Akshay Bhatia secured a tied-third finish at the WM Phoenix Open with a solid 4-under 68, while Sahith Theegala, after a late bogey on the 72nd hole, ended tied-18th. Despite the setback, Theegala received a sponsor exemption for the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am, ensuring his good form continues.
Chris Gotterup made a remarkable late surge at the tournament, birdieing five of his last six holes to set the clubhouse target at 16-under with a closing 7-under 64. Gotterup eventually clinched victory in a playoff against Hideki Matsuyama, who faltered on the 18th hole.
Akshay Bhatia’s performance marked a comeback after consecutive missed cuts, finishing with five birdies and a single bogey to claim a podium spot. Meanwhile, Sudarshan Yellamaraju, another Indian-origin player, ended tied-54th at the event.
World No.1 Scottie Scheffler staged a strong late challenge, narrowing the gap with a series of birdies but fell short of a playoff opportunity. Bhatia and Theegala now look ahead to upcoming events with Bhatia carrying momentum and Theegala aiming to make the most of his Pebble Beach opportunity.
