The Hero Indian Open didn't exactly start as planned for Akshay Bhatia, one of the rising PGA Tour stars. The 26-year-old, whose roots are in India, experienced a disastrous opening on March 26, 2026. With a round of 77 (5-over par), he is now in a precarious position and at risk of missing the cut.
The troubles began immediately on hole 10, his starting hole, with a ball that flew Out of Bounds. But that was just the beginning. Later, on hole 15, he carded a Triple-Bogey for playing the wrong ball – an absolute nightmare on the course. After the first nine holes, a catastrophic 8-over par stood on his scorecard.
Comeback Prowess and The Masters Question
However, Bhatia is not a golfer who gives up easily. On the back nine, he showed what he's capable of: he made three birdies and played three under par. A truly impressive response! His appearance in India, his parents' homeland, was actually intended as a "dream week" and an unusual preparation for The Masters – a decision that certainly raised eyebrows, given the long journey. He's been performing really strongly this season, with a win at the Arnold Palmer Invitational (where he beat Daniel Berger in a playoff) and other top results, none worse than T16.
Battle to Make the Cut
Currently, after his opening round, he stands at 5-over par. This position definitely forces him into a tough battle to make the cut on the demanding course. His own statement after the round? "I'm glad I didn't shoot an 80." That shows his resilience, but also how tough this day was. Now it's time to keep our fingers crossed for Round 2, so he makes it to the weekend and justifies his trip to India.
