Akshay Bhatia defending at Texas Open with Masters on his thoughts

When then-22-year-old Akshay Bhatia beat Denny McCarthy in a playoff to win the Valero Texas Open final 12 months at TPC San Antonio, he received to do probably the most satisfying issues on the planet of golf.

He received to board a flight to Augusta, Ga.

Bhatia’s victory earned him the ultimate spot accessible within the area 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 understand how I did it, taking pictures 20 underneath, Denny and I, and I believe third place was 11 underneath. You step on this property and also you notice how laborious this golf course is. Simply such a whirlwind. Then going to Augusta the next evening, simply nice recollections. You realize, I stay up for see if I can get again in that place this week.”

Bhatia was the solo chief after every of the primary three rounds final 12 months 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 considered defending his title. He is already within the area for the 2025 Masters, and this week is extra about rounding into type for the 12 months’s first main.

“You realize, I checked into the lodge and somebody requested me, he mentioned, ‘How ya feeling this week?'” Bhatia mentioned. “I mentioned, ‘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 considered 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 amazing week on this golf course to sort of study the place my sport’s at, what sort of photographs I would like to enhance on for subsequent week. It is an amazing golf course for that, very slender, very difficult. It is clearly going to be windy right here. I simply sort of really feel regular.”

Bhatia added, “It is sort of a tune-up week, however it’s additionally very cool to sort of return to again. It is received a mixture of each. Possibly I am going to really feel completely different on Thursday once I tee it up, however for now I am simply sort of centered of attempting to get ready for this week but additionally study the place I am at for subsequent week.”

Bhatia is considered one of 25-plus gamers within the Texas Open area 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 12 months in the past.

“It is such a surreal feeling, you win right here, unexpectedly you are on a aircraft straight to Augusta Nationwide,” Bhatia mentioned. “It is one thing you actually received to sort of hold off your thoughts and attempt to play this golf match and see the place you find yourself on the finish of the week.”

–Subject Degree Media