Rory McIlroy with work by Akshay Bhatia and Ryo Hisatsune

Akshay Bhatia shot an eight-under par 64 to share the second round lead with Ryo Hisatsune at 15 under par at the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am.

Defending champion Rory McIlroy birdied the final hole to post a 67 but is six strokes off the pace heading into the weekend.

The Northern Irishman made five birdies and an eagle, but was left to rue bogeys on the 10th and 14th, although his four-putt on the 18th was more than satisfactory for the five-time major winner’s day.

American Bhatia had earlier produced one of the day’s rounds at Spyglass Hill, while Hisatsun recovered from dropped shots either side of the turn to pick up four shots in the final five holes.

Equally impressive was Rickie Fowler as he moved into a tie for second place alongside Sam Burns, at 14 as he bids for his first win since July 2023.

Austria’s Sepp Straka is currently the best European Under-12 player, with England’s Matt Fitzpatrick two shots back alongside the likes of Keegan Bradley, Jordan Spieth and Xander Scheufele.

England’s Tommy Fleetwood followed up his 67 on Thursday with a 68 to sit nine points under McIlroy’s number, while Ireland’s Shane Lowry fired another shot back.

A charging Scottie Scheffler put himself back in the picture with three birdies and an eagle over a five-hole stretch after the turn to reach the clubhouse at six under over the first two days.

English players Justin Rose and Harry Hole are at five with Scot Robert McIntyre, with each player in the field playing one round at Pebble Beach and Spyglass Hill.

All third and fourth round events will be held only at Pebble Beach, with no 36 holes in the signature $20m (£14.7m) PGA Tour event.