Akshay Bhatia overcomes shoulder injury to win the Texas Open and secure a spot in the Masters. Denny McCarthy makes a remarkable comeback but falls short in the playoff.
SAN ANTONIO — Akshay Bhatia nearly celebrated too soon Sunday, hurting his left shoulder while pumping his arms on a 12-foot birdie to force a playoff. He recovered to make birdie on the first extra hole and win the Texas Open over hard-luck Denny McCarthy to earn a trip to the Masters .McCarthy was six shots behind going to the back nine at the TPC San Antonio when he birdied eight of the nine holes — including the last seven — making a 12-foot birdie for a 9-under 63.
This one did, his first trip to Augusta National. And it came 10 years after Bhatia played in the Drive, Chip and Putt National Finals at the home of the Masters. Now he gets to play on more than just the 18th green, and he fulfilled his mother's wish. This might have been even more crushing given the circumstances. McCarthy looked to have no chance after Bhatia, who started the final round with a four-shot lead, birdied three of the opening four holes and stretched his advantage to six shots at the turn.
Bhatia missed a 5-foot birdie putt on the reachable par-4 17th — McCarthy got up-and-down from the rough for birdie — and they were tied going to the 18th.
Akshay Bhatia Texas Open Masters Golf Shoulder Injury Playoff Denny Mccarthy
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