AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am Challenged PGA Tour Pros to Perform Under Pressure & Exceed Expectations

As a Navy SEAL once famously said, “Under pressure, you don’t rise to the occasion, you sink to the level of your training. That’s why we train so hard.”

If there were ever an event that would fully embody that poignant quote, it was clearly the 2026 AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am Golf Tournament, which was held this week at Pebble Beach Resorts in Northern California.

Hosted in Pebble Beach since the 1940s and formerly known as the “Crosby Clambake”, this annual PGA Tour Signature event has evolved into one of the most widely recognized, globally televised professional golf tournaments.

In addition to being a major fundraiser for Monterey County charities, to start with, the setting alone is remarkable. The golf tournament takes place along the Monterey Peninsula coastline overlooking Stillwater Cove, with the Santa Lucia mountain range in the distance. The natural beauty of the course continues to draw spectators each year, making it a longstanding favorite among golf enthusiasts and avid travelers.

For decades, the event was best known for its Pro-Am format, with PGA Tour professionals paired alongside amateurs, including elite athletes, A-list actors, celebrities, and top executives. In recent years, the structure has shifted. It is now one of eight limited-field PGA Tour Signature events featuring a $20 million purse, which means the stakes are greater and the fierce rivalry amongst the players is palpable.

A select group of amateurs still competes during the first two rounds on Thursday and Friday (which, to be honest, lightens the mood). By the weekend, however, the field is limited strictly to PGA Tour players. As a result, the atmosphere becomes noticeably more focused and competitive. The energy in the course reflects a higher level of intensity.

The amateur field this year brought together a group of powerful leaders from business and sports, reflecting the unique intersection of competition and leadership that defines this event.

One of the amateurs was Heidi Ueberroth, who currently serves as Co-Chair of Pebble Beach Company and President of Globicon. She previously held the role of President of NBA International and sits on the board of Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts. Beyond being the only female amateur (that I saw out on the field), her impressive career (in fields traditionally dominated by men) exemplifies strength and leadership acumen across global sports, media, and hospitality organizations, which is especially inspiring for all the achievement-oriented women watching the tournament.

Another standout amateur was Ryan Smith (pictured above with his caddie), billionaire Co-Founder of Qualtrics and owner of the NBA’s Utah Jazz, who participated as one of the most prominent entrepreneurs in the field.

As a regular amateur at pro golf tournaments, Tom Nelson, Chairman and CEO of National Gypsum, also competed this week. He also serves on the board of Yum! Brands, the parent company of KFC, Taco Bell, and Pizza Hut.

Among other notable amateurs were Charles Schwab, founder and chairman of The Charles Schwab Corporation, Kansas City Chiefs NFL tight end Travis Kelce (who’s engaged to Grammy-winner Taylor Swift), and former NFL quarterback Alex Smith, to name a few.

For spectators, especially serious golf followers, the excitement came less from celebrity presence and more from watching the pro golfers navigate pressure, conditions, and expectation in real time. This year’s tournament reflected a different kind of power on display, one built on preparation, resilience, and the determination to perform when it matters most.

Over the past week, the weather has varied greatly from sunny skies to blustery winds and rainy downpours. Primarily taking place on the famed Pebble Beach Golf Links, which is known to be a challenging course, the difficult weather upped the ante even more. There were even moments when players watched their golf balls rolling away from the hole just due to strong winds alone.

Last year’s winner of the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am, Rory McIlroy (currently ranked # 2 in the world), approached this year’s event with a long-term view shaped by experience. Reflecting on the pace of change in professional golf, he observed that a great deal can shift within a year and that each tournament must be treated independently.

In 2024, when I interviewed McIlroy during a practice round, we discussed the importance of a winning mindset and the significance of mental focus, especially when there are so many external distractions (media, fans, competition, etc.). During this year’s tournament, he said, “There’s a lot that can happen in 12 months… You try to treat every tournament like its own.”

That perspective on mindset and preparation carried through the rest of the field this week. As conditions shifted radically over the course of the past few days, the players who stayed mentally steady and committed to their process ultimately separated themselves.

After a very close competition, Collin Morikawa emerged as the 2026 AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am champion, delivering a performance defined by clarity, discipline, and intention.

He’s previously won several PGA Tour events, including two major championships, the 2020 PGA Championship and the 2021 Open Championship. Going into this event, he was definitely one of the players that fans were keeping a close eye on.

Throughout the week, his play reflected a renewed focus on approaching each tournament with the goal of winning rather than simply competing. When asked about his mindset, he said plainly, “I came out to win. I want to win. I’ve got to set that mindset at the beginning of the week.” That level of conviction was evident across all four rounds.

As weather conditions became more demanding and the margins tightened, his ability to remain composed and execute under pressure ultimately positioned him at the top of the leaderboard.

Morikawa’s victory reinforced a familiar pattern in professional sport and business alike. Preparation builds confidence, but resilience and inner power are what help you excel when external challenges become seemingly insurmountable.

Finishing just behind him, Min Woo Lee delivered one of the strongest weeks of his season. The Australian golfer has been steadily building momentum, and his play at Pebble Beach reflected increasing consistency across all aspects of his game. Earlier in the week, he spoke about the importance of putting together four complete rounds rather than relying on isolated strong stretches.

He said, “I feel like the last two tournaments I played really well, but didn’t have the four rounds all together. So yes, it’s slowly getting better as the weeks go on, and hopefully I can put four good rounds together.” That gradual progression was evident throughout the tournament and positioned him firmly among the leaders heading into the final round.

Sepp Straka also delivered a steady and disciplined performance, quietly working his way into the top tier of the leaderboard, tying for second with Min Woo Lee. His week reflected the type of consistency that often goes unnoticed until the final standings are set. When life (or in this case, a golf course) presents you with obstacles and difficulties, the ability to avoid major mistakes and remain patient often proves just as valuable as moments of brilliance. His strong finish underscored the importance of staying committed to the process rather than reacting emotionally to shifting circumstances.

Scottie Scheffler (currently ranked world # 1) once again demonstrated the calm, measured approach that has defined his recent seasons. Known for his composure and ability to stay emotionally neutral, he framed unpredictable weather and course conditions as variables to manage rather than obstacles to overcome. “With crazy weather, crazy things can happen… You never want to limit yourself.”

As I noted in my AT&T story last year, the way Scheffler walks, his facial expressions, and even his personality – they all denote one thing: self-assuredness. It’s like he’s mastered the art of feeling comfortable in his skin, and when it comes to sports, that’s half the battle of becoming a winner. Not to mention, this type of persona can help intimidate the competition, which is a psychological advantage.

Tommy Fleetwood (another fan favorite) worked his way up the leaderboard over the past 24-hours by navigating changing conditions with a practical and adaptable mindset. He emphasized the importance of accepting the environment rather than wishing for ideal circumstances, which is a great perspective on everything in life, especially when you can’t control the elements.

Fleetwood said, “You have to accept the conditions for what they are and make the most of it.” That point of view mirrors the approach many high-level professionals take in competitive environments. External factors shift quickly, but it’s the ability to adjust without losing focus that often determines who rises to the top.

Another player whose performance impressed fans (myself included) this week was Sam Burns. While he’s currently ranked # 28 in the world, the fact that he was on the top of the leaderboard going into the final hours of the tournament proves his consistency and diligence are paying dividends.

Reflecting on the pressure of competing near the top, he noted, “That’s what we train for… I’m always excited when I’m up there, and I have a chance to win.” He also acknowledged how narrow the margin can be between victory and finishing just behind it. “It’s always a razor-thin margin between winning and not.” That reality was evident throughout the week as conditions tightened, leading to moments where greater precision is paramount to anything else.

Finally, a fast-rising star who caught spectators’ attention (and was on top of the leaderboard right up until the last day) was one of the youngest PGA Tour players, Akshay Bhatia. Throughout the weekend, he demonstrated composure and resilience beyond his years.

Joining the PGA Tour at just 17 years old required the belief that he could excel in a highly competitive arena (despite his young age), a sense of inner confidence, and the ability to maintain momentum (even when so many of the players had years of experience under their belt).

Over the past several years of playing professionally, his steady presence and rapid rise among the most notable leaders reflected continued growth and perseverance. While he’s currently ranked # 48 in the world, he finished strong today, tying with Burns for 6th place. Bhatia described his approach simply this week by saying: “I’ve always tried to put one foot in front of the other, and that’s just what I’ve got to keep doing.”

As winds intensified along the coastline, he acknowledged the physical challenge directly. “When it’s blowing 35 off the ocean, it’s brutal.” Bhatia’s performance throughout the tournament reinforced the idea that sustained progress often comes from the notion that you can achieve anything if you believe you can.