With a masterful round of iron play on Thursday, Akshay Bhatia rode the uncommon experience of being familiar with a PGA TOUR course to a 9-under 63 lead in the Valero Texas Open, taking a small step towards a possible trip to the Masters.
The Valero Texas Open represents the final opportunity for competitors to earn a spot at Augusta National Golf Club through victory. The Barracuda Championship, which the 22-year-old Bhatia won last summer, was contested as an Additional Event during The Open Championship and was not used to determine eligibility for the Masters.
In any case, Bhatia finds that to be thinking too far ahead.
“Not important to me. I can’t wait to go to bed. It’s been a hot and exhausting day. I’m not trying to win the golf tournament today; I’m just attempting to implement the strategies that my mental coach and I have been discussing. Still, it’s pleasant to be having a good day.” Bhatia stated about his lead.
Brendon Todd joined Justin Lower, who played in the morning, after birdieing four of his final five holes for a 66. They are not yet in the Masters.
After visiting swing coach Butch Harmon in Las Vegas and spending two days at Augusta National before his final competition ahead of the one major preventing him from completing a career Grand Slam, Rory McIlroy had a good day.
Despite playing without bogeys, he only made 3 birdies. At the TPC San Antonio, he missed a 3-footer on the 14th hole, which prevented him from birdieing either of the back nine par 5s.
“It’s probably the first round I’ve played without a bogey in a long time. I’m pleased with my performance because it has been inconsistent over the past few months. I went out and played a strong round of golf in challenging conditions.” McIlroy said.
Jordan Spieth had yet another thrilling performance. On the 14th par-5 , he mishit his tee shot and made double bogey, leaving him at 4-over and potentially missing his third straight cut for the first time since autumn 2020.
On the 15th hole, he followed that up with a 7-iron hole-in-one. He made a 73 by going from the bunker on the 17th to 12 feet for another birdie.
He followed that up with a 7-iron hole-in-one on the 15th hole. Going from the bunker to 12 feet for another birdie on the 17th, he made 73.
“I may not look like I’m scoring goals, but my play is far superior. It is difficult to describe. More top 10 finishes in a row than missed cuts have occurred when I’ve played far worse. It’s simply really strange. Lately, I had a few good breaks that may have given me the impression that the game is not as difficult as it has been appearing to be” Spieth said.
In the group at 68 were Max Homa and Austin Eckroat, the winner of the Cognizant Classic in the Palm Beaches.
Bhatia has been on TOUR for two years already. Before locking up his card, he participated in a variety of PGA TOUR and Korn Ferry Tour events, but he had already played twice in the Valero Texas Open.
“I’ve been here three times now. Not many of the tour’s golf courses have been my third. I simply had a great game. Just put, it was a nice day.” Bhatia said.
On the eighteenth hole, he concluded his round with a greenside bunker shot to tap-in range; only two of his nine birdies were outside of 10 feet. Both were in the 15-foot range.
