Now a 22-year-old professional, he looks back on the DCP as the moment he found a love for Augusta National. The initial memory of arriving to the course is as fresh in 2024 as it was 10 years ago.
“Just driving up Magnolia Lane with all the kids, met a lot of new friends. I remember we were in the hotel, and we got one of the Masters cups from the Tournament, and this — we had a couple of us, but we all grabbed our putters and just were putting on the carpet in the hotel and just having a bunch of fun, really,” he said.
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“Then I remember coming out watching the practice rounds on Tuesday. We were sitting on Hole 4 on the grandstands, and it was just so surreal. I remember how bad I wanted to be out there and not just watch. Now being here and being the first Drive, Chip & Putt participant in the Masters is really cool. So I’m hoping this can inspire a lot of kids that are having the opportunity to play.”
The DCP isn’t Bhatia’s only tie to the Augusta area. He won the Junior Invitational at Sage Valley in 2018, besting Ludvig Aberg (who is also in the 2024 Masters field). He joins fellow champions Scottie Scheffler (2014), Austin Eckroat (2016) and Joaquin Niemann (2017) in the Masters field. To this point, Scheffler is the only player to win both tournaments.
Akshay Bhatia tees off on no. 15 during the first round of the Masters Tournament. Mandatory Credit: Adam Cairns-USA TODAY Network
“I think the Junior Invitational is a pretty special tournament to us. We get to stay on property, we get to hang out with all the participants there. The golf course was spectacular. I think it’s one of the — probably the highest-ranked tournament that we ever play. It feels like our Masters as kids. That golf tournament was great,” he said.
“So I think it just shows an impact on how much that tournament generates great players. And being here as a kid is kind of a fairy tale. Just having the opportunity, qualifying, and you earn your spot getting here, just how I did today, and so it’s a cool kind of thing that everyone at Augusta National does for us and for years to come.”
Bhatia made the difficult decision to forgo a college career and turn professional. He had an experienced mentor to lean on, as three-time Masters champion Phil Mickelson recalls meeting Bhatia five years ago.
“I think he’s a brilliant talent. We flew together to play his first tournament as a pro when he turned pro at 17, and we had a great conversation. I remember the discussion went something like, look, over the next four years, am I going to develop as a player, as a person, as a professional best playing professionally even though I know it’s going to be hard and it’s going to be a struggle, or to go to college,” Mickelson said.
He felt like that was the right decision for him, and as you look back on it you have to agree because he’s already won twice. He’s at a point now where he would be coming out of college and he’s already won twice and has a lot of experience, and he’s got an incredible game. To have the foresight to make that kind of decision and make the right one was impressive. I really think a lot of him.”
Bhatia was grouped with J.T. Poston and Shane Lowry during Thursday’s opening round. The group made it through No. 16 and will return Friday morning to complete the round. Bhatia is 1 under through 16.
