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Presleigh Schultz, girlfriend and caddie of Akshay Bhatia of the United States, jokes with Bhatia on the eighth hole during the first round of the Simmons Bank Open for the Snedeker Foundation at The Grove on May 05, 2022.
At just 23 years old, Akshay Bhatia is juggling two major life events almost back to back. The young PGA Tour pro is set to marry his fiancé, Presleigh Schultz, the week after the 2025 Hero World Challenge wraps up, and fittingly, the wedding will take place in the Bahamas too.
Bhatia has admitted he “didn’t really plan” much ahead of time–aside from getting fitted for his tuxedo. But whether by luck or design, the timing and setting make for a unique chapter in his life: closing out another season among golf’s elite, then immediately stepping into a personal milestone in paradise.
For a golfer still in the early stages of his career, the overlap of professional pressure and personal celebration is unusual, and telling. It suggests a maturity and poise in handling life off the course, while still competing at a high level on it.
Hero World Challenge With Added Significance
This year’s Hero World Challenge isn’t just another tournament for Bhatia; it doubles as a send-off before his wedding. And yet, despite that backdrop, he’s kept focus where it belongs. He arrived in the Bahamas not just in relaxed spirits, but with intent on competing. Bhatia placed 14th, earning him $180,000.
He’s also entered this event with a new full-time caddie: Joe Greiner–a name well-known on Tour after his longtime stint with top players like Max Homa. The new pairing makes the Hero Challenge as much a professional recalibration as it is a personal transition.
“I think that I don’t really realize how young I am,” Bhatia said. “This week, I’m the youngest guy in the field, which is really hard for me to process. …
“I think I do a lot of things so good, in my opinion, and to really treat each week, treat myself a little better. Like really understand and be grateful for what I’m doing as a 23-year-old. Obviously I want to win big tournaments, I want to contend in big tournaments. I’ve been there a couple times and each year it’s just really fun to have those opportunities and grind it out, however that looks.”
Bhatia went on to finish the Hero World Challenge with rounds of 66-68-74-71.
Life Beyond the Scorecard – Identity, Roots, and Expectations
Bhatia’s story resonates on multiple levels. Born in California, he became notable early–skipping college golf to turn pro in his late teens, a bold move many questioned at the time.
But his path has been steady. By 2025, he’s not just a promising young pro, he’s a PGA Tour winner with two titles to his name, including one where his soon-to-be wife caddied for him in the Bahamas in 2022.
“She’s been through it all with me. You know, I couldn’t imagine my life without her. I couldn’t imagine being on this journey without her by my side,” Bhatia said back in 2023.
Meet Presleigh Schultz
The pair first met at the 2021 Valero Texas Open, and after Bhatia messaged her on Instagram, the two quickly grew close. Schultz soon entered the golf world in an unexpected way–as Bhatia’s caddie.
Despite admitting she “knew nothing about golf” at the time, she stepped onto the bag for him on the Korn Ferry Tour. That early support helped Bhatia climb toward PGA Tour status, and it became the foundation of their bond.
The happy couple went public with their engagement in September 2023, after Bhatia popped the question in a vineyard in Napa Valley. Since then, Schultz has remained a fixture by his side.
“For her to support me every week and walk 72 holes, I couldn’t imagine my life without her and being on this journey without her. She has done a lot for me,” Bhatia said.
“She makes my peanut and jelly sandwiches every morning and does a lot. She has seen me cry in the hotel room and seen me super happy. For her to see me here, she always keep telling me how good I am, even if I question myself sometimes.”
Can Personal Stability Fuel More Golf Success?
This week could be a turning point for Bhatia. If he handles the balance well, the confidence and stability from off-course life could translate into a stronger, steadier mindset on course. That’s often what separates good golfers from great ones.
His new alliance with Greiner could also pay dividends. Greiner’s experience, with multiple PGA Tour winners, may help Bhatia fine-tune his game, especially under pressure at high-stakes events.
And beyond performance, Bhatia’s story could inspire: for young pros, for golfers of immigrant background, for anyone juggling the demands of career and life outside of sport.
Alyssa Polczynski Alyssa Polczynski is a multimedia journalist covering Major League Baseball for Heavy.com. She has experience as an editorial producer for MLB.com and contributed to the Society for American Baseball Research (SABR). More about Alyssa Polczynski
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