Bhatia clinches second PGA Tour win

Akshay Bhatia recovered from losing a six-shot lead to beat Denny McCarthy in a play-off to win the Valero Texas Open.

Picture: AAP Image

The American injured his shoulder celebrating the birdie which earned him a place in a play-off with McCarthy, but clinched victory on the first hole after receiving treatment.

Rory McIlroy was a distant third, nine shots adrift, as he completed his Masters warm-up with a bogey-free 66.

Bhatia clinched a place at The Masters with his second PGA Tour victory, which had seemed a lot more straightforward when he held a six-shot lead heading into the final nine holes.

McCarthy birdied his last seven holes to shoot 63 and wipe out the deficit, leaving Bhatia needing to hole from 12 feet for a birdie to force the play-off.

He found the cup to complete a 67 and move alongside McCarthy at 20-under-par, but felt his shoulder pop out of its socket as he raised his arms in celebration.

After McCarthy found the creek in front of the 18th green in the play-off, Bhatia had his shoulder taped before hitting his wedge to six feet and holing to clinch victory.

The 22-year-old will become the first finalist from the Drive, Chip and Putt event to return to Augusta to play in The Masters.

"I just stuck to my game plan, played great today and got the goal I had in mind," he said on Sky Sports. "Denny played unbelievable, you've got to give him credit and when you see him get hot it's scary.

"I had a six-shot lead going into the back nine and all of a sudden we're tied. What a crazy day.

"This shoulder, I've had some issues with it and when I made that putt I raised my arm and it came out of the socket and went back in. Thankfully I got it taped up."

 

 


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