Indian American golfer Akshay Bhatia prevailed in a playoff to script a dramatic win on the Valero Texas Open and earn a spot at subsequent week’s Augusta Masters, which can be his first look in a Main.
It was just about the final spot left on the Augusta Masters and Bhatia claimed it after staving off a severe problem from Denny McCarthy, who birdied eight of the final 9 holes on the TPC San Antonio right here.
The win will get Bhatia into the Masters, a want and promise he had made to his mom years in the past.
“Man, what a loopy, loopy day. That is superior,” Bhatia mentioned.
“It’s laborious to win on the market because it confirmed at the moment. My mother’s birthday was April 1 and her want was to go to the Masters.”
The 22-year-old Bhatia (67), who began the day 4 photographs forward, went six clear earlier than a shocking back-nine rally by McCarthy noticed the 2 gamers tied at 20-under after 72 holes.
Bhatia then produced a 12-foot birdie to power a playoff and made birdie on the primary additional gap to register a formidable wire-to-wire victory.
The win earned Bhatia in extra of USD 1.6m and 500 FedEx He additionally qualifies for the US Open together with his second PGA TOUR victory, and he strikes to No. 34 on this planet.
Rory McIlroy closed with a 66 to complete alone in third place in his last occasion earlier than the Masters, the one main conserving him from the profession Grand Slam.
McIlroy was runner-up and received in consecutive weeks in Dubai to start out the yr. This was his first high 10 on the PGA TOUR. He completed 9 photographs out of the playoff.
McCarthy birdied his final seven holes and eight on the again 9 as he shot nine-under 63 to rise to 20-under, whereas Bhatia who had one bogey within the last spherical shot five-under 67. They performed within the last group collectively.
Then in an much more dramatic method, Bhatia, 22, appeared to have a shoulder downside which wanted medical consideration halfway via the play-off gap.
Regardless of that Bhatia birdied and McCarthy after an excellent run put his shot into the water from 99 yards.
“I felt so uncomfortable all day at the moment. I bought off to a terrific begin and type of simply tried to stay as a lot as I may to my recreation plan. However while you see somebody charging at you and also you’re enjoying with him, it’s actually laborious since you really feel such as you’re simply slipping away,” Bhatia mentioned.
McCarthy was six photographs behind when the again 9 started on the TPC San Antonio. Eight birdies within the final 9 holes, supplied a twist and put Bhatia underneath immense strain. Then got here the ultimate twist as McCarthy discovered water and Bhatia landed a birdie.
Bhatia after his 67 raised his arms and felt a twinge in his shoulder, which has bothered him prior to now. He felt his shoulder come out of its socket.
Bhatia hit his tee shot and laid up with a 5-iron on the par-5 18th within the playoff. McCarthy discovered water and Bhatia referred to as for medical assist to get his shoulder taped. He got here again and hit a wedge to six ft. He wanted three putts to win however bought a birdie.
“This shoulder I’ve had some points with and yeah, once I made that putt and I type of raised my arm, it type of got here out of socket and went again in,” Bhatia mentioned afterward.
“Fortunately he was nonetheless round and taped it up good and it felt good hitting that wedge shot. I admire (physio) Aki (Tajima) very a lot.”
Bhatia, who turned professional in 2019, received on the Barracuda Championship final summer time and it was an Further Occasion throughout The Open Championship. So he didn’t get a Masters name.
Ten years in the past, Bhatia performed within the Drive, Chip & Putt Nationwide Finals on the dwelling of the Masters. The Drive, Chip & Putt Nationwide Finals for 2024 had been held this previous weekend.
McCarthy had already earned his Masters place spot by being within the high 50 on this planet final yr. He misplaced in a playoff final yr on the Memorial Match to Viktor Hovland.