Akshay Bhatia earns Masters spot with Texas Open win

Indian American golfer Akshay Bhatia scripted a dramatic playoff victory at the Valero Texas Open in San Antonio, Texas to earn a coveted spot at the Augusta Masters in his first-ever Major appearance.

In a wild finish, 22-year-old Bhatia, who turned pro five years ago, edged past Denny McCarthy, sealing his triumph with a birdie on the first extra hole, Sunday, according to media reports.

McCarthy was 6 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. Bhatia had to make his birdie putt from the same range to have a chance.

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He made it for a 67, raising his arms to shake them in his clutch moment. And that’s when he felt his shoulder — which he says has given him trouble before — pop out of its socket. Bhatia hit his tee shot and laid up with a 5-iron on the par-5 18th in the playoff.

He will be the first Drive, Chip and Putt finalist to play in the Masters. He also qualifies for the US Open with his second PGA Tour victory, and moves to No. 34 in the world.

It was Bhatia’s first in a 72-hole stroke-play start. He won the 2023 Barracuda Championship, an event with a Modified Stableford scoring format held as an Additional Event during The Open Championship, according to pgatour.com.

“It was just incredible to be able to be in this position,” Bhatia said. He reminded himself of his good fortune on the cart ride to the tee for the playoff.

Four swings later, he’d won 500 FedExCup points and an invitation to Augusta National, where a decade ago he played in the first Drive, Chip & Putt National Finals.

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“My mom’s birthday was on April 1, and her wish was to get into the Masters,” Bhatia said. “So I hope I make her proud.”

It wasn’t just her. Bhatia’s fiancé, Presleigh Schultz, met him on the green for a long, tight embrace, pgatour.com reported. It was fitting that Bhatia won the Valero Texas Open, of all tournaments on the schedule.

He and Schultz, who’s from Mississippi, met there in 2021. Bhatia messaged her on Instagram when she was a student at Texas A&M. He told her he was playing a golf tournament in San Antonio and invited her to meet him there.

She’d never been to a golf tournament before. She went, changing her life and his.

“He believes in himself more than anyone,” said Schultz, who also noted that Bhatia had been telling her all year that they’d be going to the Masters. Even this week. “I had no doubt,” she said.