Indian-American pro golfer Akshay Bhatia took a solid step towards activating full PGA Tour membership, posting a solid 1-under 70 in yesterday’s final round at the Mexico Open for a solo fourth-place finish at 18-under par.
According to the PGA Tour website, the result could pay dividends down the line during the early portion of Bhatia’s Tour career.
The 21-year-old was tied for second after Round 3 of the tournament on Saturday, having played his way into the final group on Day 4 at Vidanta Vallarta alongside proven Tour winners Jon Rahm and Tony Finau.
Bhatia is competing on Special Temporary Membership after finishing runner-up at the Puerto Rico Open earlier this year, and a win yesterday would have activated his full Tour membership.
His fourth-place finish, six stroke behind winner Finau, means he remains in the conditional category that includes Special Temporary Members; but it is another step toward cementing 2024 Tour status.
Bhatia has now accrued 396 non-member FedExCup points this year, which would place him No 76 on the current standings if he were a member. If his non-member points equal or surpass No 125 on the official FedExCup standings at the conclusion of the FedExCup Fall, he will earn full 2024 PGA Tour membership.
Locking in with the putter 🔒
21-year-old @AkshayBhatia_1 is now T2 after this birdie @MexicoOpenGolf. pic.twitter.com/bBHORbt5hb
— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) April 30, 2023
An eagle on 18 for @akshaybhatia_1 to take him to -17 and T2 at the @MexicoOpenGolf pic.twitter.com/DmTLMDbqka
— Callaway Golf (@CallawayGolf) April 29, 2023
In order to become a full Tour member this season and become eligible for the FedExCup Playoffs, Bhatia will need to win an event.
Bhatia’s learning curve this season has been accelerated, experts said. He began the year as a Korn Ferry Tour member, having finished No 30 on the 2022 Korn Ferry Tour Regular Season Points List – when 25 players earned cards – and then failing to earn his Tour card via the Korn Ferry Tour Finals. He returned to the Korn Ferry Tour earlier this season and recorded two top-10s in four starts before his season-altering showing in Puerto Rico.
He will be hoping that the momentum from Mexico will be carried over to the coming week’s Wells Fargo Championship, into which he had previously received a sponsor exemption but would have also qualified on the strength of his top-10 at Vidanta Vallarta.
“I know I’m capable of winning,” Bhatia said on Saturday evening in Mexico. “Obviously won on the Korn Ferry Tour (at the 2022 Bahamas Great Exuma Classic at Sandals Emerald Bay), so I know what the feelings feel like going into tomorrow. We’re just going to have fun.”