Akshay Bhatia Wins Wild Texas Open in a Playoff over Denny McCarthy

The final tournament before the historic Masters Tournament took place this weekend at the Texas Open, and it lived up to every bit of the hype. Akshay Bhatia was able to hold on for a wire-to-wire victory thanks in large part to an outstanding 63 opening round on Thursday. While Bhatia held on to the lead the rest of the way, the win was anything but smooth sailing down the stretch as the dramatic finish produced one of the most memorable endings on the PGA Tour this season. Denny McCarthy was able to force a playoff with Bhatia after firing off seven straight birdies to end his round, birding holes 12-18 to end his round with a 63 of his own. Bhatia had to birdie the par-5 18th hole just to make the playoff with McCarthy, and after he was able to do so, one of the crazier moments of the season occurred. After Bhatia sunk his 12-foot putt on 18 to secure the tie with McCarthy at -20, he pumped his left fist in the air repeatedly in excitement, leading to him wincing and grabbing his left shoulder in pain.

Bhatia went on to the first playoff hole against McCarthy, which was the par-5 18th, and they both hit their drives in the fairway. But, as they were walking down the fairway to their balls, Bhatia continued to grab at his left shoulder, and he eventually asked for his trainer to be called over to evaluate him. While waiting for the trainer, both players decided to hit layup shots that would give them each right around 100 yards into the hole for their third shots on this long hole that totaled out at 606 yards. After two successful layups from both of them, McCarthy was the first to hit his third shot from just under 100 yards away, and he unthinkably chucked it into the water that was right in front of the green. No one could believe that the man who had just birdied seven consecutive holes and eight of the nine holes on the back nine had just hit his worst shot of the whole tournament in the most significant moment, but he did. Then, to add even more drama to the scene, Bhatia’s trainer arrived on the scene and took Bhatia off to the side of the course for further evaluation. The television broadcast then reported that Bhtaia had partially dislocated his left shoulder after his repeated fist bumps after making his birdie on the last hole of regulation. You read that right; Bhatia was somehow able to hit a good drive and a successful second shot in a sudden-death playoff hole with a dislocated shoulder. His trainer then popped his shoulder back into place, and Bhatia stepped up and hit his third shot from 86 yards perfectly to just over 6 feet for a birdie putt to win, which he made. 

It is safe to say this is one of the wilder finishes to a PGA Tour event that we will see for some time. From the incredible back nine by McCarthy to storm back, to Bhatia dislocating his shoulder celebrating a putt then promptly smoking a drive and an approach shot before getting it popped back into place, to McCarthy hitting his worst shot of the weekend in the most crucial spot, this tournament had all the drama a golf fan could ask for. Just to add to the drama of this moment, this win for Bhatia secured his spot as the last invitation to the Masters next weekend. This victory is Bhatia’s first win on Tour since the 2023 Barracuda Championship, which he also won in a playoff.