PEBBLE BEACH, Calif. — Sepp Straka accomplished most of his scoring before the weather began to deteriorate during Friday’s AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am, delivering an impressive 7-under 65 that left him with a three-shot advantage. This performance positioned him ahead of notable golfers such as Rory McIlroy and Scottie Scheffler, who now find themselves in pursuit.
Following a victory just two weeks earlier in the California desert, Straka demonstrated that his game translates well to sea level, even in less-than-ideal conditions. As the final hour approached, it became increasingly cold, and some rain began to fall, requiring players to don mittens and beanies.
McIlroy, once in contention for the lead, experienced a rough patch that included four bogeys over a six-hole span. He managed to finish his challenging back nine at Pebble Beach by sinking a lengthy 25-foot eagle putt, but ended the day with a score of 70, putting him six shots back.
Scheffler’s round included an adventurous moment on the 18th hole, where he transitioned a potential bogey into a par. After navigating down a couple of rock ledges to get his ball back in play, he successfully hit a 6-iron to the green. He ended the day with a score of 70 and is seven strokes behind Straka.
Andrew Novak achieved his first career win on the PGA Tour, marking the victory with a plaque near the first tee as opposed to a spot at the Masters. Novak paired with billionaire investor Philippe Laffont to clinch the pro-am title.
As the tournament progresses into the weekend, only 79 professional players will remain, with Ludvig Aberg withdrawing due to illness. The forecast predicts strong gusts of nearly 30 mph and sporadic rain, which can turn Pebble Beach into a challenging course when the weather turns sour.
Straka noted the rapid change in weather during his final holes, mentioning conditions became gusty in a hurry, impacting his game. He recorded his lone bogey of the round on the 16th after missing a short putt, but responded well on the final hole with a birdie. His cumulative score after two rounds stands at 14-under 130, placing him three shots clear of Russell Henley, who posted a 69, and Australia’s Cam Davis, who scored 68 at Spyglass Hill.
Tony Finau commented on the shifting course conditions due to impending weather changes, expressing a mix of disappointment and anticipation. Finau, who shot a 67 at Spyglass Hill, expressed that strategies would need to be adjusted as the weekend progressed.
McIlroy began his round strong, hitting four birdies within his first seven holes, but fell behind with unfortunate mistakes on the par-3 12th and difficult positions on the following holes. Nevertheless, his closing eagle kept him within striking distance.
Scheffler, making his 2025 debut after minor surgery on his hand, had a promising start with three consecutive birdies but faced challenges on the par-5 18th. After his tee shot veered towards the water, he found his golf ball on the beach and successfully salvaged a par from a tricky situation.
The unpredictable elements of the course posed challenges for the players, but Straka remained upbeat, drawing confidence from his recent win at The American Express. He credited a slight adjustment in his putting technique as a factor in his success. Although he downplayed his current form, he acknowledged feeling good about his game.
“I think it’s definitely made a huge difference,” Straka said about his new grip. However, he humbly dismissed the idea of being on a significant hot streak, stating, “A six-round run… I would not classify that as a run.”
