The 2026 AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am arrives this week as one of the PGA Tour's marquee Signature Events, carrying a $20 million purse and a field stacked with the game's biggest names. Rory McIlroy returns as defending champion, riding the momentum of a career-defining stretch that saw him capture the 2025 Masters just weeks after his emotional triumph on these same coastal fairways. But the world's best aren't going to make it easy — Scottie Scheffler enters the week in devastating form, and a deep field of contenders is ready to challenge on golf's most iconic coastline.
Tournament Details at a Glance
- Tournament: AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am 2026
- Dates: February 12–15, 2026
- Courses: Pebble Beach Golf Links & Spyglass Hill Golf Course, Pebble Beach, California
- Purse: $20,000,000 (Signature Event)
- Defending Champion: Rory McIlroy
- Format: 72-hole stroke play with pro-am format (Thursday–Saturday at both courses, Sunday final round at Pebble Beach)
The Courses: Where Putting Becomes an Art Form
What makes the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am so fascinating from a putting perspective is the dual-course rotation. Players face two distinctly different challenges before the Sunday finale at Pebble Beach, and both courses demand elite distance control.
Pebble Beach Golf Links
The iconic Pebble Beach layout features small, undulating Poa annua greens perched along dramatic Pacific Ocean cliffs. Wind is the ever-present variable — gusts off Carmel Bay can shift speed calculations putt to putt, forcing players to constantly recalibrate their touch. The greens here aren't especially fast by Tour standards, but their subtle contours and the afternoon Poa annua bumps make consistent putting extremely difficult. Players who excel at pace control over precise line tend to thrive.
Spyglass Hill Golf Course
Often considered the tougher test of the two, Spyglass Hill winds through coastal dunes and Del Monte Forest pines. The greens are larger but more severely contoured, with elevation changes that can turn a routine lag putt into a three-putt disaster. Reading breaks through multiple tiers is essential here — a skill that separates the elite from the merely good. Understanding how to read subtle breaks like the tour pros becomes a massive advantage on these multi-tiered putting surfaces.
The Poa Annua Factor
Both courses feature Poa annua putting surfaces — the grass type that famously becomes bumpier as the day progresses. Unlike the smooth bentgrass greens found at many East Coast venues, Poa greens develop a grainy texture in the afternoon as the grass grows toward sunlight. This means morning starters often enjoy smoother, more predictable rolls, while afternoon groups must trust their stroke and commit to their line through the bumps. It's a challenge that rewards confident, committed strokes — something every amateur can work on during purposeful practice sessions at home.
Contenders to Watch
Rory McIlroy — The Defending Champion
McIlroy's 2025 victory at Pebble Beach was more than just another win — it was the catalyst for one of the greatest stretches in modern golf history. Weeks after lifting the trophy on the 18th green overlooking Carmel Bay, McIlroy ended his decade-long major drought with a historic Masters victory at Augusta National. He returns to Pebble Beach as the game's most compelling story — a champion in the fullness of his powers, with a putting game that has finally matched his legendary ball-striking.
McIlroy's key at Pebble Beach has always been his ability to overpower the course off the tee, leaving himself shorter approach shots into the tiny greens. When his putter cooperates on the Poa annua surfaces, he's virtually unbeatable here. Watch for his performance in the Wednesday–Thursday pro-am rounds as a barometer for his comfort level on the greens.
Scottie Scheffler — The World Number One in Terrifying Form
If there's one player who could spoil McIlroy's title defense, it's Scheffler. The world number one has been on an extraordinary run — his -27 victory at The American Express in late January was a masterclass in precision golf, and he enters Pebble Beach as the hottest player on the planet. Fresh off his 2025 Open Championship triumph at Royal Portrush, Scheffler has proven he can dominate on any surface and in any conditions.
Scheffler's putting transformation over the past year has been remarkable. Once considered the one weakness in an otherwise complete game, his work on the greens has elevated him from world-class to historically dominant. His distance control from 15–30 feet — the exact range that defines scoring at Pebble Beach — has been Tour-leading in 2026.
Justin Rose — Riding the Momentum
Rose's commanding -23 victory at the Farmers Insurance Open just two weeks ago proved the veteran Englishman still has elite-level golf in him. His ball-striking was superb at Torrey Pines, but it was his putting — particularly his lag putting from long range — that sealed the deal. Rose has always enjoyed the Monterey Peninsula's coastal conditions, and with confidence sky-high, he's a serious threat this week.
Xander Schauffele — The Consistent Contender
Schauffele's game is tailor-made for Pebble Beach. His elite iron play gives him birdie opportunities on the par-5s, while his composure in windy conditions keeps bogeys off the card when others are struggling. He's been knocking on the door at Signature Events, and a strong putting week on Poa annua could be the key to breaking through.
Ludvig Åberg — The Rising Force
The young Swede has established himself as one of the game's most exciting talents. As the defending Genesis Invitational champion, Åberg has proven he can handle California's Poa annua greens and coastal conditions. His length off the tee gives him a massive advantage at Pebble Beach, where reaching the par-5s in two is the fastest path to red numbers. If his short game holds up on Spyglass Hill's tricky greens, Åberg could be in the mix come Sunday.
The Pro-Am Factor
The AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am is unique on the PGA Tour calendar for its celebrity pro-am format during the first three days. While the professionals are locked in competition, their amateur partners — often A-list celebrities, tech moguls, and sports icons — add an entertainment element that no other tournament matches. Past participants have included Bill Murray, Justin Timberlake, and a rotating cast of athletes and entertainers.
For the pros, the pro-am format creates an unusual rhythm. Rounds take longer, the atmosphere is more relaxed through the first three days, and the course setup is slightly more generous. But when Sunday's final round arrives at Pebble Beach — pros only — the intensity ratchets up dramatically. The ability to switch from pro-am mode to full competitive focus is an underrated skill at this event.
Key Storylines to Follow
- McIlroy's title defense: Can he become the first back-to-back winner at Pebble Beach since Dustin Johnson (2009–2010)? His form since the Masters win has been consistently excellent.
- Scheffler's early-season dominance: A win here would be his second in three starts in 2026 and further cement his status as the game's most dominant force.
- The coastal weather forecast: Pebble Beach weather can swing from sunshine to sideways rain within hours. Favorable draws (morning tees on calmer days) have historically played a significant role in leaderboard positioning.
- Signature Event stakes: With the elevated $20M purse and limited field, every FedExCup point matters. Players outside the top 50 are fighting for their Signature Event status.
- Rose's momentum: Can the 45-year-old maintain his Farmers Insurance Open form and claim consecutive California victories?
What Amateurs Can Learn from Pebble Beach
You don't need a $600 green fee to take lessons from Pebble Beach. The putting challenges the pros face this week mirror what every golfer encounters — just at a higher level. Here are three takeaways you can apply to your own game:
1. Master Distance Control Before Direction
On Pebble Beach's undulating greens, the pros will miss far more putts from poor speed than poor line. The same is true on your home course. Spend 70% of your putting practice on distance control — lag putting to specific distances, calibrating your stroke length to yardage. A quality distance-marked putting mat makes this drill easy to do at home every day.
2. Commit to Your Line Through the Bumps
Poa annua greens teach one of golf's most valuable lessons: you cannot steer the ball into the hole. Once the ball is rolling, the surface imperfections will influence it — and there's nothing you can do about it. The best putters at Pebble Beach commit fully to their read and stroke, accepting that not every perfect putt will find the bottom of the cup. Building a consistent, repeatable stroke is the best defense against unpredictable surfaces.
3. Adapt Your Pre-Putt Routine to Conditions
Watch how the pros adjust their routines based on wind conditions and time of day at Pebble Beach. In the morning, they may be more aggressive with reads. In windy afternoon rounds, they'll play more break and less speed. Developing a flexible pre-round putting routine that accounts for changing conditions is a skill that separates good putters from great ones.
Our Prediction
This feels like a two-horse race between McIlroy and Scheffler, with Rose as the dangerous outsider. McIlroy's course knowledge and defending champion confidence are real advantages, but Scheffler's current form is almost unprecedented. We're giving a slight edge to Scheffler — his distance control from mid-range has been the best on Tour, and that's the exact skill Pebble Beach rewards most.
Pick to win: Scottie Scheffler (-27 at AmEx → Pebble Beach precision)
Sleeper: Justin Rose (riding Farmers Insurance Open momentum)
One to watch: Ludvig Åberg (length + California comfort = dangerous)
How to Follow the Action
The AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am tees off Thursday, February 12, with coverage on Golf Channel and CBS. Check the PGA Tour schedule for broadcast times, and follow along with live scoring on PGA Tour's website and app.
While you're watching the pros navigate Pebble Beach's legendary greens this weekend, grab your putter and work on your own distance control at home. The same skills that separate the winner from the field — touch, commitment, and a repeatable stroke — are skills every golfer can develop with the right drills and consistent practice.
About Chiputt Golf
About Chiputt Golf: Chiputt Golf is dedicated to helping golfers of all skill levels improve their short game through innovative golf training aids as well as expert guidance. Our team combines deep golf knowledge with cutting-edge technology to create products and content that deliver real results on the golf course.
