Akshay Bhatia, born on January 31, 2002, in Northridge, California, is an American professional golfer known for his impressive achievements both as an amateur and a professional. He currently resides in Wake Forest, North Carolina.
Amateur Career Highlights:
- Bhatia was the runner-up at the 2018 U.S. Junior Amateur, narrowly losing to Michael Thorbjornsen in the final.
- He secured two silver medals at the 2018 Summer Youth Olympics in Buenos Aires, one in the individual event and another in the mixed team event alongside Lucy Li.
- Representing the United States, Bhatia played in the Junior Presidents Cup in 2017, the Junior Ryder Cup in 2018, and the Walker Cup in 2019, becoming the youngest high schooler to participate in the latter.
Professional Career:
- Turning professional in 2019, Bhatia made his PGA Tour debut at the Valspar Championship that year.
- In July 2023, he clinched his first PGA Tour victory at the Barracuda Championship, winning in a playoff against Patrick Rodgers.
- Bhatia secured his second PGA Tour title at the Valero Texas Open in April 2024, triumphing over Denny McCarthy in another playoff. This win earned him a spot in the 2024 Masters Tournament.
Recent Performance:
As of March 15, 2025, Bhatia is tied for the lead after the second round of THE PLAYERS Championship at TPC Sawgrass, with a score of 11-under-par 133. At 23, he is the youngest player to hold or share the 36-hole lead in the tournament’s history.
Social Media Presence:
- Instagram: @akshaybhatia_1
- Twitter: @akshaybhatia_1
For a closer look at his game, you can watch his analysis of top shots and putts from THE PLAYERS Championship: