Professional golfer
Akshay Bhatia
Akshay Bhatia is a 24-year-old American professional golfer known for his creative left-handed swing, aggressive shot-making and excellent putting. He turned professional at 17 and has already won three PGA TOUR titles, most recently the 2026 Arnold Palmer Invitational.
Ask HH about Akshay Bhatia
AT A GLANCE
Quick facts
- Age
- 24Born January 31, 2002
- Hometown
- Wake Forest, North CarolinaBorn in Los Angeles
- Residence
- Jupiter, Florida
- PGA TOUR wins
- 3As of October 2026
- Height
- 6'1"
- Turned professional
- 2019At age 17
THE STORY
What to know
At a glance
Who he is
Born January 31, 2002, in Los Angeles, Bhatia grew up in North Carolina and now lives in Jupiter, Florida. He is 6'1" and plays left-handed.
Career
Three PGA TOUR wins
Bhatia is 3–0 in PGA TOUR playoffs and has converted each of his TOUR victories in dramatic fashion.
- 2023 Barracuda Championship
- 2024 Valero Texas Open
- 2026 Arnold Palmer Invitational
Playing style
Creative and fearless
His game is built around a fluid, athletic swing, imaginative recovery shots and high-level putting. He can attack par 5s and manufacture shots when conditions get difficult.
- Strong putting profile
- Comfortable shaping shots
- Aggressive final-round player
- Improving all-around game
Rise to the TOUR
A decorated amateur
Before turning pro, Bhatia won major junior events and represented the United States in several international competitions.
- 2017 Junior Presidents Cup
- 2017 and 2018 Junior PGA Champion
- 2018 Youth Olympic Games: two silver medals
- 2019 Walker Cup: youngest American player and first high-schooler to represent the U.S.
Breakthrough
From Korn Ferry success to PGA TOUR winner
Bhatia won on the Korn Ferry Tour in 2022 before earning his PGA TOUR card. His first TOUR win came at the 2023 Barracuda Championship, followed by the 2024 Valero Texas Open.
Current form
A major step forward in 2026
His 2026 season includes a win at Bay Hill and a strong overall statistical profile, especially in putting and total strokes gained.
- 2026 win: Arnold Palmer Invitational
- 2026 top-10 finishes: 4
- 2026 FedExCup standing: 18
- World ranking: roughly mid-30s
CAREER & GOLF JOURNEY
Notable moments
Junior Presidents Cup
Represented the United States.
Junior PGA breakthrough
Won the Junior PGA Championship for a second consecutive year.
Youth Olympic Games
Won two silver medals for the United States.
Walker Cup
Became the youngest American player and first high-schooler to represent the U.S.
First Korn Ferry Tour win
Won The Bahamas Golf Classic.
First PGA TOUR win
Won the Barracuda Championship.
Valero Texas Open
Won his second PGA TOUR title and qualified for the Masters.
Arnold Palmer Invitational
Defeated Daniel Berger in a playoff for his third TOUR victory.
WHAT'S IN THE BAG
Equipment
- Driver
- Callaway Rogue STReported long-term gamerReported WITB · 2026-10-21
- Putter
- Odyssey Jailbird 380 broomstickUsed in his 2026 Arnold Palmer Invitational victoryReported WITB · 2026-10-21
- Ball
- Callaway Chrome TourReported tournament ballReported WITB · 2026-10-21
HH take
Why this profile is worth exploring
Bhatia is one of the most interesting young players on TOUR because his creativity is already elite, while his consistency and major-championship record still have room to grow.