About ninety miles away from Pinehurst No. 2, where Akshay Bhatia is now ranked midway in the 2024 U.S. Open, lies his home in Wake Forest.
The 22-year-old golfer declared the final round on Thursday, stating that Donald Ross’ masterwork will “only go harder and harder” in the next three days.
After shooting a 68 in the first round to finish inside the top 10, Bhatia witnessed his prediction come true on Friday. Nevertheless, his ability to avoid errors and put together grind-it-out pars keeps him in the running.
“I adore playing golf here. Making pars is enjoyable when you’re hitting it in the middle of greens, Bhatia, who is in red figures at 1 under, remarked.
“I think it takes a lot more discipline, and it takes just a lot more intention on where you’re trying to hit it and where you’re trying to miss it. It’s a lot different than just birdie fests.”
In the second round, Bhatia admitted that he “wasn’t feeling too great” about his swing, but he was able to “stay patient, make a lot of pars, and thankfully didn’t go birdie free.”
Bhatia had a 1-over-par 71 after making bogeys on two of his opening four holes. He then recovered to tie the game with a birdie at the par-5 fifth hole and eight pars on his last nine holes.
“You need to stay in U.S. Opens and major championships, and the short game is really good right now,” he stated.
Bhatia’s sentiments regarding his short game are supported by the stats. In the second round, Bhatia was close to the top of the 156-player field with +2.51 strokes gained with his short game.
Bhatia’s sentiments regarding his short game are supported by the stats. In the second round, Bhatia was close to the top of the 156-player field with +2.51 strokes gained with his short game.
He remarked, “It felt like I was really seeing and feeling every chip.” “It was fortunate that I made a really good putt on the third to maintain the momentum; things might have turned out differently otherwise.”