Monday, April 8th, 2024 Edition
After Denny McCarthy’s wild comeback, Akshay Bhatia prevails in playoff to win the 2024 Valero Texas Open
– by Tim Schmitt / Golfweek
Per Tim: “For those who have followed Akshay Bhatia’s decorated golf career, the fact that the 22-year-old phenom captured his second PGA Tour title on Sunday — earning his first berth into a major tournament — might come as no surprise…”
B&B POV: Denny McCarthy played the back nine of his life yesterday, posting an 8-under-par 28 (tourney and course record) to go with the 35 he fired on the front, finishing up at 9-under for the day. Any other week of the season Denny would have won the Valero Texas Open; his problem, he couldn’t catch and beat in a playoff 22-year-old American, lefty Akshay Bhatia. After playing the best nine-hole-stretch of his career, Denny laid sod over his sand wedge from the fairway in the playoff. Fatty. Ouch. Wonderkid Akshay won the Valero going wire-to-wire. This week, he’ll tee it up in Augusta. Have some fun young man, you earned it!
Four in a row: Nelly Korda tops Leona Maguire in 2024 T-Mobile Match Play final
– by Todd Kelly / Golfweek
Per Todd: “Nelly Korda has won for a third week in a row but more importantly for a fourth straight start on the LPGA. A record-tying fifth would have to come in a major championship, but that’s a concern for a later date…”
B&B POV: Nelly Korda is playing some great golf right now. And her trophy room at her sure-to-be palatial estate is collecting some serious hardware considering she just won her 4th straight LPGA event. Only Hall-of-Famers Nancy Lopez and Annika Sorenstam have won five straight. Leona Maguire put up a fight yesterday in the finals of the T-Mobile Match Play played at swanky Shadow Creek in Vegas. But Nelly and her heater were just too much to overcome. Next up, the first major of the season for the ladies. Hey Nelly, why don’t you go win that 5th Big-A Trophy in a row? Let’s goooo!
WITB Winner’s Bag: Ashkay Bhatia, 2024 Valero Texas Open
– Thomas Hamden / Balls & Bogeys
Per Thomas: Valero Texas Open champion Akshay Bhatia is a Callaway man through-and-through. From driver to putter to the white pearlies his caddie keeps clean all day. At a minimum, Callaway a few times a year would always own top billing with our WITB article thanks to Rahmbo; but now that he’s taken his craft to LIV, the Akshay’s of the world have had to step in. The good news for Callaway: Akshay’s play this weekend should motivate every golfer out there who’s looking to improve their game to head to a Roger Dunn and demo Callaway’s latest and greatest.
Bhatia’s Golf Gear:
DRIVER: Callaway Rogue ST MAX (9 degrees), with Fujikura Ventus Black 7X shaft
FAIRWAY WOOD: Callaway Ai Smoke Max (15 degrees, with Fujikura Ventus Black 8TX shaft
HYBRID: Callaway Apex UW (19 degrees), with Fujikura Ventus Black 10X shaft
IRONS: Callaway X Forged UT (21 degrees), with KBS S-Taper 125 S+ shaft, Apex TCB (5-PW), with KBS S-Taper 125 S+ shafts
WEDGES: Callaway JAWS Raw (50, 54, 60 degrees), with KBS S-Taper 125 S+ shafts
PUTTER: Odyssey Versa Jailbird 380 Broomstick
BALL: Callaway Chrome Tour
GRIPS: Iomic (full swing) / SuperStroke Zenergy Two-Piece (putter)
Check out our Best Golf Drivers 2024 edition
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PAYDAY! 2024 Valero Texas Open & LIV Golf League Miami Prize Money Payouts
– by Thomas Hamden / Balls & Bogeys
Per Thomas: Who won all the $$$ this weekend on the PGA TOUR and LIV?
In the fight for all the money in professional golf this weekend, coming in 1st place was LIV superstar Dean Burmeister who collected $4M for besting Surly Sergio in a playoff in Miami. After dunking it in the water in his playoff, Sergio was only able to earn $2.25M for finishing 2nd in the LIV exhibition at Doral. Next up in Sunday money order was Akshay Bhatia who took home $1.6M for winning the Valero Texas Open in a playoff. Not to be outdone by Sergio’s playoff mess in Miami, Denny McCarthy fatted his 3rd shot into the drink on the par-5 18th to hand Akshay his 2nd victory on tour. McCarthy came from miles back on the back nine firing a 28, 8-under to tie Akshay regulation. Denny’s sad finish netted him $1M (5th biggest check of the weekend), and a playoff failure he’ll never forget.
Tour Confidential – Masters Preview
– by GOLF Editors
Check in every week for the unfiltered opinions of our writers and editors as they break down the hottest topics in the sport, and join the conversation by tweeting us at @golf_com. This week we discuss Tiger Woods’ trip to Augusta National, Scottie Scheffler’s epic month of March, Nelly Korda’s winning streak, PGA Tour courses you can play and more.
What does B&B think?
- Will Rory get it done in Augusta this week? Maybe. But only if he plays well on Friday. He needs to be within 3 strokes of the lead heading into the weekend.
- Rahm, Scheff and Rory or the field this week? The field. And it will be a shocker. Golf is in a weird space right now. So the Masters winner might as well come out of right field.
- Would a non-LIV winner jump to LIV after winning the Masters and gaining the lifetime exemption? I think the bigger question is why wouldn’t they. Lifetime tee-times at the Masters and five years’ worth of majors exemptions would make it utterly enticing to make as $$$ as you can while the LIV iron was hot.
- Whose form is on right now, but still a dark horse to win? We’re going with any of the Canadians – Conners, Taylor or Hadwin.
- Who is more likely to win: a LIV player, or a PGA Tour player? PGA Tour trumps LIV in a playoff.
- Insider tip for the Masters or ANGC? If you’re lucky enough to play Augusta, caddies will empty their pockets for you: tees, markers, pencils, etc. Pillage on the way out.
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‘From the Vault: Tiger and Butch talk about proper putter grip pressure (lighter than you think!)’
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