Cam Davis has rallied after a wild front nine to be in the thick of the title chase as Sepp Straka leads a European Ryder Cuppers’ onslaught at the PGA Tour’s AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am.
Playing in the final group on Saturday, Australian Davis was in danger of falling from the reckoning after mixing four bogeys with three birdies in the first nine holes in windy conditions at the $US20 million signature event.
But he burst back with a birdie at the 13th before holing a “pretty fun” bunker shot for eagle at the par-5 14th and carding a three-under 69 to be tied fourth, just two shots behind Austrian leader Straka going into the final round.
Also in the final group, Straka (70) birdied four of the last five holes to set the pace at 16 under as he attempts to back up his win at The American Express tournament two weeks ago.
There is plenty of class ahead of Davis, with major winners Rory McIlroy and Shane Lowry shooting seven-under 65s to be tied second, one shot off the lead.
And yet another European Ryder Cup player, English veteran and 2003 champion Justin Rose, also relished the links-style conditions as he posted a 68 to be tied fourth with Davis and Tom Kim (68).
Davis was proud of his response to the early adversity as he seeks a third PGA Tour title.
“I’m really glad with how I rallied back on the back nine …it’s always nice to hole a bunker shot and that kind of gets things moving in the right,” he said.
“I grinded it really well, it wasn’t an easy day… I started making nice putts. I feel like I left quite a few out there on the greens.”
Fellow Australians Jason Day and Min Woo Lee are well positioned to press for big pay days. Day (68) is tied 15th and seven shots behind Straka, with Lee (68) a further shot back.
World No.1 Scottie Scheffler, in his 2025 debut delayed by his hand surgery from a freak puncture wound, held it together for a 69 to be six shots from the lead.
Northern Ireland’s McIlroy and Lowry (Ireland) are neighbours in south Florida these days but their vast history in such conditions helps.
“It might suit me somewhat, but I don’t enjoy it,” Lowry said.
“I live in Florida for a reason. I think my game is well-equipped to handle these conditions and I go out there, kind of no fear, and I know I just need to batten down the hatches and make pars when I can.
“There’s a few courses in the world that you would like to win on and this is definitely one of them,” Lowry added.
“So you try not to think about stuff like that and hopefully it comes to you someday.”
McIlroy had a suitable game plan. When the wind arrived as he was on the sixth hole, he said he turned to caddie Harry Diamond and said, “Let’s try to chip the ball around today.”
“I feel like I didn’t make a full swing after that,” he said.
“It’s really cool to be in contention this early in the season.”
– with The AP
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