PEBBLE BEACH, Calif. -- Ryo Hisatsune served notice to the rest of the field on Thursday, producing a flawless bogey-free 62 to claim the first-round lead at the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am, the first Signature Event of the 2026 PGA Tour season.

The Japanese star was virtually untouchable across 18 holes at the storied Pebble Beach Golf Links, carding 10 birdies without a single blemish on his scorecard. It was the kind of round that leaves fellow competitors shaking their heads and spectators reaching for superlatives.

Hisatsune holds a one-stroke advantage over a pair of accomplished Americans in Sam Burns and U.S. Ryder Cup captain Keegan Bradley, who are both sitting at 9-under par after equally impressive opening rounds. The presence of Bradley near the top of the leaderboard adds an intriguing storyline, as the Ryder Cup captain looks to lead by example ahead of his captaincy duties later this year.

Chris Gotterup, fresh off his victory at the WM Phoenix Open, continued his sizzling 2026 form with an 8-under round to sit in a tie for fourth. Gotterup has quickly emerged as one of the most in-form players on Tour, and his confidence appears to be carrying over from week to week in impressive fashion.

While the young guns lit up the California coastline, it was a different story for world No. 1 Scottie Scheffler. The top-ranked player in golf managed only an even-par 72, leaving him a staggering 10 shots behind Hisatsune after just one round. Scheffler will need a dramatic turnaround over the remaining three rounds if he hopes to contend for any share of the $20 million purse on offer at this elite 80-player event.

Defending champion Rory McIlroy produced a mixed bag in his 2026 PGA Tour debut. The Northern Irishman posted a 4-under 68, a score that looks respectable on the surface but one that could have been significantly better. McIlroy was hampered by two costly double bogeys that undid much of his good work, though his ability to battle back and still finish well under par speaks to the resilience that has defined his career.

The AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am holds a special place on the PGA Tour calendar, combining world-class golf with the breathtaking backdrop of the Monterey Peninsula. As the first Signature Event of 2026, the tournament carries added weight with its $20 million purse and reduced 80-player field, ensuring that every player in attendance is among the best in the world.

For Hisatsune, Thursday represented the kind of statement round that can define a season. His 62 was not merely low scoring but artistically constructed, a bogey-free journey around one of the most demanding courses in championship golf. Every fairway seemed a little wider, every green a little more receptive, and every putt destined for the center of the cup.

Three rounds remain, and the history of golf is littered with first-round leaders who faded into the weekend. But if Hisatsune can maintain even a fraction of the form he displayed on Thursday, the rest of the field will be playing for second place. The question now is whether Burns, Bradley, Gotterup, or perhaps McIlroy can mount a charge, or whether Scheffler can summon the form that made him the best player on the planet.

Round two promises more drama along the cliffs of Pebble Beach, where the Pacific Ocean provides the soundtrack and the golf continues to captivate.