Akshay Bhatia tees off on No. 3 on Wednesday, Aug. 19, 2026, during the 2026 BMW Championship Pro-Am at Bellerive Country Club in Town and Country, Mo.
Christian Gooden, Post-Dispatch
Good memories
Things came full circle for Akshay Bhatia earlier this week. On Wednesday, he played in the pro-am with the same man that awarded him the trophy for winning the 2017 Junior PGA Championship at St. Albans.
It just so happened that that man was Cardinals legend Ozzie Smith.
Bhatia is back in St. Louis for the first time since he won that tournament as a 15-year-old, now playing in the BMW Championship. Nearly a decade ago, Bhatia broke the Junior PGA’s scoring record, highlighted by a first round 61.
“I remember it being one of the best rounds of my life,” Bhatia said. “Knowing that you’ve won in the area, it gives you a little more confidence.”
Bhatia entered the BMW Championship sitting 15th in the FedEx Cup standings, in good position to advance to next week’s Tour Championship in Atlanta. He has three PGA Tour wins, including once this year at the Arnold Palmer Invitational.
Bhatia, now 24, turned pro in 2019, and fired a 3-under 67 in his first round on Thursday.
He said some people on the course at Bellerive reminded him of winning at St. Albans and added it wasn’t something he thought about during the round but still was something that gave him a positive feeling.
“That tournament was one of the highlights of my junior career,” Bhatia said.
Photos: Second round of the BMW Championship at Bellerive Country Club
Professional golfer Scottie Scheffler watches as pro golfer Matt Fitzpatrick puts on the third hole during the second round of the BMW Championships at the Bellerive Country Club in Town and Country, Mo., on Friday, Aug. 21, 2026.
Liz Rymarev, Post-Dispatch
Fans gather around as professional golfer Matt Fitzpatrick tees off in the third hole during the second round of the BMW Championships at the Bellerive Country Club in Town and Country, Mo., on Friday, Aug. 21, 2026.
Liz Rymarev, Post-Dispatch
Professional golfer Tommy Fleetwood smiles as he goes to retrieve his ball on the sixth hole, where he hit a birdie, during the second round of the BMW Championships at the Bellerive Country Club in Town and Country, Mo., on Friday, Aug. 21, 2026.
Liz Rymarev, Post-Dispatch
Professional golfer Nico Echavarria strokes on the first hole during the second round of the BMW Championships at the Bellerive Country Club in Town and Country, Mo., on Friday, Aug. 21, 2026.
Liz Rymarev, Post-Dispatch
Emmy Whitehead fans her 6-month-old son, Shepherd, as he bites a toy while watching the second round of the BMW Championships from the grass at the Bellerive Country Club in Town and Country, Mo., on Friday, Aug. 21, 2026. Whitehead plays golf as a hobby and played while pregnant with Whitehead up until 41 weeks. “It’s really sweet to be able to bring him to the tournament, even if he doesn’t know what’s going on,” Whitehead said.
Liz Rymarev, Post-Dispatch
Professional golfer Scottie Scheffler tees off on the second hold during the second round of the BMW Championships at the Bellerive Country Club in Town and Country, Mo., on Friday, Aug. 21, 2026.
Liz Rymarev, Post-Dispatch
Professional golfer Scottie Scheffler fist bumps golfer Matt Fitzpatrick after completing all eighteenth holes in the second round of the BMW Championships at the Bellerive Country Club in Town and Country, Mo., on Friday, Aug. 21, 2026.
Liz Rymarev, Post-Dispatch
A fan points out to professional golfer Scottie Scheffler preparing to put on the fourth hole during the second round of the BMW Championships at the Bellerive Country Club in Town and Country, Mo., on Friday, Aug. 21, 2026.
Liz Rymarev, Post-Dispatch
Professional golfer Scottie Scheffler watches his second drive on the fourth hole during the second round of the BMW Championships at the Bellerive Country Club in Town and Country, Mo., on Friday, Aug. 21, 2026.
Liz Rymarev, Post-Dispatch
Professional golfer Scottie Scheffler places the ball on a tee for his first drive on the first hole during the second round of the BMW Championships at the Bellerive Country Club in Town and Country, Mo., on Friday, Aug. 21, 2026.
Liz Rymarev, Post-Dispatch
Jeff and Jane Sheneberger, of St. Louis, watch the fifth hole from the grass during the second round of the BMW Championships at the Bellerive Country Club in Town and Country, Mo., on Friday, Aug. 21, 2026. Their son and daughter-in-law bought them tickets last Christmas. “We’re excited to see Fleetwood and Rory and Min Woo,” Jeff Scheneberger said.
Liz Rymarev, Post-Dispatch
Brooks Paro, 5, sticks out his tongue and holds onto his dad’s hat as they watch the first hole during the second round of the BMW Championships at the Bellerive Country Club in Town and Country, Mo., on Friday, Aug. 21, 2026. Paro loves golf and got his pair of clubs for his last birthday.
Liz Rymarev, Post-Dispatch
Professional golfer Scottie Scheffler scratches into the bottom of his club before teeing off on the first hole during the second round of the BMW Championships at the Bellerive Country Club in Town and Country, Mo., on Friday, Aug. 21, 2026.
Liz Rymarev, Post-Dispatch
Professional golfer Matt Fitzpatrick takes a moment before teeing off on the first hole during the second round of the BMW Championships at the Bellerive Country Club in Town and Country, Mo., on Friday, Aug. 21, 2026.
Liz Rymarev, Post-Dispatch
Professional golfer Robert MacIntyre tees off on the second hole during the second round of the BMW Championships at the Bellerive Country Club in Town and Country, Mo., on Friday, Aug. 21, 2026.
Liz Rymarev, Post-Dispatch
Professional golfer Rory McIlroy hits the ball on the fifth hole during the second round of the BMW Championships at the Bellerive Country Club in Town and Country, Mo., on Friday, Aug. 21, 2026.
Liz Rymarev, Post-Dispatch
Professional golfer Tommy Fleetwood observes the green before hitting at the eighteenth hole during the second round of the BMW Championships at the Bellerive Country Club in Town and Country, Mo., on Friday, Aug. 21, 2026.
Liz Rymarev, Post-Dispatch
A lake reflects fans watching the third hole from the grass during the second round of the BMW Championships at the Bellerive Country Club in Town and Country, Mo., on Friday, Aug. 21, 2026.
Liz Rymarev, Post-Dispatch
Professional golfer Rory McIlroy reacts to coming up short on the first hole during the second round of the BMW Championships at the Bellerive Country Club in Town and Country, Mo., on Friday, Aug. 21, 2026.
Liz Rymarev, Post-Dispatch
Scottie Scheffler observes the green before putting on the 18th green during the second round of the BMW Championships at the Bellerive Country Club in Town and Country on Friday, Aug. 21, 2026.
Liz Rymarev, Post-Dispatch
Professional golfer Ryo Hisatsune tees off on the first hole during the second round of the BMW Championships at the Bellerive Country Club in Town and Country, Mo., on Friday, Aug. 21, 2026.
Liz Rymarev, Post-Dispatch
Professional golfer Xander Schauffele lines up the golf ball on the fourth hole during the second round of the BMW Championships at the Bellerive Country Club in Town and Country, Mo., on Friday, Aug. 21, 2026.
Liz Rymarev, Post-Dispatch
Professional golfer Rory McIlroy reacts to his put on the fourth hole during the second round of the BMW Championships at the Bellerive Country Club in Town and Country, Mo., on Friday, Aug. 21, 2026.
Liz Rymarev, Post-Dispatch
Fans watch as professional golfer Scottie Scheffler tees off on the fifth hole during the second round of the BMW Championships at the Bellerive Country Club in Town and Country, Mo., on Friday, Aug. 21, 2026.
Liz Rymarev, Post-Dispatch
Professional golfer Rory McIlroy tees off on the second hole during the second round of the BMW Championships at the Bellerive Country Club in Town and Country, Mo., on Friday, Aug. 21, 2026.
Liz Rymarev, Post-Dispatch
A pond reflects fans watching the seventh hole during the second round of the BMW Championships at the Bellerive Country Club in Town and Country, Mo., on Friday, Aug. 21, 2026.
Liz Rymarev, Post-Dispatch
Professional golfer Nico Echavarria grabs a club from his caddie as he prepares to put during the second round of the BMW Championships at the Bellerive Country Club in Town and Country, Mo., on Friday, Aug. 21, 2026.
Liz Rymarev, Post-Dispatch
Professional golfer Xander Schauffele watches as gofler Rory McIlroy puts his ball on the second hole during the second round of the BMW Championships at the Bellerive Country Club in Town and Country, Mo., on Friday, Aug. 21, 2026.
Liz Rymarev, Post-Dispatch
Fans cheer as professional golfer Jake Knapp retrieves the ball from the hole on the first hole during the second round of the BMW Championships at the Bellerive Country Club in Town and Country, Mo., on Friday, Aug. 21, 2026.
Liz Rymarev, Post-Dispatch
Professional golfer Matt Fitzpatrick tees off on the second hole during the second round of the BMW Championships at the Bellerive Country Club in Town and Country, Mo., on Friday, Aug. 21, 2026.
Liz Rymarev, Post-Dispatch
Gene Gutman, of Hazelwood, Mo., watches as professional golfer Scottie Scheffler puts on the green at the sixth hole during the second round of the BMW Championships at the Bellerive Country Club in Town and Country, Mo., on Friday, Aug. 21, 2026. “It’s the championships, why wouldn’t I be here?” Gutman said.
Liz Rymarev, Post-Dispatch
Professional golfer Scottie Scheffler strokes on the first hole during the second round of the BMW Championships at the Bellerive Country Club in Town and Country, Mo., on Friday, Aug. 21, 2026.
Liz Rymarev, Post-Dispatch
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