Austria’s Sepp Straka, who won his third PGA Tour title just two weeks ago, fired a seven-under-par 65 to grab the lead after Friday’s second round of the Pebble Beach Pro-Am.
Straka, who captured the American Express crown at Palm Springs earlier in January, stood on 14-under 130 after 36 holes, three ahead of Australia’s Cam Davis and 18-hole leader American Russell Henley.
The 31-year-old from Vienna fashioned a 65 Thursday at Spyglass Hill and another Friday at windy Pebble Beach in the event, which uses a multi-course format just as the American Express, where he beat two-time Major winner Justin Thomas by two strokes.
“Hitting the ball really well early in the round and then missed a few putts, but made some really nice putts, too,” Straka said. “It was just all around a pretty solid day.”
Straka matched the low round at Pebble Beach thanks to eight birdies against a lone bogey despite blustery conditions.
“Went from zero to about 20mph pretty quickly,” he said. “Took a few holes for me to adjust to it.”
Straka said his strong back-to-back efforts isn’t really a run, especially when top-ranked Scottie Scheffler won nine times last year.
“Last six rounds have been pretty nice,” Straka said. “No, I would not classify that as a run. I think Scottie Scheffler’s on a run.”
Adjusting to a stronger putting grip with his hands higher on the putter has been a key to his recent success, Straka said.
“I think that has definitely made a huge difference.”
The Austrian reeled off three birdies in a row starting with a tap-in at the par-five 2nd hole followed by putts of 15 feet at three and eight feet at the 4th.
He reached the green in two again to birdie the par-five 6th and rolled in a 22-foot birdie putt at nine to make the turn at 12 under.
Straka sank 12-foot birdie putts at 11 and the par-five 14th, then missed a four-foot par putt to bogey 16 but answered by reaching the green in two at the par-five 18th and closing out his round with a four-foot birdie putt.
Davis sank a 46-foot eagle chip on the 1st hole at Spyglass Hill on his way to a 68 but a closing bogey cost him solo second.
A pack sharing fourth on 10-under 134 included England’s Justin Rose, South Korean Tom Kim and Americans Andrew Novak, Austin Eckroat and Tony Finau.
Four-time Major winner Rory McIlroy endured a roller-coaster round in shooting 70 at Pebble Beach to stand six adrift on eight-under 136.
After making four birdies in his first seven holes, McIlroy made bogeys on four out of six on the back nine before closing with a 25-foot eagle putt at 18.
Scheffler, making his 2025 PGA Tour season debut this week, fired a 70 at Pebble Beach to stand on seven-under 137.
“It was a weird day,” Scheffler said. “My swing could definitely have been better. I had a weird combination of putts. I was hitting from 2.5 feet or lag putts all day. I didn’t give myself enough opportunities but didn’t shoot myself out of it.”
South Africa’s Christiaan Bezuidenhout shared 32nd position after a round of 70 that included four birdies and two bogeys.
© Agence France-Presse
