCup race for players targeting the season’s Signature Events and major championships.
For schedules, scoring and additional information, visit the PGA TOUR site to follow this week’s play from Pebble Beach.