When then-22-year-old Akshay Bhatia beat Denny McCarthy in a playoff to win the Valero Texas Open final yr at TPC San Antonio, he received to do one of the crucial pleasing issues on the planet of golf.

He received to board a flight to Augusta, Ga.

Bhatia’s victory earned him the ultimate spot accessible within the area on the Masters the next week, and he went on to tie for thirty fifth.

“I performed so nice the entire week (in San Antonio),” Bhatia instructed reporters Tuesday forward of his title Texas Open protection. “I truthfully do not know the way I did it, taking pictures 20 underneath, Denny and I, and I feel third place was 11 underneath. You step on this property and also you understand how exhausting this golf course is. Simply such a whirlwind. Then going to Augusta the next evening, simply nice reminiscences. You understand, I look ahead to see if I can get again in that place this week.”

Bhatia was the solo chief after every of the primary three rounds final yr earlier than McCarthy caught as much as him with a final-round 63. Bhatia gained it with a birdie on the primary playoff gap.

This time round, Bhatia hasn’t actually considered defending his title. He is already within the area for the 2025 Masters, and this week is extra about rounding into kind for the yr’s first main.

“You understand, I checked into the lodge and somebody requested me, he mentioned, ‘How ya feeling this week?'” Bhatia mentioned. “I mentioned, ‘Yeah, it is good to be again.’ He is like, ‘So, however how are you feeling? Are you nervous?’ I imply, I have not actually considered it.

“I really feel prefer it’s simply one other week. I’ve my thoughts actually set on Augusta subsequent week so it is an incredible week on this golf course to form of be taught the place my recreation’s at, what sort of photographs I would like to enhance on for subsequent week. It is an incredible golf course for that, very slender, very difficult. It is clearly going to be windy right here. I simply form of really feel regular.”

Bhatia added, “It is form of a tune-up week, nevertheless it’s additionally very cool to form of return to again. It is received a mixture of each. Perhaps I will really feel completely different on Thursday once I tee it up, however for now I am simply form of centered of attempting to get ready for this week but additionally be taught the place I am at for subsequent week.”

Bhatia is certainly one of 25-plus gamers within the Texas Open area already invited to the Masters. If anybody else moreover that group wins the title, he would qualify for Augusta and take the identical journey Bhatia did a yr in the past.

“It is such a surreal feeling, you win right here, rapidly you are on a aircraft straight to Augusta Nationwide,” Bhatia mentioned. “It is one thing you actually received to form of hold off your thoughts and attempt to play this golf event and see the place you find yourself on the finish of the week.”

–Subject Degree Media