Golf: Akshay Bhatia leads the USD 9.2 million Valero Texas Open

Surviving a nervous begin, Indian-American golfer Akshay Bhatia stretched his result in 5 photographs in the Valero Texas Open on Friday. He rallied with a pair of late birdies for a 2-under 70.

The 22-year-old began with a three-shot lead after opening with a 15-foot birdie putt. From getting the result in dropping it, after which getting it again once more, the day ebbed and flowed for Bhatia.

“It was tense, for positive, wasn’t my finest stuff,” Bhatia was quoted as saying by the Associated Press. “I felt like I struggled so much off the tee right now, golf swing didn’t really feel nice with any of the longer stuff, however iron play was nonetheless phenomenal, wedges have been good, made some good putts.”

“It was good to get the under-par spherical,” he added.

Bhatia’s play additionally drew reward from 4X main winner and former world primary, Rory McIlroy. Placed fifth in the ongoing competitors, the 34-year-old stated, “Akshay is taking part in very well, however other than that, nobody’s actually lighting the world on fireplace. Just preserve grinding away.”

In the previous, Bhatia as gained the Barracuda Championship, which got here final summer time. While that wasn’t sufficient to get him into the Masters, he’ll hope to win the Valero Texas Open and guide a spot in the 88th Masters Tournament at the Augusta National Golf Club. The struggle for the coveted Green Jacket will begin from August 11.