Akshay Bhatia was trending in the right direction after going toe-to-toe with the PGA Tour’s bigwigs at The Players. Quite naturally, expectations were high, and fans flocked around the Indian-origin golfer when he teed off at the Hero Indian Open. The golfer couldn’t translate the success at the Hero Indian Open. But his gesture toward the fans despite missing the cut stood out.
Watch What’s Trending Now!
After missing the cut by just a single shot, Bhatia was dejected. However, the youngster was spotted entertaining all of his fans’ requests for autographs. In a video uploaded on X, the 24-year-old could be seen smiling and interacting with his fans at the DLF Golf and Country Club almost nine hours after his disappointing end to the event.
This made the fans extremely happy as they poured in words of praise for the American golfer. His efforts are also commendable, as the golfers are often criticized for becoming more and more distant from the fans. You can find the video below.
Akshay Bhatia is still on site 9.5 hours after missing the cut at DLF... Still smiling and still signing 😀✍️ #HeroIndianOpen
Bhatia, on the other hand, had a poor opening day on Thursday. With a front-nine score of 44, he needed a lot to bounce back. And surprisingly, he almost pulled off a miracle. On his back nine, Bhatia shot a solid three-under-par, ending with a 77 on the first round. On the second round, the PGA Tour pro improved his score by five strokes.
Unfortunately, despite such a valiant effort, he missed out on the cut. Meanwhile, overlooking his failure, fans online spoke highly of Bhatia’s generous act.
Fans hail Akshay Bhatia’s gesture despite missing the cut in India
One fan praised Akshay Bhatia for his humility and dedication toward fans despite a disappointing outing at the Hero Indian Open. More so because several athletes have often been spotted ignoring fans, particularly after upsetting performances. “Good for him. Showing other golfers how to treat fans and respect the event unlike some,” read the comment.
Highlighting how such an act sets Akshay Bhatia apart is his mindset and professionalism, another fan mentioned, “This is what separates the guys who make it long-term from the ones who flame out. Miss the cut, stay 9+ hours signing autographs. That’s a dude who gets it”. Despite missing the cut at the Hero Indian Open, he stayed back for hours to engage with fans, showing humility towards his supporters. And according to the netizen, such acts shape athletes towards betterment.
Echoing the same thought, another fan commented, “Champion mindset right there.”
Another fan chimed in, mentioning how such kind gestures mean a lot, especially for young fans, as it inspires them and teach them to remain grounded in life. The fan added, “Top man. Mean so much to the kids whose stuff he’s signed.”
Owing to his Indian origin, Akshay Bhatia has a strong fan base in the country. He himself, too, has often spoken about his love for India. Reflecting on the same, one golf enthusiast added, “His commitment post-round highlights why he is such a vital asset for the growth of golf in India.”
Thus, with things looking bright, it now remains to be seen how things pan out next for Bhatia.