First dominating, then struggling as a result of a shoulder harm, and eventually successful within the playoff to safe the final obtainable spot for the Masters Match. Within the USA, successful price remembering and recounting for Akshay Bhatia (63 70 68 67).
The American clinched victory with a birdie on the primary gap of the playoff on the Valero Texas Open, narrowly defeating his compatriot Denny McCarthy (68 70 67 63) after each had completed the regulation 72 holes with a complete of 268 (-20) photographs.
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This marks Bhatia’s second profession triumph on the PGA Tour (following his win in 2023, additionally after a playoff, on the Barracuda Championship), the place he has competed in 54 occasions. Bhatia has earned himself a spot within the Masters, the primary male Main of 2024 scheduled from April eleventh to 14th at Augusta, Georgia, United States.
Akshay Bhatia, outcomes
Main from the primary spherical, 22-year-old Californian Bhatia started the fourth spherical in San Antonio with a five-shot lead over his rivals. Simply when it appeared like he had the event in hand, McCarthy mounted a comeback, making eight birdies within the final 9 holes, together with seven consecutive from the twelfth to the 18th.
Bhatia, regardless of a shoulder difficulty and the intervention of a physiotherapist, needed to produce a feat to postpone the result to the playoff, the place the previous world newbie number one emerged victorious. The feat earned him $1,656,000 out of a complete purse of $9,200,000 and propelled him from 87th to thirty fourth place on the earth rating.
Now twelfth within the FedEx Cup standings, in Texas he outpaced Northern Irishman Rory McIlroy, world quantity 2, who completed third with 277 (-11) forward of American Russell Henley, 4th with 278 (-10). “It is a dream come true. It has been a loopy week, the place every thing actually occurred.
And now I will be taking part in the Masters, I am unable to consider it,” expressed Bhatia’s satisfaction on the finish of the event. Akshay Bhatia, born on January 31, 2002, is an American skilled golfer. He gained consideration by making his debut on the PGA Tour in 2019 on the age of 17, securing a spot by means of a sponsor exemption for the Valspar Championship.
Later that yr, he turned skilled and took part in his first skilled occasion on the Sanderson Farms Championship. As an newbie, Bhatia has achieved notable success, representing the US at prestigious occasions such because the Junior Presidents Cup in 2017, the Junior Ryder Cup in 2018, and the Walker Cup in 2019.
He made historical past by changing into the youngest and first excessive schooler to characterize the US within the Walker Cup. Moreover, Bhatia showcased his expertise on the worldwide stage by representing the US on the 2018 Summer season Youth Olympics in Buenos Aires, the place he gained two silver medals.
Bhatia’s journey to the higher echelons of golf started earlier, as he made it to the finals of the Drive, Chip & Putt competitors at Augusta Nationwide in 2014. Notably, his victory on the Valero Texas Open in 2024 made him the first-ever finalist of the Drive, Chip & Putt competitors to qualify for the Masters Match.
