Akshay Bhatia
19-year-old Indian origin phenom Akshay Bhatia again proved he can be a future PGA Tour star as he birdied the first playoff hole to win his fourth US mini tour title. This time it was for a US$50,000 prize on the Florida Elite Tour. Bhatia forced the playoff by birdieing two of his last three holes to get into a tie with a three-round total of 16-under 200 after rounds of 64-68-68.
Indian veterans Arjun Atwal, who finished 22nd in the event with a total of 6 under par and Daniel Chopra, who missed the cut were also playing in the same event.
Bhatia who was the 2018 Rolex US Junior Player of the Year, earlier had mini tour wins on the G Pro Tour in June 2021 and two on the Swing Thought Tour – in Georgia in February 2021, and in South Carolina in August 2020.
The 6 foot tall Bhatia, who turns 20 at the end of January, turned pro in 2020 straight out of high school, foregoing college offers. Of five invitations on the PGA TOUR, he made 3 cuts, including at the 2021 US Open at Torrey Pines and has a 9th place finish to his credit at the US$ 6.6mn Safeway Open in Sep. 2020. He currently has conditional status on the Korn Ferry Tour, which is the qualifying tour for the PGA Tour.
Watch Bhatia’s winning putt here: Courtesy – @acaseofthegolf1 on Twitter
Akshay Bhatia makes birdie on 1st playoff hole to win 50k on the @FEGTour
He birdied 2 of last 3 to get into playoff. pic.twitter.com/8Pihf6OkIY— Monday Q Info (@acaseofthegolf1) December 9, 2021
Credits:-
Photo – Golf.com