Rory McIlroy Returns to Defend Title at AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am

McIlroy’s Season Debut Comes Full Circle

There’s something poetic about McIlroy returning to Pebble Beach to start his season. Last year, he did the exact same thing and walked away with the trophy after a Sunday shootout that saw six players share the lead at various points during the final round.

The world No. 2 closed with rounds of 65-66 on the weekend, including an 18-foot birdie on the 10th hole that gave him the lead for good. An eagle at the par-5 14th essentially sealed the deal, and he finished at 21 under to beat Shane Lowry by two strokes.

That victory sparked something special. McIlroy went on to win The Players Championship and finally completed the career Grand Slam at Augusta National. Not a bad year when you look back at it.

Now he’s back where it all started, looking to defend his title for the first time this season. McIlroy has proven he can win in his season debut before, having done it three times now including last year’s triumph at Pebble Beach.

Scheffler Continues His Remarkable Run

While McIlroy gets the headlines as defending champ, Scottie Scheffler might be the guy everyone’s watching this week. The world No. 1 is riding a streak that’s almost hard to believe: 17 consecutive top-10 finishes on Tour.

That’s 17 straight top-10s—a feat not accomplished since Billy Casper in 1965.

Scheffler already won at The American Express to start the season and came close to making it two in a row with a third-place finish at the WM Phoenix Open last week. He’s made just two previous appearances at Pebble Beach, finishing sixth in 2024 and ninth last year. Both times he cracked the top 10.

The guy is playing a different game right now. He led the Tour in scoring average for all four rounds last season, something only Tiger Woods had done since 2000.

Gotterup Riding High After Phoenix Win

Chris Gotterup sits atop the FedExCup standings after his playoff victory over Hideki Matsuyama at the WM Phoenix Open. It was his second win in three starts this season and his fourth Tour victory overall.

The momentum is real for Gotterup right now. He’s making his debut at Pebble Beach, but confidence like this travels well. Winning in a playoff at TPC Scottsdale in front of that crowd takes serious nerve, and he pulled it off with a birdie on the first extra hole.

Rose Returns After Torrey Pines Dominance

Justin Rose is coming off a week off following his seven-stroke demolition job at the Farmers Insurance Open. That victory at Torrey Pines was his 13th Tour title and moved him to No. 3 in the world rankings.

Rose won this event back in 2023, so he knows what it takes to get it done on the Monterey Peninsula. He’s made seven career starts here with four finishes of 11th or better, including a third-place showing last year.

At 45 years old, Rose became the second-oldest player to crack the top three in the world rankings behind only Vijay Singh. He’s also got more Tour wins than any English player since 1940, surpassing even Nick Faldo’s nine victories.

Fleetwood Makes Season Debut

Tommy Fleetwood, last year’s FedExCup champion, is finally making his 2026 debut. The world No. 4 had quite the 2025 season, winning his first Tour title at the Tour Championship after 164 starts.

That breakthrough win was worth the wait—Fleetwood had posted 30 top-five finishes on Tour before finally breaking through. Last season alone he recorded eight top-10s and missed just one cut in 19 starts. He’s made three previous appearances at Pebble Beach with finishes of 45th, 31st and 22nd.

The Pebble Beach Challenge

The tournament returns to its two-course rotation with Pebble Beach Golf Links and Spyglass Hill Golf Course. Amateurs will play alongside the pros for the first two rounds before the field goes to Pebble Beach only for the weekend.

Pebble Beach plays at 6,989 yards, making it one of the shortest courses on Tour. But don’t let that fool you. The greens average just 3,500 square feet, the smallest on Tour, and there are 116 bunkers waiting to swallow up wayward shots.

The course has been tweaked since last year’s event. The 10th green was renovated and the championship tee on the sixth hole was moved. Superintendent Pete Bachman and his crew have the place in pristine condition as always.

Spyglass Hill, stretching to 7,071 yards, provides a different test entirely. It’s longer and demands precision off the tee, making the two-course rotation a unique challenge that tests every part of a player’s game.

This is what Signature Events are supposed to look like: the best players in the world, an iconic venue, a $20 million purse, and no cut to worry about. The limited field of 80 is based on FedExCup standings and eligibility from the Aon Swing 5, ensuring only the Tour’s elite make the trip. Let’s see who can handle the pressure when it matters most on Sunday.