Akshay Bhatia wins Barracuda Championship in sudden death for first PGA Tour title of career

Akshay Bhatia birdied the closing gap in regulation, then capitalized in sudden demise when Patrick Rodgers discovered a divot within the fairway to win his first PGA Tour title on the Barracuda Championship on Sunday.

The 21-year-old Bhatia, who turned professional at 17, earned full standing on tour and a spot within the FedEx Cup playoffs. He had been enjoying beneath particular short-term membership since his runner-up end on the Puerto Rico Open in March.

“It is clearly been a very powerful highway. I’ve had a variety of up, a variety of down. Lots of good, a variety of dangerous,” Bhatia stated. “However I knew I used to be going to get right here. It was simply matter of time. For it to occur this yr with particular short-term membership and now to get to play all these occasions and to get it accomplished right now was, I can’t even describe it.”

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Bhatia transformed a birdie from about 15 ft on the par-4 18th gap at Tahoe Mountain Membership to complete with 40 factors beneath the modified Stableford scoring system that awards 5 factors for eagle and two for birdie whereas deducting some extent for bogey and three for double bogey. The slender left-hander had 9 factors on Sunday. He made double bogey on the par-4 fifth gap, then made six birdies with out a bogey from there.

That was adequate to match Rodgers, who missed a birdie try from roughly the identical distance on the 18th. Rodgers scored six factors within the closing spherical, with one birdie and two bogeys on the again 9 for zero factors.

Within the playoff, Rodgers’ tee shot on the 18th settled in a divot and he chunked his method. His pitch was nicely quick and he two-putted for bogey. Bhatia left his birdie putt simply quick and tapped in for the victory.

“I knew that if I received right into a place like this, I might do it. I’ve accomplished it at each degree. Man, that felt uncomfortable on the market,” Bhatia stated. “That putt on 18 in regulation was simply, man, it is a loopy feeling. I as telling my caddie, like, your mind and all the things, you possibly can really feel all this adrenaline, all this shakiness. It is fairly loopy.”

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Akshay Bhatia kisses the championship trophy after successful the Barracuda Championship golf event on the Tahoe Mountain Membership in Truckee, Calif., Sunday, July 23, 2023. (AP Photograph/Tom R. Smedes)

Rodgers stays winless in 246 PGA Tour begins. The 31-year-old former Stanford star did not convert a 54-hole lead for the fifth time.

“I felt like I had management of the event. I had a putt to win, which was good. So, bummer consequence,” Rodgers stated. “Sort of a crummy break there within the playoff. In the course of the golf green to drive it in a divot. However that’s simply the way in which it goes. I’ll come again stronger.”

Two European tour gamers tied for third within the co-sanctioned occasion. Julien Guerrier made 10 birdies on Sunday to attain 20 factors and end with 37 alongside Jens Dantorp, who had 15 factors within the closing spherical.

Ryan Gerard, additionally a particular short-term member, was fifth with 36 factors. He totaled simply six factors over the ultimate two rounds.

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Patrick Rodgers watches his tee shot throughout the closing spherical of the Barracuda Championship golf event on the Tahoe Mountain Membership in Truckee, Calif., Sunday, July 23, 2023. (AP Photograph/Tom R. Smedes)

Bhatia largely struggled his first three years after bypassing school to show professional. He gained within the Bahamas on the Korn Ferry Tour at the start of 2022 however nonetheless fell in need of incomes a PGA Tour card.

Now he is eligible for a number of the richest occasions in golf, together with the PGA Championship.

“For it to all come to fruition, play with a number of the greatest gamers on this planet, play a number of the biggest occasions on this planet, and to win on the PGA Tour … it is an ideal feeling,” Bhatia stated. “As a result of (of) job safety now I can form of, not free wheel, however I understand how to win. I do know I can do it in opposition to a number of the greatest gamers on this planet.”