In one of many wildest PGA Tour event finishes in historical past, 22-year-old rising star Akshay Bhatia sealed a surprising win on the Valero Texas Open after partially dislocating his shoulder earlier than a sudden dying playoff.
Bhatia had led in spite of everything three rounds and entered the ultimate spherical with a four-shot lead, which stretched to 6 pictures by the flip.
However Denny McCarthy’s unbelievable nine-under 63 within the last spherical – that includes probably the most spectacular back-nines in historical past with seven-straight birdies – overhauled the deficit to complete degree with Bhatia on 20-under general.
In an unbelievable show, the pair carded a mixed 15 birdies on the again 9.
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Issues went to a sudden-death playoff the place, as if so as to add to the unbelievable drama, Bhatia then requested a medical coach for assistance on his left shoulder – a difficulty that had not appeared to hassle him in any respect by way of the ultimate spherical.
Bhatia revealed he had partially dislocated it whereas fist-pumping a clutch birdie putt on the ultimate gap at TPC San Antonio.
He struck two pictures within the playoff earlier than his coach was capable of race onto the course to shortly tape up the shoulder – earlier than Bhatia nailed a pinpoint method shot.
Commentator Dan Hicks mentioned: “Simply while you assume you’ve seen all of it!”
McCarthy, in the meantime, hit his method shot into the water, with Bhatia happening to shut out a second PGA Tour win with a birdie.
Bhatia mentioned: “Man, what a loopy, loopy day.”
Bhatia skipped faculty to show skilled aged 17, and in January 2022 grew to become the third-youngest participant to win a Korn Ferry Tour occasion behind Sungjae Im and Jason Day – on debut no much less.
Now, he turns into the tenth participant within the final 5 a long time to win two or extra PGA Tour occasions earlier than turning 23, and likewise earns the ultimate spot within the Masters discipline this week – his first look on the prestigious main.
Remarkably, a 12-year-old Bhatia performed within the inaugural Drive, Chip and Putt finals on the Masters in 2014.
“This shoulder I’ve had some points with,” he mentioned, revealing it “got here out of the socket” after fist-pumping on the ultimate gap. “Taped it up good, it felt good hitting that wedge shot.”
Initially of the ultimate spherical, Bhatia led by 4 pictures. He began scorching with three birdies within the first 4 holes, handing him a six-shot lead on the flip as McCarthy managed simply the lone birdie on the entrance 9.
Then McCarthy went on an almighty cost, with birdies on seven of the following eight holes – solely lacking out on 11 with a par.
Bhatia, in the meantime, bogeyed the tenth however picked up birdies on 11 and 14. After his birdie on the eleventh, his lead was again out to 5 pictures, however it evaporated amid McCarthy’s flawless cost.
The pair shared the lead as they entered the par-five last gap – and McCarthy drained his 12-foot birdie putt try to maneuver to 20-under general.
Bhatia then had a barely shorter birdie look- round 11-and-a-half ft – and regardless of the immense stress, coolly drained the putt to card a five-under 67 and ship it to a playoff.
“Loopy stuff,” an awestruck Hicks mentioned.
McCarthy’s eight birdies on the again 9 set a brand new course document for the all-time again 9 and with simply 92 whole putts for the weekend, he matched the equal-fewest putts in a PGA Tour occasion.
Commentator Dan Hicks mentioned: “That caps off one of many biggest weeks of placing we’ve ever seen.”
Between the pair, they carded 15 birdies within the last spherical.
“One of the crucial surprising and most scintillating Sundays,” Hicks mentioned as they went to a playoff.
However McCarthy got here undone on his third shot of the playoff, discovering the water as his method shot from 99 yards got here up quick.
That gave Bhatia an opportunity to seal his second PGA Tour win – and he did it in type, sealing it with a birdie.
Afterwards, he revealed his ideas forward of that title-winning putt, saying: “I instructed myself out loud: ‘Come on Akshay, let’s freakin go.’”
He celebrated with fiancee Presleigh Schultz, who he met on the 2021 version of the identical event and subsequently grew to become his caddie for a while – regardless of herself admitting that on the time she knew ‘nothing’ about golf.
Bhatia was stuffed with reward for his overwhelmed rival McCarthy, who continues to be with out a win on tour after now dropping each of his play-offs.
Bhatia mentioned: “Denny performed unbelievable, you’ve obtained to present him credit score … Whenever you see him get scorching, it’s scary.”
In the meantime, Rory McIlroy had an distinctive last spherical 66 to complete third general on 11 below. Australia’s Adam Scott completed tied for 14th on five-under general.