‘I Don’t Get’: Days After His $680,000 Win, PGA Tour Pro Expresses His Frustration Over Bizarre Point System

Published 07/28/2023, 6:49 AM EDT

Why do athletes strive to succeed in each contest they enter? To excel in their games, is the straightforward response. The second motive is to have ample opportunities to succeed and demonstrate their worth. Hence, in addition to prize money, other perks are also given out to the winner, who sheds his sweat and blood for the win. However, that’s where the recent PGA Tour victor got snubbed recently!

At the Barracuda Championship last week, Akshay Bhatia claimed victory in his maiden PGA Tour contest. He received $680,000 for his impressive win. However, another perk, a.k.a. his seat in the FedEx Cup Playoffs, is still not guaranteed. And this is all thanks to the bizarre points system in play!

Akshay Bhatia sees a massive potential upset in his incredible season on the PGA Tour

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Akshay Bhatia had a great season on the Korn Ferry Tour in 2022, where he found one Tour win. Yet he failed to earn himself a PGA Tour card. However, in March, he finished second at the PGA Tour’s Puerto Rico Open and hence obtained a special temporary membership on the PGA Tour thanks to the points he won at the event!

Despite his special temporary membership, however, he was still not eligible for the FedEx Cup Playoffs until he won an event. Fortunately, last week he won the Barracuda, leading everyone to believe that his place in the FedEx Cup Playoffs was a certainty. However, a recent turn of events has made it clear that may not be the case! So what is the reason that left even Bhatia “really shocked”?

The recent PGA Tour winner was "really shocked" to hear that he might miss the playoffs due to this complicated rule.
See more: https://t.co/rA99FCgKa4 pic.twitter.com/9mrpdmEzYs
— Golf Digest (@GolfDigest) July 28, 2023

Put simply, the 21-year-old golfer now lacks the necessary rank to qualify for the playoffs. In order to be eligible for the FedEx Cup Playoffs, a pro must be ranked 70th or lower as per the FedEx Cup standings, and sadly, Bhatia is currently 96th. Additionally, he wasn’t helped by his victory at the Barracuda and ninth-place finish at the Barbasol Championship since these events don’t award FedEx Cup points to non-members!

Had he been a member, it would have been a different story altogether, and the youngster’s FedEx Cup standing would have been boosted thanks to his win and top ten placement in the two events. Unsurprisingly, the news hit Bhatia hard too, and it left him frustrated when it came to light!

Akshay Bhatia infuriatingly opens up about the peculiar points causing his downfall

The weird point system was undoubtedly soul-crushing for Bhatia when he learned of it. He claimed that he was pretty shocked when he first heard about his position. ‘I’m not in the playoffs, and I don’t get the points; it is a little frustrating because you work so hard. It’s not easy to win a PGA Tour event,” he stated.

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However, even amid the tragic news, the young golfer had not lost hope. He stated that his main objective now was to advance to the playoffs. ”You’re just trying to win within these next four events to get into the playoffs. That’s the whole goal,” said Bhatia.

If the 21-year-old performs well enough at the 3M Open and the Wyndham Championship, he may just move up the rankings. Hence, despite his chances being bleak, they’re still not nil! However, whether or not he will be able to do so, only time will tell.

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Watch the story – Hard Towards the Definitive Agreements’: Amidst the Absence of PGAT Commissioner Jay Monahan During a Crucial Time, Another Member From the Tour Steps In and Gives a Relieving News

What are your thoughts on the FedEx Cup Playoffs qualification requirement? Please tell us in the comments below.

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Written by:

Rajnandini is a promising addition to the team as a Golf writer. She was recently recruited in the latest round of ‘ES Draft’ as one of the young writers who is an avid golf enthusiast. With Brooks Koepka and Phil Mickelson being her entry into the fandom of the sport, Rajnandini believes LIV Golf is the future of the sport.

Edited by:

Sheldon Pereira

‘I Don’t Get’: Days After His $680,000 Win, PGA Tour Pro Expresses His Frustration Over Bizarre Point System

Akshay Bhatia sees a massive potential upset in his incredible season on the PGA Tour

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Akshay Bhatia infuriatingly opens up about the peculiar points causing his downfall