Bhatia fires 63 to take Valero lead

By Reuters
April 06, 2024
American Akshay Bhatia fired a nine-under par 63 to grab the lead after the first round of the PGA Texas Open. — AFP
American Akshay Bhatia fired a nine-under par 63 to grab the lead after the first round of the PGA Texas Open. — AFP

HOUSTON: Akshay Bhatia poured in nine birdies without a bogey Thursday to separate himself from the field and stake a three-shot lead at the Valero Texas Open at TPC San Antonio.

Bhatia’s 9-under 63 at the resort’s Oaks Course gave him a major head start toward winning his second PGA Tour title -- which would come with a berth into his first Masters. This week’s winner will receive the final invitation into next week’s major, if not already qualified.

Bhatia won the Barracuda Championship last summer to notch his first PGA Tour win. Though just 22 years old, this marked Bhatia’s third start at the Valero Texas Open.

“Not many golf courses on the tour have been my third time, so I think understanding the golf course a lot more,” Bhatia said. “Yeah, I just played really solid, I got a couple really good breaks.”

He birdied four of his final five holes, including a 15 1/2-footer at the par-4 15th, to soar past Justin Lower, who set the early pace with a bogey-free, 6-under 66. “I knew I had two tough tee shots coming in, 15 and 18,” Bhatia said. “If I could just get out of there with a par, maybe birdie 18, just play it how we planned to, it would all work out. I thankfully birdied 15 and then 18 got a very good break and happened to kind of hit in the right spots at the right time and made birdie there.”

Brendon Todd birdied four of his last five holes to tie Lower for second at 6 under at day’s end. Todd started and ended his round with some flair.

“I chipped in on my first hole, 10, and I chipped in on my last hole, 9, and I made (a 66-foot birdie putt) on No. 6, so when those things happen, you hope you capitalize and make it a low one,” Todd said.

Todd and Lower are veterans in the same boat as the youngster Bhatia -- needing a win this week to qualify for the Masters. Lower celebrated his 35th birthday Thursday with his bogey-free round. “I feel like it’s kind of weird playing on your birthday, but it’s just kind of the way it is. Kind of the nature of our job, I guess,” Lower said.