PGA Tour Winner Being Denied a Shot at $17,000,000 Triggers Outrage From Former Golfer and Fans

The PGA Tour has been under scrutiny for some time now due to its regulations that often incite the wrath of players and fans alike. Aside from the outrage over keeping LIV Golfers out of contention last year which resulted in penalties and lawsuits, there have been a few instances that caused mayhem.

Although the framework of the $3 Billion merger did put an end to many a conflict, a new storm is brewing due to what is deemed as an unfair rule. It once again involves a player who wasn’t officially part of the PGA Tour on a permanent basis but deserves a spot in the FedEx Cup Playoffs.

Why is Akshay Bhatia not in the FedEx Cup Playoffs running?

Akshay Bhatia won the Barracuda Championship, where 50 DP World Tour members were also in contention, on Sunday and earned his full-time membership in the PGA Tour’s events. He will be eligible for the FedEx Cup playoffs now and will be through 2024 as well. However, he earned an exemption into the opposite-field event by accumulating enough points to apply for a special temporary membership.

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The special circumstances of his entry into the event at Tahoe are predicated by non-member regulations and the alliance with DP World Tour. Therefore, not only did Bhatia miss out on the 300 FedEx points for becoming the Cuda Champ but also missed the points he should have earned at the Barbasol Championship where he finished in T9 with 17-under 271. Without those leads, he is left with 434.856 points, which puts him in the 92nd position.

His victory at the Barracuda Championship should have earned him a spot in the FedEx Cup Playoffs, and former PGA Tour pro Colt Knost, feels the same way. The CBS Golfer shared on his Twitter, questioning the outdated and unfair regulation.

If Bhatia was awarded the points he deserves, he would be in the 51st spot with nearly  772.856 points which would put him in the running for the Playoffs. He can still strive for the next playoff now as a full-time member but the regulations put him at a disadvantage this season.

Fans react to Bhatia’s situation

Most fans are outraged by the blatant disregard for Bhatia’s form and skills. They believe a new norm needs to come into play. After all, how many special temporary members win or make it into the top 10 of professional events?

An avid golfer commented on Knost’s post saying, “This is the technical reason Colt, but I know you knew this before you tweeted. The rule clearly needs to be changed going forward for co-sanctioned events b/c it’s ridiculous. He should be in the playoffs!”

While another admirer of the sport pointed out, “Winners should instantly qualify for the playoffs regardless of status.”

A member of Knost’s fan club expressed his distaste for the Tour’s regulation with sarcasm. “The list of fixes is a long one… Toss it on the pile.”

While another fan said, “It makes no sense to not credit him w those points. But there was definitely a reason why this was put in place, I’m guessing to protect current players….Seems like every year a very questionable rule is uncovered.”

Some fans also tried to rationalize their outrage over the circumstance.

One can only hope that the PGA Tour will make an exception for the 21-year-old golfer and award him the points that he deserves. He could jump almost 40 positions into contention for the FedEx Cup Playoffs this year.

Do you think the regulation is fair or do you agree that Akshay Bhatia deserves a special dispensation? Share your thoughts and ideas with us in the comments below.

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