Akshay Bhatia just picked up the third win of his PGA Tour career. It’s hard to believe he turned 24 just a couple of months ago.
Bhatia made a furious charge Sunday at the Arnold Palmer Invitational, running down Daniel Berger and winning the biggest tournament of his young career. After making a seemingly crushing bogey at the ninth hole to finish his front nine 2-over, Bhatia went crazy on the back, making birdie on his first four holes before a jaw-dropping eagle at the par-5 16th hole. Bhatia had a chance to win it on the 18th before Berger made a gutsy par save, but Bhatia outsted Berger on the first playoff hole, as the two replayed the 18th.
There might not be a better golfer on the planet right now, and the renaissance is coming at the perfect time for the kid who turned pro at 17.
The sweet-swinging lefty has already been on the collective golf radar for more than a decade. He made headlines in 2014 when he reached the finals of the Drive, Chip and Putt competition at Augusta National Golf Club. Just two years ago, he became the first player in the event’s history to play in the Masters when he teed it up in 2024.
That progress hasn’t been linear — it never is — but Bhatia has started to fulfill the phenom hype in recent seasons. If the first two months of the season are any indication, the California native is on the verge of a legitimate breakout season.
Bhatia entered the week having cracked the top 40 in the OWGR and ranked 16th in the FedEx Cup standings thanks to a pair of top-10s in his first five events to start the season. That came after missing his first two cuts of the season, so he heads to The Players Championship with three top-10 finishes in his last four starts.
There’s no better time of the season to be peaking, either, with The Players opening that three-month stretch of golf that not only includes the Tour’s marquee event but also the Masters, PGA Championship and U.S. Open. Bhatia’s new collaboration with Travis Mathew for the limited-edition “Our Favorite Time of the Year Collection” couldn’t have come at a better time.
“Playing in a major is something that never gets old for me. It means a lot every time I tee it up,” Bhatia said in a release. “Working with the TravisMathew team has been awesome. They understand my style and how I want to look and feel while competing.”
The collection, featuring seasonal green tones and azalea-themed prints to celebrate Augusta National, will be on display when he makes his third Masters start in April.
“We created pieces that not only look great but perform when it matters most. This collection captures the energy I feel around the tournament, and I’m excited to wear it all week.”
Augusta National uniquely suits left-handers with the course’s demand for right-to-left ball flight, and Bhatia has acclimated himself quickly on the historic track. He finished in a tie for 35th in his debut in 2024 and made the cut again a year ago in his second trip down Magnolia Lane.
Having finished no worse than 16th in his last four starts at iconic PGA Tour courses — TPC Scottsdale, Pebble Beach, Riviera and Bay Hill — Bhatia should return to Augusta feeling (and looking) his best.