Akshay Bhatia is an American golfer from Wake Forest, North Carolina, ranked 24th in the world, who skipped college entirely to turn professional at age 17. That decision, rare in modern golf, reflected a confidence in his own ability that has since been validated by multiple PGA Tour victories. He is one of the few left-handed players competing at the top level of professional golf.
Bhatia’s amateur career was decorated enough to justify the early leap. He won the 2018 U.S. Junior Amateur runner-up finish and competed on the U.S. Junior Ryder Cup team, establishing himself as one of the best young players in the country before he could legally vote. His path to the PGA Tour came through sponsor’s exemptions and Korn Ferry Tour starts, grinding his way to full status without the safety net of a college program. That journey built a resilience that shows up in his competitive record: Bhatia has won PGA Tour events in playoffs and from behind, demonstrating a closing ability that cannot be taught. His left-handed swing is fluid and powerful, generating tour-average distance with above-average accuracy, and his putting stroke is one of the purest on tour.
What separates Bhatia from other young players is his comfort with being uncomfortable. Turning pro at 17 means he has already spent years navigating the financial and competitive pressures that crush most aspiring tour players. That experience has produced a player who is fearless in contention, willing to hit the shot the moment demands rather than the shot that minimizes risk. His Indian-American heritage makes him one of the most prominent players of South Asian descent in professional golf, a distinction he carries with quiet pride. At 22, he is still early in his development, with his best golf almost certainly ahead of him.
In 2026, Bhatia brings his left-handed creativity to all four major venues. Augusta National has historically favored left-handers, with the natural draw shaping around the course’s doglegs. Aronimink will test his iron precision on tight greens. Shinnecock Hills demands the kind of mental toughness he has built through years of competing above his age. Royal Birkdale will challenge his shot-making in coastal wind. He will compete at all four: The Masters, PGA Championship, U.S. Open, and The Open Championship. Fans in the United States can follow in United States time.