Rory McIlroy holes out from the sand at the 12th hole, moving within four strokes of the lead at the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am.
Rory McIlroy delivered a moment of brilliance on Thursday at the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am, holing out from a bunker at the 12th hole to close the gap on the leaders. The shot moved the defending champion within four strokes of the lead as he seeks to capture his second consecutive title at the iconic PGA Tour event.
The bunker shot proved part of a remarkable stretch of play, with multiple hole-outs occurring in rapid succession during the opening round. The momentum-shifting moments highlighted the quality of play at Pebble Beach, where precision and creativity around the greens often determine success.
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McIlroy’s spectacular recovery at the 12th positioned him well as he navigated the front nine of the first day. The defending champion, who won the tournament last year, entered the week among the favorites alongside world number one Scottie Scheffler.
The bunker shot demonstrated the kind of aggressive play that has defined McIlroy’s career, particularly in signature events. With four holes separating him from the leaders at the midpoint of his round, he retained every opportunity to mount a full challenge heading into the weekend at one of professional golf’s most prestigious venues.
Pebble Beach continues to reward both steady play and explosive moments, and McIlroy’s display at the 12th gave his gallery and supporters every reason to believe a second consecutive title remains within reach.
🚨🗣️⛳️ #HEAR THE RORS — Rory McIlroy moves within 4 of the lead after holing out from the bunker at the 12th. @TrackingRory pic.twitter.com/zmwjy41yKx
— NUCLR GOLF (@NUCLRGOLF) February 22, 2026
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