Akshay Bhatia

Bhatia was born in Los Angeles to parents Sonny and Renu, who had moved to the United States from Delhi, India. The family moved to North Carolina in 2011. His older sister Rhea played college golf at Queens University of Charlotte, and watching her practice sparked his interest in the sport. He has another older sister named Nikitta.

Bhatia married Presleigh Schultz in 2025. The couple met before the 2021 Valero Texas Open. Schultz previously caddied for him in professional tournaments.

Bhatia built a strong junior record before finishing high school. He won the Junior PGA Championship in consecutive years in 2017 and 2018. At the 2018 Summer Youth Olympics in Buenos Aires, he won two silver medals, placing second in the boys' individual event and teaming with Lucy Li in the mixed event. He also finished runner-up at the 2018 U.S. Junior Amateur.

Team selections followed quickly. He played on winning United States teams at the 2017 Junior Presidents Cup and the 2018 Junior Ryder Cup. In 2019, Bhatia earned a spot on the Walker Cup team at Royal Liverpool. He was the youngest player and the first high school golfer ever selected to represent the United States in the match.

Bhatia skipped college golf and turned professional in September 2019, making his debut at the Sanderson Farms Championship. The early transition required patience.

He gained experience on developmental circuits between 2020 and 2021. Bhatia won two events on the Swing Thought Tour, taking titles at Old South Golf and Brunswick Country Club, and won the GProTour's 2021 Biggs Classic. In June 2021, he qualified for the U.S. Open at Torrey Pines, making the cut in his first appearance in a major championship.

Bhatia joined the Korn Ferry Tour in 2022. He won his first start as a tour member at The Bahamas Great Exuma Classic with a final-round 65. A runner-up finish at the 2023 Puerto Rico Open secured him Special Temporary Member status on the PGA Tour.

Bhatia won his first PGA Tour title at the 2023 Barracuda Championship. Playing under Modified Stableford scoring, he matched Patrick Rodgers with 40 points before winning on the first playoff hole. The tournament was co-sanctioned with the European Tour, giving him a title on both circuits.

His second victory came at the 2024 Valero Texas Open. Bhatia held the lead through four rounds and defeated Denny McCarthy with a birdie on the first playoff hole. The win earned him entry to the 2024 Masters Tournament, making him the first Drive, Chip & Putt finalist to reach the field at Augusta National.

In March 2026, Bhatia won the Arnold Palmer Invitational at Bay Hill. He overcame a five-shot deficit during the final round and defeated Daniel Berger in sudden death for his third PGA Tour title.