Akshay Bhatia chronicles his journey on the PGA Tour | Golf Central | Golf Channel

Akshay Bhatia joins Golf Central to discuss the upcoming Drive, Chip & Putt National Finals, adjusting to the highs and lows of the PGA Tour and more. #GolfChannel #GolfCentral #AkshayBhatia
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Akshay Bhatia chronicles his journey on the PGA Tour | Golf Central | Golf Channel
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BREAK THROUGH AT THE BARRACUDA CHAMPIONSHIP LAST JULY. WELCOME TO AKSHAY TO GOLF CENTRAL. DRIVE, CHIP, PUTT NATIONAL FINALS WILL BE APRIL 7 THIS SUNDAY AT AUGUSTA NATIONAL. IT IS CRAZY HOW TIME FLIES. A DECADE AGO IN 2014, YOU WERE

PART OF THE FIRST ONE. WHAT ARE YOUR MEMORIES LIKE FROM TEN YEARS AGO AND THAT WEEK IN AUGUSTA? >> I MEAN EVERYTHING ABOUT THAT WEEK WAS AMAZING. JUST BEING ABLE TO BE ON THE GROUNDS AND HAVING THE OPPORTUNITY TO GO TO AUGUSTA,

HIT SOME GOLF BALLS, SEE THE PROS. I REMEMBER AT THE HOTEL WE WERE HOSTED AT I RAN INTO JOHN DAILY. OBVIOUSLY HE HAS HIS RV THERE AND HE SELLS HIS MERCH. IT’S REALLY COOL. MY BEST MEMORY OBVIOUSLY IS

MAKING THE PUTT ON 18 AND JUST BEING ABLE TO KIND OF FEEL EVERYTHING ABOUT THE PROPERTY AT AUGUSTA. IT’S SOMETHING SPECIAL AND I HOPE TO GO BACK AND SEE SOME OF THE NEW KIDS AND BE A PLAYER THIS YEAR OR NEXT YEAR.

>> YOU GOT TO FEEL THE BUZZ OF THE FIRST DRIVE, CHIP, PUTT NATIONAL FINAL. SINCE, IT’S BECOME A STAPLE ON THE CALENDAR AS PART OF THE KICK OFF EVENT LEADING TO MASTERS WEEK. WHAT’S IT BEEN LIKE TO SEE FROM

AFAR HOUR THE EVENT HAS GROWN AND JUST HOW IMPORTANT IT IS TO YOUTH GOLFERS TO TRY AND PLAY THEIR WAY INTO DRIVE, CHIP, PUTT NATIONAL FINALS ON GOLF CHANNEL? >> I THINK JUST HAVING EXPOSURE, EARNING IT, GOING THROUGH THE

STAGES, IT’S A LOT OF FUN. I THINK WHAT’S COOL IS SO MANY MASTER CHAMPIONS HAVE GIVEN THE TROPHIES OR JUST BEEN AROUND WATCHING THE KIDS. YOU KNOW, WE LOOK UP TO SO MANY OF THE GUYS GROWING UP, BOYS AND GIRLS TO BE ABLE TO COMPETE,

IT’S AN AMAZING EVENT AND YOU WISH IT DOESN’T GO BY SO FAST. BUT YOU GET THAT CARD IN THE MAIL OF BEING INVITED AS A RECIPIENT. IT’S AN AWESOME THING FOR KIDS AND FOR OTHER PEOPLE WHO HAVEN’T PLAYED TO KIND OF GET INTO THE

SPORT. I THINK EVERYTHING ABOUT THE GAME IS IMPORTANT AND THIS IS A GREAT START. >> AKSHAY, YOU WERE ELUDING HOW YOU LOVE TO PLAY YOUR WAY INTO THE MASTERS THIS YEAR, NEXT YEAR TO GET THE COVETED INVITATION.

YOU WON BEFORE ON THE PGA LAST SUMMER AT THE BARRACUDA. YOU WOULD NEED A W THIS WEEK AT THE VALERO TEXAS OPEN. IS THAT IN YOUR MIND, WHAT POTENTIALLY CAN BE AT STAKE? >> I THINK IT IS IN THE BACK OF

MY MIND BOIS IT’S NOT MY PRIMARY FOCUS. WHETHER IT HAPPENS OR NOT, I AM NOT IN ANY RUSH. ONE OF MY GOALS IS TO PLAY ALL FOUR. I CHECK THAT BOX OFF THIS YEAR OR NEXT YEAR, THE YEAR AFTER, I

JUST WANT TO BE IN CONTENTION MORE AND BEING IN CONTENTION LAST WEEK WAS AWESOME. JUST ONE OF THE FEELINGS OF TRYING TO GET IT DONE THIS WEEK OR MANY WEEKS TO COME IS MORE THAN ENOUGH. >> FOR THOSE UNFAMILIAR WITH

YOUR STORY AND NOW YOU ARE ON EVERYONE’S GOLF CONSCIOUS AS PGA TOUR WINNER, ONE OF THE YOUNG STUDS IN THE GAME, YOU DECIDED TO FOREGO COLLEGE AND TURN PRO AT 17 WHICH IS A NONTRADITIONAL PATH ON THE MEN’S SIDE WHERE IT

SEEMED LIKE AN UPHILL CLIMB AND MOST PEOPLE WERE SAYING HE SHOULD HAVE GONE TO COLLEGE. WHY WAS IT THE RIGHT CHOICE FOR YOU AT THE TIME? >> I JUST HAD A LOT OF BELIEF IN MYSELF. I ONLY WANTED TO PLAY GOLF.

I DIDN’T WANT TO GO TO SCHOOL. I THOUGHT LEARNING EVERYTHING ON MY OWN IS MORE IMPORTANT AND VALUABLE, MEETING THE PEOPLE I HAVE MET. I THOUGHT I COULD GROW MORE AS A PERSON AND AS A PLAYER. IT TOOK ME A COUPLE YEARS TO

GET MY FEET WET. I FINALLY WAS ABLE TO DO THAT AND I AM HERE NOW, STILL ONE OF THE YOUNGER GUYS. IT’S COOL BECAUSE I FEEL LIKE I HAVE SO MANY EVENTS UNDER MY BELT AT THE PGA TOUR AND TO KNOW

WHAT’S GOING ON EVERY WEEK, KNOW MY SCHEDULE, KNOW WHAT I NEED TO DO PREP WISE. IT HELPS A LOT BECAUSE I HAVE DONE IT FOR SUCH A LONG TIME AT THIS STAGE. >> THIS IS YEAR FIVE OF YOUR PROFESSIONAL JOURNEY.

AS YOU LOOK BACK, IS THERE ANYTHING YOU WOULD HAVE DONE DIFFERENTLY? OR DO THE RESULTS SPEAK FOR THEMSELVES TO WHERE YOU ARE THIS STAGE OF YOUR CAREER? >> I DON’T KNOW IF I WOULD HAVE DONE ANYTHING TOO DIFFERENT.

I THINK GOING THROUGH THE HARD TIMES IS WHAT MAKES GREAT PLAYERS OR GREAT STORIES OR MAKES EVERYTHING FEEL BETTER. I AM HAPPY I WENT THROUGH A LOT OF STRUGGLES. I STILL GO THROUGH STRUGGLES EVEN NOW. IT JUST DOESN’T SEEM LIKE SUCH A

BIG DEAL. I HAVE ALWAYS DREAMED ABOUT BEING ON THE PGA TOUR AND JUST HAVING THE OPPORTUNITY NOW JUST MAKES EVERYTHING FEEL MORE SPECIAL. WHEN YOU GET THE WINS AND YOU ARE IN CONTENTION, YOU REALIZE HOW AWESOME THE FEELING IS AND

HOW MUCH MORE YOU WANT IT. WHEN I WAS PLAYING MINI TOURS, IT WAS SO DIFFERENT. >> HOW IMPORTANT IS HAVING A STRONG SUPPORT SYSTEM WHEN YOU ARE STARTING A PRO JOURNEY AS A TEENAGER AND FOR THE FIRST TIME, YOU GO FROM AN AMAZING AMATEUR

CAREER TO THEN HAVING TO ADJUST TO LOWS AND HIGHS OF PROFESSIONAL GOLF? >> I MEAN, IT’S SO IMPORTANT HAVING A GREAT TEAM AROUND YOU, HAVING PEOPLE WHO SUPPORT YOU BECAUSE THE LIFESTYLE IS NOT EASY AT ALL. I THINK WHAT WAS HARD IS BEING

KIND OF THE BOSS OF SO MANY PEOPLE MY AGE. IT’S A BIG DIFFERENCE BECAUSE I DON’T WANT TO HURT ANYONE’S FEELINGS AND FOR THEM TO SAY, YOU HAVE TO BE SELFISH A LOT OF THE TIMES. MY PARENTS, MY AGENT, MY

COACHES, EVERYONE WHO IS AROUND ME, THEY PUT UP WITH A LOT OF STUFF WEEK IN AND WEEK OUT. I CAN’T BE MORE THANKFUL TO HAVE THAT. THIS SPORT IS LONELY AND YOU HEAR SO MANY STORIES ABOUT GUYS IN HOTEL ROOMS ALONE.

EVEN LAST WEEK, IT WAS THE FIRST TIME I WAS SOLO. IT WAS SO WEIRD AND SO DIFFERENT. I AM HAPPY WHEN I HAVE PEOPLE AROUND AND I CAN ENJOY WHAT I HAVE OUT HERE. >> SEEING YOU AS AKSHAY BHATIA

PRO GOLFER INSIDE THE ROPES, YOUNG SWING SWING LEFTY WE TAKE FOR GRANTED OFTEN, WHAT IT’S LIKE DAY TO DAY WITH YOUR PERSONAL LIFE AND WHAT YOU WERE TOUCHING ON. ONE OF MY FAVORITE STORIES FROM CORN FAIRY DAYS TO GETTING

ADJUSTED TO LIFE AS A PRO GOLFER WAS YOU HAD TO RENT A U HAUL BECAUSE YOU COULDN’T GET A RENTAL CAR UNDER AGE 25. JUST THE ADJUSTMENT OF GETTING FROM TOURNAMENT TO TOURNAMENT, WHICH HOTEL TO STAY AT, WHERE TO EAT.

WHAT’S THE FIRST YEAR LIKE? >> IT’S HARD ESPECIALLY AT MY AGE. MY SISTER TRAVELED WITH ME WHEN I FIRST TURNED PRO. I COULDN’T CHECK INTO HOTELS, COULD NOT’ SIGN CONTRACTS, COULDN’T DRIVE COURTESY CARS. I HAD MY PERMIT WHEN I WAS OUT

HERE GETTING SPONSOR EXEMPTIONS. IT’S A BIG CHANGE LIVING OUT OUT OF A SUITCASE IS HARD. I ENJOY IT NOW. I WOULD RATHER BE ON THE ROAD FOR FOUR OR FIVE WEEKS THAN BE AT HOME FOR WEEKS. THE MORE YOU LEARN, HANG OUT

WITH FRIENDS, MEET PEOPLE AND YOU FIND YOUR GROUP WHERE YOU FEEL COMFORTABLE TO GO TO DINNERS AND STUFF. BUT THAT FIRST COUPLE YEARS, IT IS LONELY WITH A LOT OF DINING IN AND ROOM SERVICE. OVERALL I THINK UNDERSTANDING HOW TO TAKE CARE OF YOURSELF

WHEN WE ARE PLAYING THE LONG STRETCHES IS IMPORTANT AND I HAVE LEARNED SO MUCH OF THAT. I HAVE A GREAT TEAM AROUND ME NOW WHO REALLY WORKS HARD FOR ME AND MAKE ME JOB EASIER. >> ON THE CALL LAST YEAR IN

PUERTO RICO WHEN YOU GOT SPECIAL TEMPORARY MEMBERSHIP AND YOU WON THAT PLAYOFF AGAINST PATRICK ROGERS AT THE BARRACUDA, WHAT WERE THE EMOTIONS LIKE COMING DOWN THE STRETCH TO FINALLY REALIZE YOUR DREAM OF NOT ONLY WINNING ON THE PGA TOUR BUT

SOLIDIFYING PGA TOUR MEMBERSHIP? >> PRETTY CRAZY. I REMEMBER I STARTED WORKING WITH A NEW CADDY. THAT WAS OUR THIRD WEEK AND I REMEMBER HIM TELLING ME THAT YOU ARE READY TO WIN. A LOT OF GUYS WOULD BE AMAZED AT

HOW IT’S NOT HARD TO WIN WHEN YOU GET INTO THAT SITUATION. I REMEMBER STARTING OUT REALLY BAD AND THEN I HUNG AROUND AND STARTED TO EXECUTE GOLF SHOT, MADE A COUPLE PUTTS. IN THE PLAYOFF, IT WAS CRAZY. I FELT READY TO GO.

EVERYONE WAS SAYING OH YOU ARE RUSHING AND GETTING IN THE CART TOO FAST. I HAVE WAS EXCITED FOR THE CART TO FOLLOW MY WAY AND GET MEMBERSHIP. TO HAVE SOMEWHAT OF A SCHEDULE THIS YEAR IS AWESOME. I AM VERY HAPPY.

I WANT TO BE IN THAT SPOT WAY MORE. >> YOU ARE ALREADY IN YOUR YOUNG CAREER A VERY ELITE BALL STRIKER TEE TO GREEN. PUTTING AT TIMES HAS BEEN A QUESTION MARK TO HAVE MORE CONSISTENCY. WHERE ARE YOU WITH THE PUTTER?

ARE THERE ANY TWEAKS YOU ARE CONSIDERING TO MAKE? >> I SWITCHED TO THE BROOM STICK. IT WAS A BIG CHANGE FOR ME. I DIDN’T WANT TO DO IT. I FELT LIKE I WILL GIVE THIS A TRY AND THAT’S ONE OF MY GOALS

TO BE A TOP 20, 30 PUTTER ON TOUR. IT’S BEEN GREAT. I HAVE HAD A LOT MORE SOLID WEEKS AND I THINK IT SHOWS IN SOME OF MY FINISHES, MAYBE HAD THE NUMBER A COUPLE TIMES AND BEEN ABLE TO GET IN THE TOP 15,

TOP 20s, I AM STILL TESTING AROUND. THERE IS A NEW PUTTER THAT’S OBVIOUSLY MADE ME, CHANGED MY PATH. I SOMETIMES STRUGGLE WITH IT APPARENTLY BUT I AM STILL PUTTING GOOD. I HAVE A LOT OF CONFIDENCE. I AM WORKING WITH STEVEN SWEENEY

WHO REALLY HELPED ME AND UNDERSTANDS TENDENCIES, HOW TO BECOME OVERALL BETTER PUTTER. CONSISTENCY DOESN’T MEAN AS MUCH AS WE THINK. BECAUSE YOU CAN FEEL LIKE YOU PUTT GREAT AND STILL BE NEGATIVE ON THE GREENS. CONSISTENCY IS A WORD WE TRY NOT

TO USE. IT’S JUST BEING MORE STRUCTURED WITH THE PRACTICE AND KIND OF ALLOWING IT TO FLOW AND ENJOY PUTTING A LITTLE MORE. >> ALWAYS FASCINATING GETTING INTO THE MIND SET OF A PGA TOUR WINNER. WE WERE TALKING ON THE

COMMERCIAL BREAK THAT YOU ARE IN THE TOUR TRUCK. ARE GOLFERS ALWAYS TINKERING? >> I THINK SO. WE ALWAYS TRY AND GET THAT 1% BETTER. THAT’S WHAT I AM TRYING TODAY. I AM PRETTY TIRED BUT JUST THINKING ABOUT IT OVERNIGHT, HOW

TO GET 1% BETTER LIKE WINNING THE TOURNAMENT LAST WEEK. A COUPLE PUTTS FALL AND FEELING A LITTLE MORE CONFIDENT, I THINK THE 1% MAKES A BIG DIFFERENCE. ONE OR TWO PUTTS IS A LONG WAY. A LOT OF GUYS, YOU SEE ALL THE

GUYS WITH MULTIPLE DRIVERS, MULTIPLE WEDGES, ANYTHING, JUST TO GET ADJUSTED OR JUST FEEL MORE CONFIDENT. >> WHO KNOWS? BY THE END OF THE WEEK YOU CAN BE ONE OF THE GUYS WITH MULTIPLE WINS AT TH