Taking your shirt off during a PGA Tour tournament isn’t something you see every day. Unless you’re following Joel Dahmen and Harry Higgs at the WM Phoenix Open, most golfers keep their tops on when competing.
However, during the third round of the 2023 Honda Classic at PGA National in Palm Beach Gardens, Akshay Bhatia stripped down not once, but twice.
Fans become accustomed to pros taking off their shoes and socks when stepping down into the wet marshes surrounding many golf courses. However, Bhatia went a step further, taking his shirt off on two different occasions during the third round.
He did it again?!?@AkshayBhatia_1 might need another change of clothes @TheHondaClassic
pic.twitter.com/Ktk5nYPkAc
— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) February 25, 2023
The first time he did it came on the sixth hole, which resulted in Bhatia making a par. His second shot came from the water, and he was able to get up and down from the fairway for par. His girlfriend even brought him a change of clothes after taking off his hat, shirt and shoes.
It takes a village
@AkshayBhatia_1‘s girlfriend Presleigh came in clutch with the back-up outfit @TheHondaClassic. https://t.co/lPJcuYDEPv pic.twitter.com/FNyRn3Gpil
— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) February 25, 2023
The second time came on the par-3 17th when his tee shot went long. This time, it didn’t go as well, having to hit two shots from the mud, and he ended up making double bogey.
Here’s to hoping Bhatia, who shot 4-over 74 in the third round, can avoid the mud on Sunday.