Hisatsune Grabs Pebble Beach Lead With Sparkling 62

Defending champion Rory McIlroy and top-ranked Scottie Scheffler struggle on opening day.

Published on Feb. 12, 2026

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Ryo Hisatsune fired a career-best 10-under par 62 on Thursday to take a one-stroke first-round lead in the PGA Tour Pebble Beach Pro-Am. Sam Burns and Keegan Bradley sit one shot back, while defending champion Rory McIlroy and world No. 1 Scottie Scheffler had uneven rounds.

Why it matters

Hisatsune has been building momentum on the PGA Tour, with a runner-up finish at Torrey Pines and a top-10 in Phoenix. A win at Pebble Beach would be his first on the US circuit and a significant breakthrough for the 23-year-old Japanese player.

The details

Hisatsune carded 10 birdies without a bogey, needing just 22 putts. He birdied four straight holes on the front nine and closed with three consecutive birdies. Sam Burns and Keegan Bradley also had strong opening rounds, while McIlroy and Scheffler struggled to take advantage of the ideal scoring conditions.

  • Hisatsune fired a career-best 62 on Thursday, the opening round of the tournament.
  • Hisatsune held the halfway lead at the Phoenix Open last week before finishing T10.

The players

Ryo Hisatsune

A 23-year-old Japanese player who won the 2023 Open de France on the DP World Tour and is seeking his first PGA Tour title.

Rory McIlroy

The defending champion of the Pebble Beach Pro-Am, who shot a 4-under 68 in the opening round.

Scottie Scheffler

The world No. 1 player, who shot an even-par round and struggled to take advantage of the conditions.

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What they’re saying

“(I'm) feeling much more comfortable playing these greens.”

— Ryo Hisatsune (yahoo.com)

“I was just kind of coasting along. You don't really realize it in the moment and then when you look up you're like, wow, I'm six-under through six -- that's nice.”

— Chris Gotterup (yahoo.com)

“I feel like typically I'm good at scoring and today I felt like I didn't score at all. I actually feel like I'm playing pretty well, just one of those days.”

— Scottie Scheffler (yahoo.com)

The takeaway

Hisatsune's strong start at Pebble Beach, coming off recent success on the DP World Tour and PGA Tour, suggests he is poised for a breakthrough win on the US circuit. Meanwhile, the struggles of top players like McIlroy and Scheffler highlight the unpredictable nature of golf and the challenges even the best players can face in any given tournament.