Akshay Bhatia is headed to the Masters after winning the Valero Texas Open. He never imagined how it would pan out. Bhatia had a six-shot lead going to the back nine. He had to make a 12-foot birdie putt just to force a playoff with Denny McCarthy. Bhatia won when McCarthy dumped a wedge into the water.
Akshay Bhatia reacts after making a putt in a playoff to defeat Denny McCarthy at Texas Open golf tournament, Sunday, April 7, 2024, in San Antonio. Akshay Bhatia reacts to a birdie putt on the 18th hole during the final round of the Texas Open golf tournament, Sunday, April 7, 2024, in San Antonio. Bhatia defeated Denny McCarthy in a playoff.
The 22-year-old Bhatia, who turned pro five years ago, won at the Barracuda Championship last summer. It was held opposite the British Open, so it did not get him into the Masters. McCarthy had already earned his spot from finishing in the top 50 in the world last year, but all that mattered in this moment was that elusive PGA Tour trophy. He lost in a playoff last year at the Memorial to Viktor Hovland.
He made a 30-footer on the 12th, drilled a 5-iron on the long par-3 13th to 4 feet, made from 10 feet on the par-5 14th, holed a 40-foot chip on the 15th and closed within one shot with a 12-foot birdie putt on the 16th. “Wish I could have had that wedge shot back there,” McCarthy said. “I backed off a couple times. There was a bug on my ball and some noise in the stands and a bug jumped back on my ball. I probably should have backed away again, but I thought I could kind of not let it distract me and maybe it did a little. Maybe a learning experience for me.”
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