Customize Consent Preferences

We use cookies to help you navigate efficiently and perform certain functions. You will find detailed information about all cookies under each consent category below.

The cookies that are categorized as "Necessary" are stored on your browser as they are essential for enabling the basic functionalities of the site. ... 

Always Active

Necessary cookies are required to enable the basic features of this site, such as providing secure log-in or adjusting your consent preferences. These cookies do not store any personally identifiable data.

No cookies to display.

Functional cookies help perform certain functionalities like sharing the content of the website on social media platforms, collecting feedback, and other third-party features.

No cookies to display.

Analytical cookies are used to understand how visitors interact with the website. These cookies help provide information on metrics such as the number of visitors, bounce rate, traffic source, etc.

No cookies to display.

Performance cookies are used to understand and analyze the key performance indexes of the website which helps in delivering a better user experience for the visitors.

No cookies to display.

Advertisement cookies are used to provide visitors with customized advertisements based on the pages you visited previously and to analyze the effectiveness of the ad campaigns.

No cookies to display.

Akshay Bhatia bids to beat bizarre injury ahead of Masters debut

Akshay Bhatia bids to beat bizarre injury ahead of Masters debut


Akshay Bhatia’s eye-popping shoulder injury didn’t derail him winning the Valero Texas Open. But now, he admits, his team will be getting to work ahead of the Masters

Bizarre injuries can dominate Masters week. Tony Finau once famously dislocated his ankle after an ace in the Par-3 contest. And now the last entrant into this year’s field, Akshay Bhatia, admits his injured shoulder is going to be a “work in progress”.

Bhatia popped the joint when fist-pumping the birdie that tied Denny McCarthy during the final hole in regulation at the Texas Open. Adrenaline got him through the playoff, and onto a hastily arranged plane to Augusta National.

Today, though, it’s something of a different story.

“The shoulder – it’s going to be a work in progress, for sure,” he said. “I’ve had it happen two, three times. I had a full disc location playing pickleball a couple years ago, and it kind of subluxed in Bermuda in 2021. I played through that week. I think I finished 15th or 16th.

“So it’s nothing new to me. It’s a weird, weird, experience because I had so much adrenaline so I had no pain in that playoff.

“But it’s definitely something we’re going to have to work towards, and I have a lot of trust in my team that we can tee it up on Thursday.”

Akshay Bhatia

Akshay Bhatia: ‘I’m hoping this can inspire a lot of kids’

Bhatia’s appearance is history-making for the Masters as he becomes the first Drive, Chip & Putt National Finalist to play in the tournament.

“I remember they were hosting us in a hotel, all the participants,” he remembered of the experience in 2014. “I was in an elevator, John Daly walks in, and I’m like this guy’s got a Diet Coke, hood on. And I realized it was John Daly, so it was really cool to kind of see him in the flesh for once.

“Just driving up Magnolia Lane with all the kids – met a lot of new friends. I remember we were in the hotel, and we got one of the Masters cups from the Tournament, and we all grabbed our putters and just were putting on the carpet in the hotel and just having a bunch of fun.

“Then I remember coming out watching the practice rounds on Tuesday. We were sitting on Hole 4 on the grandstands and it was just so surreal. I remember how bad I wanted to be out there and not just watch.

“Now being here and being the first Drive, Chip & Putt participant in the Masters is really cool. So I’m hoping this can inspire a lot of kids that are having the opportunity to play.”

Now have your say

Akshay Bhatia shoulder injury: Will Akshay Bhatia enjoy a good week at the Masters? Let me know how you think he will get on with a comment on X.





Source link

This website aggregates and curates news articles, blog posts, and other content from a variety of external sources. While we aim to link back to the original source, this site does not own or claim ownership of any articles, posts, or other content indexed on this site. The views, opinions, and factual statements expressed in each piece of aggregated content belong solely to its respective author and publisher. We make no representations or warranties regarding the accuracy or completeness of aggregated content. Visitors are advised to verify facts and claims through the original source before reuse or redistribution.