22-year-old Akshay Bhatia made a sizzling debut in Albany, Bahamas
22-year-old Indian-American phenomenon Akshay Bhatia missed several putts yet still finished fourth – with a total score of 15-under-par at the Hero World Challenge – the annual event hosted by Pawan Munjal of Hero Motocorp and Tiger Woods, in Albany, Bahamas. With two PGA Tour victories, one at the Barracuda Championship in 2023 and one at the Texas Open this season, Bhatia is no stranger to pressure and high expectations. In 2019, at 17 years of age, Bhatia became the youngest player to compete for the US in the Ryder Cup style match against Great Britain and Ireland team in the Walker Cup and took the pro plunge right after high school.
Bhatia’s fellow Indian-American and co-tournament debutants, crowd favourite Sahith Theegala from California and Aaron Rai from England, finished 8th and tied-14th respectively.
Meanwhile, defending champion World No. 1 Scottie Scheffler crowned his spectacular season by retaining his title at 25-under par to cruise to a comfortable 6-shot victory, after a scintillating final round. This win was Schefffler’s 9th title of the season, equalling an all-time record of most wins in a year.
Earlier in the week, Hero Motorcorp announced that they would extend their title sponsorship of the Hero World Challenge and that Tiger Woods would continue as the company’s Global Ambassador. Now if only there was some way to link the development of Indian golf to this grand sponsorship – For e.g., take the 10 top junior girls and boys from India to play the pro-am alongside these superstars – that itself may electrify the interest in junior golf in India.