Akshay Bhatia has two set menus, one for the golf course, the other off it. In sport, it is a one-point programme to keep striving and getting better as he eyes a permanent spot on the PGA Tour. He is getting there, and a legend called Phil Mickelson has a role to play.
Cut to the kitchen of the Bhatia household in Wake Forest, North Carolina, and Akshay, 19, is on the move again as he tries to match the culinary skills of the parents. Mother Renu is adept at working up magic with eggplant and father Sonny can rustle up lip smacking tandoori chicken and chicken curry. The accompaniment is normally naan, and the keen observer Akshay is, nothing goes unnoticed. “One day, I will be as good a cook,” he said in an exclusive interview to thegolfinghub.
Self-belief above all
Sure, he will as self-belief is what drives him. Couple this with the hours he is clocking with Mickelson and Akshay has a recipe for success. There is a lot going for them, one being “Lefty seeing the golf course like me is amazing”. Then, the faith Mickelson, a 45-time winner on the PGA Tour, has in Akshay. “Given his achievements, the belief he has in me is huge.” Not to say that Akshay’s attempt the turn the sporadic appearances on the world’s toughest tour into a routine affair is based purely on Mickelson’s perception. “He has made me understand but more than that it’s the self-discovery while playing across the world,” said Akshay.
The Safeway Open in September reflects what he means. The T9 is a career best on the PGA Tour and responsible for where finds himself on the FedEx Cup ranking. Beyond stats, it was a vindication of faith that he belongs to the PGA Tour. The previous year here had brought forth that there were some holes where he wasn’t comfortable. This was considered this time, and hence the good breaks and the strong finish.
The world is a canvas for Akshay
From the US, Canada’s Forme Tour to Europe, the world is Akshay’s canvas. But for the pandemic, he would have also made his maiden trip to the land of his forefathers for the Hero Indian Open last March. The cancellation was a dampener, but Akshay is keyed in and would “love to chip in with the development of golf here”.
The continent does not matter, for Akshay all routes lead to the PGA Tour, and any path that leads him there will be taken. Last year’s Saudi International on the European Tour was one such attempt. It was a long haul, being airborne for 15 hours, but the time was utilized to have a chat with Mickelson seated alongside.
A bond to be cherished
Managed by the same agency, the two have stayed in touch since being introduced in 2019, and whenever they turn out together in a tournament, the conversation is loaded with informative nuggets. The latest instance was last month’s US Open. Akshay arrived at Torrey Pines prior to the week and his hotel room was by the edge of the 18th green and evoked memories of Tiger Woods making that iconic putt in 2008.
Akshay created some magical moments himself by making cut in his maiden Major. The build-up was perfect, playing practice rounds with Mickelson and watching him hit it off the tee and tackle the cross winds. “In between watching and asking”, Akshay absorbed enough to tick a key box on the career graph, but not before some anxiety. Needing to go one-under with two holes left, Akshay made up and down and sealed his biggest moment. It was far cry from the days when “I turned pro at 17 and got beaten up quickly”. The realization that “I can play well even when not comfortable” will push him while striving to make the most of what remains of the season through Monday qualifiers.
A lot of ground needs to be covered but whenever Akshay makes the grade it will be a fitting tribute to the parents’ efforts as well. Outside the kitchen door, the roles were clearly demarcated. Renu’s efforts ensured the flow of finance was steady, Sonny has stood like a rock behind his boy. From taking Akshay to tournaments in the early days to leaving nothing to chance; he was also there to ensure the boy picked himself up after every fall.
