When the then -22 -year -old Akshay Bhatia defeated Denny Macarthi in a playoff to win the Walero Texas Open last year at TPC San Antonio, he had to do one of the most pleasant things in the world of golf.
He found to fly to Augusta, GA.
Bhatia’s victory secured him the last place in the field in the masters next week, and he finished 35th.
Bhatia told reporters before the Texas Open Defense on Tuesday, “I played very well throughout the week (in San Antonio). “I do not know honestly how I did it, shooting under 20, Denny and I, and I think the third place was below 11. You step on this property and you realize how difficult this golf course is. Just a tornado of such a cow.
Bhatia was a single leader after each of the first three rounds last year, before McCarthi caught him with 63 of the final round. Bhatia won it first with a shirt on the playoff hole.
This time, Bhatia did not really think of defending her title. He is already in the fray for 2025 masters, and this week is more about rounding in form for the first head of the year.
“You know, I checked in the hotel and someone asked me, he said,” How does it look like this week? ” “I said,” Yes, it’s good to come back. ” He likes, ‘So, but how are you feeling?’ I mean, I have not really thought about it.
“I think this is just another week. My brain is actually set on Augusta next week, so this is a great week on this golf course, where to find out what kind of shots I need in my game, for next week. It is a great golf course for him, very narrow, very narrow, very difficult.
Bhatia said, “This is like a tune-up week, but it is very good to go back. It is a mixture of both. Perhaps I will feel different on Thursday when I do it, but now I am trying to get ready for this week, but also learn where I am for the next week.”
Bhatia is one of the 25-plus players at the Texas Open ground that has already been invited to the masters. If someone wins the title other than that group, he will qualify for Agusta and take the same journey of Bhatia a year ago.
Bhatia said, “This is such a real feeling, you win here, suddenly you are directly in an aircraft for Augusta National.” “This is something that you are really ready to keep away from your mind and try to play this golf tournament and see where you end at the end of the week.”
-Bield level media
