{"version":"1.0","type":"rich","provider_name":"Acast","provider_url":"https://acast.com","height":250,"width":700,"html":"<iframe src=\"https://embed.acast.com/$/680a0159fcccdba3a5365c3e/698fece67301331f1fada479?\" frameBorder=\"0\" width=\"700\" height=\"250\"></iframe>","title":"THE SWIFTIE ECONOMY & PEBBLE HALFWAY RECAP - February 14th, 2026","description":"<p>We break down the halfway point at Pebble Beach, where rumors of Taylor Swift drove ticket sales and Akshay Bhatia battles Ryo Hisatsune for the lead.</p><p><br></p><h3>THE SWIFTIE STIMULUS PACKAGE</h3><p>Rumors of Taylor Swift’s attendance generated an $81,000 spike in ticket sales, but Travis Kelce stole the show inside the ropes. Paired with Keith Mitchell in matching cashmere, Kelce survived a \"malnourished\" putt and a lucky tree-bounce par save on the first.</p><ul><li><strong>Highlight:</strong>&nbsp;Mitchell nearly aced the 112-yard 7th hole while Kelce brought the \"swagger.\"</li></ul><p><br></p><h3>YOUTH MOVEMENT &amp; RICKIE’S RESURGENCE</h3><p>Akshay Bhatia celebrates his 100th career start with a bogey-free run to co-lead at 15-under alongside Ryo Hisatsune, who is thriving on the tricky Poa annua greens. Meanwhile, Rickie Fowler sits one back, revealing he played through a major shoulder injury last season to keep his card.</p><ul><li><strong>Stat:</strong>&nbsp;Chris Gotterup strung together nine consecutive birdies across two tournaments.</li></ul><p><br></p><h3>RORY’S HOT TAKE &amp; SCOTTIE’S BAD LUCK</h3><p>Rory McIlroy made headlines off the course, rejecting the idea of a fifth major by citing the LPGA as a \"cautionary tale.\" On the course, Scottie Scheffler was denied a hole-in-one by a brutal flagstick rejection on the 15th.</p><ul><li><strong>Fun Fact:</strong>&nbsp;A herd of deer went viral for sprinting across the green during the broadcast.</li></ul><p><br></p><h3>Quick Hits</h3><p>Sam Burns puts on a putting clinic • Spyglass Hill playing significantly harder than Pebble • Jack Nicklaus built the par-3 5th in 1997</p>","author_name":"Golf.ai"}