Akshay Bhatia

THE PLAYERS Championship: Indian-American Akshay Bhatia shares halfway lead 

ByNews Desk

23-year-old, Indian-American Akshay Bhatia, a two-time PGA Tour winner from North Carolina, has positioned himself atop the leaderboard at THE PLAYERS Championship. After rounds of 67-66, Bhatia sits at 11-under 133, sharing the 36-hole lead with Australian Min Woo Lee at TPC Sawgrass.

Reflecting on his round, Bhatia, currently ranked 31st in the Official World Golf Ranking (OWGR), discussed his shot-making, particularly a delicate approach on the final hole. “I just kind of played it back in the stance with a 50-degree, opened the face, and it barely missed the tree. Very fortunate to get the number right,” he said.

After a bogey-free 67 in the opening round, Bhatia built on his strong start, climbing the leaderboard with a composed 66 on Friday. “I honestly felt the same, but today, I had a much more intense focus. It takes so much to win a tournament like THE PLAYERS, and I just have to carry this mentality into the weekend,” he added.

A key factor in his resurgence has been a return to his old driver setup. “Last week was a blessing in disguise after missing the cut. I went back to my older driver and a shaft I played four years ago. It has been a huge relief,” Bhatia shared.

Meanwhile, defending champion and World No. 1 Scottie Scheffler, aiming for an unprecedented third consecutive victory at THE PLAYERS, carded a second-round 70 to reach 5-under overall.

Bhatia’s most recent victory came at the Valero Texas Open in April 2024. Last season, he competed in 26 events, securing one win and three top-10 finishes across 18 made cuts, finishing 26th in the FedEx Cup standings. In 2025, he has played five events, recording two top-10 finishes, and currently sits 40th in the FedEx Cup rankings.

Among other professionals of Indian origin, California’s Sahith Theegala posted rounds of 73-67 to stand at 4-under (T-29), while England’s Aaron Rai carded 68-74 to sit at 2-under (T-49).

Akshay Bhatia Quotes courtesy – FanCode

(Indian fans can catch all the action live exclusively on FanCode in India)

Photo – PGA TOUR

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