Akshay Bhatia on the fifth inexperienced throughout the remaining spherical of The Gamers Championship PGA golf tournment Sunday, March 16, 2025 at TPC Sawgrass in Ponte Vedra Seashore, Fla. (Corey Perrine/Florida Instances-Union)
When then-22-year-old Akshay Bhatia beat Denny McCarthy in a playoff to win the Valero Texas Open final 12 months at TPC San Antonio, he acquired to do one of the crucial pleasing issues on the earth of golf.
He acquired to board a flight to Augusta, Ga.
Bhatia’s victory earned him the ultimate spot accessible within the subject on the Masters the next week, and he went on to tie for thirty fifth.
“I performed so nice the entire week (in San Antonio),” Bhatia instructed reporters Tuesday forward of his title Texas Open protection. “I actually do not understand how I did it, capturing 20 below, Denny and I, and I feel third place was 11 below. You step on this property and also you understand how exhausting this golf course is. Simply such a whirlwind. Then going to Augusta the next evening, simply nice recollections. You already know, I sit up for see if I can get again in that place this week.”
Bhatia was the solo chief after every of the primary three rounds final 12 months earlier than McCarthy caught as much as him with a final-round 63. Bhatia gained it with a birdie on the primary playoff gap.
This time round, Bhatia hasn’t actually thought of defending his title. He is already within the subject for the 2025 Masters, and this week is extra about rounding into type for the 12 months’s first main.
“You already know, I checked into the lodge and somebody requested me, he stated, ‘How ya feeling this week?'” Bhatia stated. “I stated, ‘Yeah, it is good to be again.’ He is like, ‘So, however how are you feeling? Are you nervous?’ I imply, I have not actually thought of it.
“I really feel prefer it’s simply one other week. I’ve my thoughts actually set on Augusta subsequent week so it is an awesome week on this golf course to type of be taught the place my recreation’s at, what sort of pictures I want to enhance on for subsequent week. It is an awesome golf course for that, very slim, very difficult. It is clearly going to be windy right here. I simply type of really feel regular.”
Bhatia added, “It is type of a tune-up week, however it’s additionally very cool to type of return to again. It is acquired a mixture of each. Perhaps I will really feel totally different on Thursday once I tee it up, however for now I am simply type of centered of making an attempt to get ready for this week but in addition be taught the place I am at for subsequent week.”
Bhatia is one among 25-plus gamers within the Texas Open subject already invited to the Masters. If anybody else in addition to that group wins the title, he would qualify for Augusta and take the identical journey Bhatia did a 12 months in the past.
“It is such a surreal feeling, you win right here, rapidly you are on a aircraft straight to Augusta Nationwide,” Bhatia stated. “It is one thing you actually acquired to type of maintain off your thoughts and attempt to play this golf event and see the place you find yourself on the finish of the week.”
–Subject Degree Media
