Akshay Bhatia

Akshay Bhatia (born January 31, 2002) is an American professional golfer. He made his first PGA Tour start in 2019 at the age of 17 after receiving a sponsor exemption into Valspar Championship. He turned pro later that year and made his professional debut at Sanderson Farms Championship that fall.

A decorated amateur, Bhatia has represented the United States at the Junior Presidents Cup in 2017, Junior Ryder Cup in 2018, and Walker Cup in 2019, becoming the youngest and first ever high schooler to represent the United States in the event. He has also represented the United States at the 2018 Summer Youth Olympics in Buenos Aires, winning two silver medals. Bhatia made the finals of the Drive, Chip & Putt competition at Augusta National in 2014 and became its first ever finalist to reach the Masters Tournament by virtue of his win at the Valero Texas Open in 2024.

Early life

Bhatia was born in Northridge, California to parents Sonny and Renu. Bhatia's parents are from India and lived in Delhi before moving to the United States. The family moved to Wake Forest, North Carolina in 2011. Bhatia has a sister, Rhea, who played college golf at Queen's University of Charlotte.

Amateur career

He was runner-up at the 2018 U.S. Junior Amateur, losing to Michael Thorbjornsen in the final. He won two silver medals at the 2018 Summer Youth Olympics in the boy's individual and the mixed team with Lucy Li. He played on the Junior Presidents Cup team in 2017 and Junior Ryder Cup in 2018, with both teams winning.

Bhatia made his PGA Tour debut at the 2019 Valspar Championship on a sponsor exemption and missed the cut.

Bhatia made his Web.com Tour debut on April 18, 2019, at the Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail Championship, where he made the cut and finished T-42.

Professional career

Bhatia turned professional in September 2019 after competing in the 2019 Walker Cup, and made his professional debut at the Sanderson Farms Championship.

On August 5, 2020, Bhatia won the ST 11 @ Old South Golf, an event on the Swing Thought Tour, by three strokes. On February 25, 2021, Bhatia won his second Swing Thought Tour event, ST 12 @ Brunswick, in a playoff. On May 29, Bhatia won the 2021 Biggs Classic, a GProTour event.

In June 2021, Bhatia qualified for the U.S. Open at Torrey Pines. He made the cut and finished tied for 57th in his first major championship appearance.

In January 2022, Bhatia won The Bahamas Great Exuma Classic on the Korn Ferry Tour. This was his first start as a member of the Korn Ferry Tour. Despite the strong start, Bhatia fell short of earning a PGA Tour card, finishing 30th during the regular season and not making a cut during the Finals.

Bhatia earned Special Temporary Member status on the PGA Tour after a runner-up finish at the 2023 Puerto Rico Open.

In July 2023, he earned his first PGA Tour and first European Tour victory by winning in a playoff at the Barracuda Championship.

In April 2024, Bhatia won the Valero Texas Open in a playoff over Denny McCarthy.

Amateur wins

• 2016 AJGA – CJGT Junior at Yorba Linda, IZOD AJGA Championship
• 2017 Davis Love III Junior Open, Junior PGA Championship, AJGA Junior at Ford's Colony
• 2018 Junior Invitational at Sage Valley, Polo Golf Junior Classic, Boy's Junior PGA Championship, Rolex Tournament of Champions
• 2019 Jones Cup Invitational, Dustin Johnson World Junior Championship

Source:

Professional wins (6)

PGA Tour wins (2)

¹Co-sanctioned by the European Tour

PGA Tour playoff record (2–0)

Korn Ferry Tour wins (1)

Swing Thought Tour wins (2)

• 2020 ST 11 @ Old South Golf
• 2021 ST 12 @ Brunswick

GProTour wins (1)

• 2021 Biggs Classic

Results in major championships

CUT = missed the half-way cut
"T" = tied

U.S. national team appearances

• Junior Presidents Cup: 2017 (winners)
• Junior Ryder Cup: 2018 (winners)
• Walker Cup: 2019 (winners)

Source:

References

External links

• Akshay Bhatia at the PGA Tour official site
• Akshay Bhatia at the Official World Golf Ranking official site