Atlanta– Indian-American golfer Akshay Bhatia capped his season with a strong performance at the Tour Championship, shooting a steady 2-under 68 in the final round to finish tied for 13th at East Lake Golf Club.
The 22-year-old had entered the FedEx Cup finale as the last qualifier at No. 30, but his showing underscored his place among the sport’s rising stars. His closing round included back-to-back birdies on the third and fourth holes, a slip on the fifth, and a brilliant three-birdie stretch from the sixth through the eighth. After a bogey at the ninth, he steadied with seven pars before a double bogey on the 17th, recovering with a birdie on the 18th to finish at 10-under overall. The effort earned him $570,000 in prize money.
But the spotlight belonged to Tommy Fleetwood. The Englishman ended years of frustration by winning both his long-awaited first PGA Tour title and the FedEx Cup crown. Fleetwood carded a composed 2-under 68 on Sunday to finish 18-under, three shots clear of Patrick Cantlay and Russell Henley.
Fleetwood, tied with Cantlay at the start of the final round, showed nerves of steel with birdies at the second, sixth, seventh, 12th, and 13th, offsetting bogeys at the fifth, 10th, and 15th. He parred the closing stretch to secure the victory, taking home the FedEx Cup trophy, the replica “Calamity Jane” putter, and a $10 million prize.
Cantlay faltered with an early bogey and double bogey, while World No. 1 Scottie Scheffler’s hopes ended after he found water on the 15th. Rory McIlroy closed with a 70 to finish tied for 23rd. Ryder Cup captain Keegan Bradley, who had been in contention, ended tied for seventh after a final-round 70, leaving open the question of whether he will use one of his six captain’s picks on himself.
Fleetwood’s win capped years of close calls and near misses, including late collapses at this year’s Travelers Championship and FedEx St. Jude Championship. With the breakthrough now behind him, the 34-year-old will turn his attention toward chasing his first Major title in 2026. (Source: IANS)
