When then-22-year-old Akshay Bhatia beat Denny McCarthy in a playoff to win the Valero Texas Open final 12 months at TPC San Antonio, he received to do one of the gratifying issues on the earth of golf.
He received to board a flight to Augusta, Ga.
Bhatia’s victory earned him the ultimate spot accessible within the area on the Masters the next week, and he went on to tie for thirty fifth.
“I performed so nice the entire week (in San Antonio),” Bhatia informed reporters Tuesday forward of his title Texas Open protection. “I truthfully do not understand how I did it, taking pictures 20 beneath, Denny and I, and I believe third place was 11 beneath. You step on this property and also you notice how laborious this golf course is. Simply such a whirlwind. Then going to Augusta the next night time, simply nice recollections. You recognize, I stay up for see if I can get again in that place this week.”
Bhatia was the solo chief after every of the primary three rounds final 12 months earlier than McCarthy caught as much as him with a final-round 63. Bhatia received it with a birdie on the primary playoff gap.
This time round, Bhatia hasn’t actually thought of defending his title. He is already within the area for the 2025 Masters, and this week is extra about rounding into type for the 12 months’s first main.
“You recognize, I checked into the lodge and somebody requested me, he stated, ‘How ya feeling this week?'” Bhatia stated. “I stated, ‘Yeah, it is good to be again.’ He is like, ‘So, however how are you feeling? Are you nervous?’ I imply, I have never actually thought of it.
“I really feel prefer it’s simply one other week. I’ve my thoughts actually set on Augusta subsequent week so it is an incredible week on this golf course to type of study the place my recreation’s at, what sort of pictures I would like to enhance on for subsequent week. It is an incredible golf course for that, very slim, very difficult. It is clearly going to be windy right here. I simply type of really feel regular.”
Bhatia added, “It is type of a tune-up week, nevertheless it’s additionally very cool to type of return to again. It is received a mixture of each. Possibly I will really feel totally different on Thursday after I tee it up, however for now I am simply type of centered of attempting to get ready for this week but in addition study the place I am at for subsequent week.”
Bhatia is one in every of 25-plus gamers within the Texas Open area already invited to the Masters. If anybody else moreover that group wins the title, he would qualify for Augusta and take the identical journey Bhatia did a 12 months in the past.
“It is such a surreal feeling, you win right here, unexpectedly you are on a aircraft straight to Augusta Nationwide,” Bhatia stated. “It is one thing you actually received to type of preserve off your thoughts and attempt to play this golf match and see the place you find yourself on the finish of the week.”
–Discipline Degree Media