Sepp Straka leads by 3 at Pebble Beach as rough weather awaits the weekend

PEBBLE BEACH, Calif. (AP) — Sepp Straka got most of his work done before the weather started to turn Friday in the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am, posting another 7-under 65 for a three-shot lead that left Rory McIlroy, Scottie Scheffler and everyone having to chase him.

Straka, coming off a win two weeks ago in the California desert, showed a game that works just fine at sea level in less-than-ideal conditions, particularly the final hour.

Out came the mittens and beanies. Down came the temperature, accompanied by a little rain.

McIlroy went from challenging for the lead to making four bogeys in a six-hole stretch, before he finished his wild back nine at Pebble Beach with a 25-foot eagle putt to salvage a 70 that left him six shots behind.

Scheffler took a walk down the beach on the 18th hole, turning a potential bogey into a par when he hopped down a pair of rock ledges to the sandy soil, managed to get his ball back into play and hit 6-iron to the green. He shot 70 and was seven behind.

Andrew Novak got his first victory on the PGA Tour, which comes with a plaque on the wall off the first tee, not a trip to the Masters. Novak teamed with billionaire investor Philippe Laffont to win the pro-am.

The weekend at Pebble Beach is only for the 79 pros — Ludvig Aberg had to withdraw with an illness that affected him last week at Torrey Pines — and for the hardiest of players.

Gusts approaching 30 mph are in the forecast, along with spots of rain. Pebble Beach, that felicitous meeting of land and sea, is a beast in nasty weather.

“Went from zero to about 20 miles an hour pretty quickly,” Straka said of his final four holes at Pebble Beach, which including missing a 3-foot par putt on the 16th for his only bogey of the round, and a 4-iron into 30 feet for a two-putt birdie at the last.

He was at 14-under 130, three shots ahead of Russell Henley, who had a 69 at Pebble Beach, and Cam Davis of Australia, who had a 68 at Spyglass Hill.

“It's going to change Pebble a lot,” said Tony Finau, who had a 67 at Spyglass Hill and was in a large group at 10-under 134.

“It's unfortunate because Pebble is pure right now, really pure. The ball is bouncing and anytime that’s the case at Pebble, I think it’s pretty magical to play. We’ll have to adjust, just adapt as we do out here and we’ll just have to do that on the weekend.”

McIlroy was magnificent with the driver and didn't get much out of it. Still, he opened with four birdies in seven holes — the scoring stretch at Pebble — until he missed the green on the par-3 12th, hit it heavy out of fairway bunker on the 13th and was out of position off the tee at the 15th and 16th holes, all leading to bogey.

His round ended with an eagle, and he was still in the mix.

Scheffler, in a 2025 debut delayed by minor surgery on his right hand for a freak puncture wound while making ravioli, ran off three straight birdies, including a shot to 2 feet on the tough eighth hole. That was the last of his birdies, but it was the par that saved him.

He pulled his tee shot left on the par-5 18th toward the largest water hazard in golf. Scheffler didn't see the ball carom off the rocks or splash in the Pacific Ocean. His only option was to go forward to the end of the tee box, so he opted to walk 300 yards and take a look.

He spotted a golf ball on the beach — it was his — and was able to move enough small rocks and seaweed to advance that to the fairway and make par.

“The unpredictability was the most difficult part,” Scheffler said. “After the tee ball, I definitely would have taken a par, no complaints.”

Not many from Straka, either, who would appear to be riding some momentum from his victory in The American Express. He attributes much of that to a slight change in his putting, going to a skinnier grip and moving his hands slightly higher.

“Palm Springs was the first time in a long time I felt that I had four really good putting rounds in a row,” Straka said. “Yeah, I think that’s definitely made a huge difference.”

But he pulled back when he was asked if was on a big run.

“A six-round run,” he said. “I mean, no, I would not classify that as a run. I think Scottie Scheffler is on a run.”

AP golf: https://apnews.com/hub/golf

Russell Henley points as he looks down the 10th fairway at Pebble Beach Golf Links during the second round of the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am golf tournament, Friday, Jan. 31, 2025, in Pebble Beach, Calif. (AP Photo/Nic Coury)

Jason Day of Australia hits from a fairway bunker on the 10th hole at Pebble Beach Golf Links during the second round of the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am golf tournament, Friday, Jan. 31, 2025, in Pebble Beach, Calif. (AP Photo/Nic Coury)

Scottie Scheffler reacts after missing a putt on the fourth hole at Pebble Beach Golf Links during the second round of the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am golf tournament, Friday, Jan. 31, 2025, in Pebble Beach, Calif. (AP Photo/Nic Coury)

Scottie Scheffler lines up a putt on the sixth hole at Pebble Beach Golf Links during the second round of the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am golf tournament, Friday, Jan. 31, 2025, in Pebble Beach, Calif. (AP Photo/Nic Coury)

Jordan Spieth, far left, leads his group to the seventh green at Pebble Beach Golf Links during the second round of the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am golf tournament, Friday, Jan. 31, 2025, in Pebble Beach, Calif. (AP Photo/Nic Coury)

Jordan Spieth hits from a bunker on the sixth hole at Pebble Beach Golf Links during the second round of the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am golf tournament, Friday, Jan. 31, 2025, in Pebble Beach, Calif. (AP Photo/Nic Coury)

Rory McIlroy of Northern Ireland reacts after missing a putt on the third hole at Pebble Beach Golf Links during the second round of the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am golf tournament, Friday, Jan. 31, 2025, in Pebble Beach, Calif. (AP Photo/Nic Coury)

Scottie Scheffler hits from the sixth fairway at Pebble Beach Golf Links during the second round of the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am golf tournament, Friday, Jan. 31, 2025, in Pebble Beach, Calif. (AP Photo/Nic Coury)

Sepp Straka, of Austria, tees off on the fifth hole at Pebble Beach Golf Links during the second round of the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am golf tournament, Friday, Jan. 31, 2025, in Pebble Beach, Calif. (AP Photo/Nic Coury)

BARCELONA, Spain (AP) — Barcelona clinched its 28th Spanish league title after Lamine Yamal starred in its 2-0 win at crosstown rival Espanyol on Thursday.

Yamal scored in the 53rd minute when the teenage phenom slid past two defenders along the edge of the area before he whipped one of his now trademark left-footed curlers into the corner of the net.

It was a fitting culmination to Yamal's season. The 17-year-old excelled for Barcelona with his goals, dribbling and playmaking as he confirmed his status as the next big star of global soccer.

Fermín López scored in stoppage time after Espanyol was reduced to 10 men in the 80th when Leandro Cabrera saw a direct red for hitting Yamal in the stomach while disputing a ball.

Barcelona won the title with two rounds remaining. It completed a domestic double with the Copa del Rey title and reached the Champions League semifinals in a fantastic first season for coach Hansi Flick.

Flick’s team virtually ended Madrid’s title defense when it beat its top rival 4-3 on Sunday, making it four of four clasico victories across all competitions this season.

Madrid's victory over Mallorca on Wednesday impeded Barcelona from winning the title without playing. But the Catalan club needed just two points from its final three games of the season.

Barcelona’s players danced briefly on the field to celebrate while sprinklers wet them with water.

Espanyol outplayed its wealthier rival in the first half. But Urko González shot wide on a counterattack early on and Javi Puado couldn’t beat Wojciech Szczesny in a one-on-one opportunity.

But Yamal's great shot put Barcelona in control. Espanyol goalkeeper Joan García, who is linked to a move to a big club this summer, including Barcelona, dove but couldn’t reach the perfectly placed shot.

Espanyol needed to a good result from the derby as it hopes to stay out of the relegation fight. Espanyol remained in 16th place and five points from the drop zone.

AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer

Barcelona players celebrate after a goal during a Spanish La Liga soccer match between Espanyol and Barcelona in Barcelona, Spain, Thursday, May 15, 2025. (AP Photo/Jose Breton)

Barcelona's Fermin Lopez, celebrates after scoring his side's second goal during a Spanish La Liga soccer match between Barcelona and Espanyol at Lluis Companys Olympic Stadium in Barcelona, Spain, Thursday, May 15, 2025. (AP Photo/Joan Monfort)

Barcelona's Lamine Yamal reacts after scoring during a Spanish La Liga soccer match between Espanyol and Barcelona in Barcelona, Spain, Thursday, May 15, 2025. (AP Photo/Jose Breton)

Espanyol's Antoniu Roca, left, attempts a shot at goal in front of Barcelona's Gerard Martin during a Spanish La Liga soccer match between Barcelona and Espanyol at Lluis Companys Olympic Stadium in Barcelona, Spain, Thursday, May 15, 2025. (AP Photo/Joan Monfort)

Espanyol's Javi Puado, left, attempts a shot at goal in front of Barcelona's Andreas Christensen during a Spanish La Liga soccer match between Barcelona and Espanyol at Lluis Companys Olympic Stadium in Barcelona, Spain, Thursday, May 15, 2025. (AP Photo/Joan Monfort)

Barcelona's Lamine Yamal, left, celebrates with his teammates after scoring his side's opening goal during a Spanish La Liga soccer match between Barcelona and Espanyol at Lluis Companys Olympic Stadium in Barcelona, Spain, Thursday, May 15, 2025. (AP Photo/Joan Monfort)

Barcelona's Lamine Yamal spits out water as he warms up prior to a Spanish La Liga soccer match between Barcelona and Espanyol at Lluis Companys Olympic Stadium in Barcelona, Spain, Thursday, May 15, 2025. (AP Photo/Joan Monfort)

Barcelona's Lamine Yamal drinks water as he warms up prior to a Spanish La Liga soccer match between Barcelona and Espanyol at Lluis Companys Olympic Stadium in Barcelona, Spain, Thursday, May 15, 2025. (AP Photo/Joan Monfort)

Barcelona's Lamine Yamal, center, celebrates after scoring his side's opening goal during a Spanish La Liga soccer match between Barcelona and Espanyol at Lluis Companys Olympic Stadium in Barcelona, Spain, Thursday, May 15, 2025. (AP Photo/Joan Monfort)

Barcelona's Lamine Yamal, left, runs with the ball past Espanyol's Carlos Romero during a Spanish La Liga soccer match between Barcelona and Espanyol at Lluis Companys Olympic Stadium in Barcelona, Spain, Thursday, May 15, 2025. (AP Photo/Joan Monfort)

Barcelona's Lamine Yamal, left, celebrates with his teammate Alejandro Balde after scoring his side's opening goal during a Spanish La Liga soccer match between Barcelona and Espanyol at Lluis Companys Olympic Stadium in Barcelona, Spain, Thursday, May 15, 2025. (AP Photo/Joan Monfort)

Barcelona's Lamine Yamal attempts a shot at goal to scores his side's opening goal during a Spanish La Liga soccer match between Barcelona and Espanyol at Lluis Companys Olympic Stadium in Barcelona, Spain, Thursday, May 15, 2025. (AP Photo/Joan Monfort)