PALM HARBOR, Fla. – Akshay Bhatia won’t be around for the weekend at the Valspar Championship, but the teen sensation still had plenty of reason to smile after putting forth a respectable showing in his PGA Tour debut.
The 17-year-old amateur received a sponsor exemption to play this week at Innisbrook, and earlier in the week he discussed his plans to bypass college by turning pro later this year following the Walker Cup. The lanky teen battled nerves during an opening-round 74 but rebounded with a 1-over 72, flirting with the cut line before bogeys on his final two holes sealed his fate.