When then-22-year-old Akshay Bhatia beat Denny McCarthy in a playoff to win the Valero Texas Open final yr at TPC San Antonio, he bought to do one of the vital pleasurable issues on this planet of golf.
He bought to board a flight to Augusta, Ga.
Bhatia’s victory earned him the ultimate spot accessible within the discipline 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 advised reporters Tuesday forward of his title Texas Open protection. “I truthfully do not know the way I did it, capturing 20 below, Denny and I, and I feel third place was 11 below. You step on this property and also you understand how laborious this golf course is. Simply such a whirlwind. Then going to Augusta the next evening, simply nice reminiscences. You already know, I look ahead to see if I can get again in that place this week.”
Bhatia was the solo chief after every of the primary three rounds final yr earlier than McCarthy caught as much as him with a final-round 63. Bhatia gained 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 discipline for the 2025 Masters, and this week is extra about rounding into type for the yr’s first main.
“You already know, 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 not 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 be taught the place my sport’s at, what sort of photographs I want to enhance on for subsequent week. It is an incredible golf course for that, very slender, very tough. 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, however it’s additionally very cool to type of return to again. It is bought a mixture of each. Possibly I will really feel completely different on Thursday after I tee it up, however for now I am simply type of targeted of attempting to get ready for this week but additionally be taught the place I am at for subsequent week.”
Bhatia is considered one of 25-plus gamers within the Texas Open discipline already invited to the Masters. If anybody else in addition to that group wins the title, he would qualify for Augusta and take the identical journey Bhatia did a yr in the past.
“It is such a surreal feeling, you win right here, swiftly you are on a airplane straight to Augusta Nationwide,” Bhatia stated. “It is one thing you actually bought to type of preserve off your thoughts and attempt to play this golf event and see the place you find yourself on the finish of the week.”
–Subject Stage Media
