Fresh off Arnold Palmer invitational win, Indian-origin golfer Akshay Bhatia struggling to make the cut in India
Ranked 19th in the world after a sensational run earlier this month, Akshay Bhatia connected with his Delhi roots but struggled at the treacherous Gary Player course
Indian-origin American golfer Akshay Bhatia arrived at the Indian Open for a long-awaited debut in the country this week. He leaves the opening day uncertain of even making the cut, with a reminder of how the Gary Player course at the DLF Golf and Country Club in Gurugram has gained its reputation for being particularly treacherous for those unfamiliar with these conditions.
In peak form, having reached a career-high ranking of World No. 19 by winning the prestigious Arnold Palmer Invitational earlier this month, Bhatia may have hoped to reconnect with his roots; his parents had lived in Delhi before moving to North Carolina. But the feel-good charm of playing in India quickly vanished by the first hole. Starting from the tougher back nine of this course, Bhatia opened his tournament with an ominous double bogey, and was left eight over par after his first nine, with two bogeys, another double and one triple. Reining in his aggressive style and adapting to the conditions, he recovered to end his day by carding five-over 77.
An even stronger recovery would be required on Friday to even feature here over the weekend, let alone to salvage any ambitions he may have harboured of holding the trophy aloft come Sunday. “Just didn’t play good on the first nine,” Bhatia said after his round. “It’s a tough golf course. I mean, I hit an OB (out of bounds) on my first hole (the tenth), so it’s just like you can hit shots that are 5, 10 yards off the line and just be in a really tough position.”
The 24-year-old had built a formidable reputation as a teenager, and recent successes have heightened his profile. But his inclination to play free-wheeling golf and go for his shots, worked against him here. Instead, conservatism and striking at the right moments ended up being the way to go, as clubhouse leader German Freddy Schott proved. With his round of six-under par 66, he seemed to have developed the right strategy on a day when his competitors were busy spraying errors, even if there was a blip at the end. As Don Bradbury, who finished the day third with a round of four under, said: “There are definitely a lot of holes that you need to just sort of get it in play and accept if you are 40 yards further back, but in the fairway, that’s fine and then hit it on the right spots.”
Between Bradbury and Schott, the second spot on the leaderboard was occupied by defending champion Eugenio Chaccarra, who carded five under. The Spaniard’s template for scoring from last year did not change much, and while it yielded the right results, in no way did it suggest that familiarity with the course is the magic ingredient. The home contingent would disprove that handily.
As many as 30 home players teed off here on Thursday and none of them carded a below-par score for the day. Among them, Veer Ahlawat was the top performer, finishing at an even par. The 30-year-old Gurugram-based golfer finished tied-second at the Indian Open two years ago, and seemed to be peaking on his home course again when he hit a sensational birdie chip from the rough to the flag on the 14th hole. But he too, fell away, in concluding his round.
While the course is not playing as nicely as it was last year, when the cut score was under par, the Indian contingent still has plenty to do to remain in the reckoning this weekend. So does Bhatia.
Namit Kumar is a Senior Sports Correspondent for The Indian Express, based in New Delhi. He is known for his versatile reporting across several major sports disciplines.
Professional Profile
Specializations: He covers a wide variety of sports including tennis, football, cricket, and motorsports.
Focus: His writing often delves into the finer details and technical analysis of the sports he covers.
Social Media: You can find him on X (formerly Twitter) at @namitkumar_17.
Recent Notable Articles (Late 2025)
Namit’s recent work focuses heavily on international cricket series and domestic tournaments, as well as high-profile global tennis events:
International Cricket (India vs South Africa Series):
"Intelligence, skill, and heart: How Arshdeep Singh took out Reeza Hendricks" (Dec 15, 2025) — A detailed analysis of Arshdeep's tactical comeback in the T20I series.
"How India's seamers froze South Africa in chilly Dharamshala" (Dec 14, 2025).
"Why India's T20I captain Suryakumar Yadav and vice-captain Shubman Gill losing form, is the start of a blunt headache" (Dec 12, 2025) — An analytical piece on the statistics and form of India's leadership duo.
"Quinton de Kock dismantles Indian bowling combination with silent savagery" (Dec 11, 2025).
Domestic Cricket (Ranji Trophy):
"Ranji Trophy: J&K conquer Kotla and Delhi for first time" (Nov 11, 2025) — Reporting on the historic first win for Jammu & Kashmir over Delhi in the tournament's history.
"What makes J&K pacer Auqib Nabi special" (Nov 8, 2025) — A profile on the pacer's accuracy and swing.
"Unearthing the next Virat Kohli still a while away but Delhi's young batting talent full of promise" (Oct 24, 2025).
Tennis and Golf:
"Jannik Sinner's winter-time madness: How Italian refined his game to beat Alcaraz" (Nov 17, 2025) — A deep dive into Sinner’s technical improvements following his US Open loss.
"Everyone's come to watch Rory McIlroy but keep an eye out for 'people's champion' Tommy Fleetwood" (Oct 17, 2025).
Football Tactics:
"Why are long throw-ins giving football defenders and lawmakers a headache?" (Nov 2, 2025) — An analytical piece on the evolving strategies surrounding throw-ins in modern football.
Reporting Style
Namit is active in covering the Delhi sports scene, providing detailed match reports for international cricket matches and Ranji Trophy fixtures at the Arun Jaitley Stadium. He also provides on-the-ground reporting for happenings in the city, such as his recent coverage of the DP World India Championship golf event. Additionally, he actively writes on tennis, analysing matches and reporting on major events, especially during the Grand Slam tournaments. ... Read More
