Akshay Bhatia deliver a strong message to Rory Mcllory after Rocket Mortgage Classic

Akshay Bhatia’s Honest Confession About His Crushing Miss at the Rocket Mortgage Classic Will Leave You Stunned

June in professional golf has taught us that no putt is ever a sure thing. Rory McIlroy’s painful miss at the U.S. Open was a testament to that, and on Sunday at the Rocket Mortgage Classic, Akshay Bhatia became the latest example.

 

Bhatia missed a crucial 4 feet 3 inches putt that would have earned him a spot in a playoff with Cam Davis. Surprisingly, it wasn’t this miss that haunted him the most, but rather the 32 feet 1 inch putt that preceded it.

 

The 22-year-old golfer played cautiously throughout the back nine, leaving several putts short to avoid overshooting and jeopardizing his chances. This strategy nearly worked until the final green of the 72nd hole. His birdie attempt fell short, leaving him with a challenging par putt just to tie. The poa annua greens at Detroit Golf Club, notorious for slowing down as the day wears on, were a factor Bhatia acknowledged but did not use as an excuse.

 

Instead, Bhatia made a rare and striking admission that would have likely amused former NBC analyst Johnny Miller – he was nervous.

 

“I mean, it’s hard, you’ve got so much slope there so you don’t want to run it five, six feet by,” Bhatia said. “Yeah, just a little bit of nerves, honestly. I’m human.”

 

Nerves, Johnny. Nerves.

 

Miller’s blunt commentary about players’ nerves was legendary, often becoming a joke. But hearing a player openly admit to being nervous is rare. Bhatia’s honesty is refreshing, especially in contrast to McIlroy, who made no mention of nerves in his post-U.S. Open remarks.

 

“It sucks, no other way to put it,” Bhatia said. “I mean, just sucks.”

 

Nerves aren’t always a bad thing. They show that a player is emotionally invested and cares deeply about their performance. Bhatia has dealt with nerves before and won, having secured two victories in playoff situations. He knows how to manage these feelings and will surely recover from this setback.

Bhatia’s candid admission adds a human element to the game, reminding us that even the most talented athletes are susceptible to the pressures of competition. His openness about his nerves is a rare glimpse into the mental challenges faced by professional golfers, making his journey even more relatable and compelling.