Bhatia flies at St. Jude: Record and leadership!

Akshay Bhatia leads the FedEx St. Jude Championship

The golfer Akshay Bhatia had a spectacular finish at the start of the PGA Tour postseason, achieving an eagle-birdie-birdie to close with a score of 62 strokes, his personal best. This gives him a one-stroke lead over Tommy Fleetwood at the FedEx St. Jude Championship. Scottie Scheffler, who was playing for the first time since his victory at the British Open, finished with a bogey on the last hole, signing a round of 67 strokes. This marks his tenth consecutive round under 70. Bhatia, ranked number 45, seeks to advance to the second stage of the FedEx Cup playoffs, where only the top 50 players continue. The goal is to finish in the top 30 to reach East Lake and have the opportunity to win the $10 million bonus. In his group, Harry Hall of England, ranked 44th, maintained a pace similar to Bhatia’s until the last two holes. Bhatia got a 25-foot birdie on the 17th hole and left his shot two feet from the 18th hole.

I felt pretty relaxed and I’m not trying to force anything. It’s okay to get angry at golf shots, but not at yourself.
Akshay Bhatia

Justin Rose and Bud Cauley also managed a round of 64 strokes at a TPC Southwind that features 18 new greens and thicker rough. Fleetwood, virtually assured of the number 9 position for the FedEx Cup final, seeks his first PGA Tour title, following his victories on the European circuit. Fleetwood highlighted his game off the tee, which provided him with birdie opportunities, including a shot from the bunker on the 9th hole.

People talk about this golf course as a second-shot course, but it’s only a second-shot course if you’re in the fairway. I hit the ball so well off the tee that I was always giving myself a chance.
Tommy Fleetwood

Fleetwood demonstrated a day-to-day mindset for this postseason series. Rickie Fowler, who failed to qualify for the postseason last year, started with a round of 66 strokes, which projects him within the top 50. Jordan Spieth, for his part, had to come back in the last nine holes to finish with 69 strokes, placing him in 50th place.

Akshay Bhatia started the week in 45th place in the FedEx Cup standings.Scheffler, already assured as the first seed for at least one more week, had a solid performance, although he regretted not converting a good birdie on the 16th hole. He finished with three putts on the final hole.

Today was a good day. I did some solid things. I felt like I was close to playing a really great round, but I ended up with a solid round. Overall, a decent start.
Scottie Scheffler

This week is crucial for the PGA Tour, as the top 50 advance to the BMW Championship and secure their participation in next year’s events with $20 million prize pools. Among the players in the qualifying zone, Si Woo Kim (ranked 46th) started with 65 strokes, and Wyndham Clark with 67. Ryder Cup captain Keegan Bradley, who could be the first playing captain since 1963, started with 72 strokes. Bradley is ranked number 10 in the Ryder Cup standings.