Akshay Bhatia moves into two-shot lead at wind-swept Pebble Beach

[p]With gusting winds at the seaside course's signature 18th hole keeping balls wobbling and rolling out of position, [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/bhatia-akshay/hO3IOL5C/"]Bhatia[/a] endured a hefty wait before missing a seven-foot birdie putt and closing with a par.[/p][p][b]"Always nice to get off to a good start," [/b]Bhatia said. [b]"Making six out of the first seven was pretty nice."[/b][/p][p]Despite his sizzling start, the 24-year-old American never made another birdie and finished 54 holes on 19-under 197, seeing a five-shot lead trimmed to two ahead of Sunday's final round.[/p][p][b]"Just battling the elements at Pebble Beach is always fun," [/b]Bhatia said.[/p][p][b]"Then you're holding on for a little bit once you get to eight, nine, 10, 12. And then 17 is a brutal hole today. Happy with today for sure."[/b][/p][embed guid="a0fde96f-195f-4f26-b335-c72faefa3765" url="https://x.com/i/status/2022858161745473798" social-type="twitter" /][p]Sharing second on 199 was two-time major winner [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/morikawa-collin/0UlRrMgE/"]Collin Morikawa[/a], who birdied five of the last six holes to fire a 62, plus fellow American [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/knapp-jake/nwZvjPjN/"]Jake Knapp[/a] and Austrian [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/straka-sepp/fqttYEZr/"]Sepp Straka[/a]. American [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/bridgeman-jacob/xdp19XIg/"]Jacob Bridgeman[/a] was on 200 and Japan's [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/matsuyama-hideki/GOHJOEb5/"]Hideki Matsuyama[/a] on 201.[/p][p][b]"I wanted to come out and win the tournament," [/b]Morikawa said.[b] "Now we've given ourself a chance."[/b][/p][p]Bhatia, who shared third last week at Phoenix, seeks a third career PGA title after wins at the 2023 Barracuda Championship and 2024 Texas Open.[/p][p][b]"One out of every 30 events we play can get this challenging," [/b]Bhatia said. [b]"I'm just looking forward to that and having a good time."[/b][/p][p]Sunday's forecast features gusts around 35 mph after wobbling golf balls at 18 had Bhatia hoping for a moment for a delay to Sunday.[/p][p][b]"I was hoping so but tomorrow doesn't look any better," [/b]Bhatia said.[b] "Our golf balls were just oscillating and technically it's not a moving ball but it's just hard to get over a putt when you see your golf ball moving forwards, backwards, backwards, forwards. It's just brutal.[/b][/p][p][b]"It's hard to hit a putt like that with those conditions and with everything going on in your head. I was happy to make five there."[/b][/p][embed guid="b5a3b1d7-29f5-408e-befa-412c4216cb1e" url="https://x.com/PGATOUR/status/2022829205243756741?s=20" social-type="twitter" /][p]Bhatia began with birdie putts from five feet and nine feet on the first two holes, an eight-footer at the fourth and a 27-foot birdie putt at the par-three fifth.[/p][p][b]His superb start ended with a six-foot birdie putt at the par-five sixth and a birdie putt from just inside eight feet at the par-three seventh.[/b][/p][p]Bhatia took bogeys at the par-three 12th and 17th holes.[/p][p]Japan's [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/hisatsune-ryo/bcC14WvA/"]Ryo Hisatsune[/a], who had shared the 36-hole lead with Bhatia, stumbled to a 74 to stand on 203.[/p][p]World number one [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/scheffler-scottie/bXfIuBYu/"]Scottie Scheffler[/a] fired a 67 to share 22nd and stand eight adrift on 205, while defending champion [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/mcilroy-rory/djwanksN/"]Rory McIlroy[/a] fired a 72 to share 39th on 207.[/p]