Akshay Bhatia heads into the Masters riding a strong run of form, positioning himself as a genuine contender at Augusta.
The 24-year-old Indian-American has a win and four other top-16 finishes in his last six starts, underlining his consistency on the PGA Tour.
His results this season include tied third at Phoenix, tied sixth at Pebble Beach, tied 16th at the Genesis Invitational and tied 13th at The Players. The highlight remains his win at the Arnold Palmer Invitational, a Signature event against an elite field.
Despite a missed cut at the Hero Indian Open during his maiden visit to India, Bhatia’s overall form in 2026 has been among the most consistent of his career.
Augusta has so far offered modest returns — tied 35th in 2024 and tied 42nd in 2025 — but with added experience and confidence, he arrives better equipped this time.
Among other Indian-origin players, Sahith Theegala misses out due to injury, while Aaron Rai is still working his way back to form.
At the top of the field, Scottie Scheffler remains a leading contender, while defending champion Rory McIlroy arrives with questions around recent form.
For Bhatia, the trajectory is clear — form, confidence and momentum all in place as he looks to make a deeper run at Augusta.
Photo – PGA Tour
Story – V Krishnaswamy
