If you’re one of those who thinks the product the PGA Tour offers is devalued, your thinking may have changed after the fourth round of the 2024 Valero Texas Open. The event featured everything from a rising star dominating from the start to an epic comeback on the 72nd hole.
Akshay Bhatia clinched victory at the Valero Texas Open with a score of 20 under. The youngster’s victory was far from easy, however, as he lost a six-shot lead with nine holes to play and had to come from behind to win in a one-hole playoff.
Bhatia entered the final round with a four-shot lead, which he extended to six after three birdies on the front nine. The youngster had written the letters “WTW” (Wire To Wire) on his wrist to motivate himself in what was already a historic performance, and he was well on his way until the ninth hole.
It was then that Denny McCarthy, the patient runner-up, took matters into his own hands and suddenly started making birdies on the back nine at a rate that literally stunned the golf world. McCarthy birdied eight of the last nine holes, including seven in a row. He not only moved into a share of the lead with Bhatia, but was the sole leader after the 18th hole.
The final putt of regular competition belonged to Akshay Bhatia, however, and the youngster showed that he is made of star stuff. Bhatia holed his 11-foot putt for a birdie and a share of the lead, forcing a playoff.
Akshay Bhatia needed just one hole to win the sudden death of the Valero Texas Open. McCarthy sent his second shot into the creek surrounding the 18th green, forcing a penalty stroke. Bhatia reached the green cleanly with his third shot to birdie the hole and seal victory.
The 2024 Valero Texas Open It is the second title for Akshay Bhatia on the PGA Tour and, as important as the trophy or the $1.656 million paycheck, it gave him the final ticket to the Masters Tournament in his professional debut at Augusta National.
Valero Texas Open: Full leaderboard and money list
The following is the full leaderboard and money list for the 2024 Valero Texas Open:
- P1: Akshay Bhatia $1.656 million
- P2: Denny McCarthy $1.0028 million
- 3: Rory McIlroy, $634,800
- 4: Russell Henley, $450,800
- T-5: Adam Schenk, $355,350
- T-5: Brendon Todd, $333,500
- T-7: Hideki Matsuyama, $289,033.34
- T-7: Ben Martin, $289,033.34
- T-7: Tommy Fleetwood, $289,033.34
- T-10: Mac Meisner, $223,100
- T-10: Jordan Spieth, $223,100
- T-10: Matt Fitzpatrick, $223,100
- T-10: Peter Kuest, $223,100
- T-14: Adam Scott, $131,601.82
- T-14: Ludvig Aberg, $131,601.82
- T-14: Keith Mitchell, $131,601.82
- T-14: Sam Stevens, $131,601.82
- T-14: Andrew Putnam, $131,601.82
- T-14: S.H. Kim, $131,601.82
- T-14: Rico Hoey, $131,601.82
- T-14: Chan Kim, $131,601.82
- T-14: Tyson Alexander, $131,601.82
- T-14: Alex Noren, $131,601.82
- T-14: Thorbjorn Olesen, $131,601.82
- T-25: Justin Lower, $67,735
- T-25: Christiaan Bezuidenhout, $67,735
- T-25: Max Homa, $67,735
- T-25: Brian Harman, $67,735
- T-25: Lucas Glover, $67,735
- T-25: Mark Hubbard, $67,735
- T-25: Corey Conners, $67,735
- T-25: Nick Hardy, $67,735
- T-33: Alexander Bjork, $49,066.67
- T-33: Garrick Higgo, $49,066.67
- T-33: Chez Reavie, $49,066.67
- T-33: Kevin Chappell, $49,066.67
- T-33: Austin Eckroat, $49,066.67
- T-33: Robby Shelton, $49,066.67
- T-39: Nate Lashley, $37,260
- T-39: Ben Griffin, $37,260
- T-39: Stewart Cink, $37,260
- T-39: Bud Cauley, $37,260
- T-39: Aaron Baddeley, $37,260
- T-39: Kevin Yu, $37,260
- T-45: Davis Thompson, $26,772
- T-45: Kevin Streelman, $26,772
- T-45: Victor Perez, $26,772
- T-45: Ryan Moore, $26,772
- T-45: Webb Simpson, $26,772
- T-45: Vincent Norrman, $26,772
- T-51: C.T. Pan, $21,988
- T-51: Adam Svensson, $21,988
- T-51: Joe Highsmith, $21,988
- T-51: Lanto Griffin, $21,988
- T-51: Tyler Duncan, $21,988
- T-51: Martin Laird, $21,988
- T-51: J.J. Spaun, $21,988
- T-58: Josh Teater, $20,148
- T-58: Harry Hall, $20,148
- T-58: Andrew Novak, $20,148
- T-58: Bronson Burgoon, $20,148
- T-58: Parker Coody, $20,148
- T-58: Aaron Rai, $20,148
- T-58: Maverick McNealy, $20,148
- T-58: Carl Yuan, $20,148
- T-58: David Lipsky, $20,148
- T-58: Dylan Wu, $20,148
- T-58: Hayden Springer, $20,148
- T-69: Charley Hoffman, $18,860
- T-69: Vince Whaley, $18,860
- T-69: Matti Schmid, $18,860
- T-72: Kevin Kisner, $18,400
- T-72: Brandt Snedeker, $18,400
- 74: Pierceson Coody, $18,124
- T-75: Tom Whitney, $17,756
- T-75: Collin Morikawa, $17,756
- T-75: Nicolai Hojgaard, $17,756
- T-78: Ben Kohles, $17,204
- T-78: Beau Hossler, $17,204
- T-78: Ryo Hisatsune, $17,204
- 81: Ben Silverman, $16,836
- 82: Ryan McCormick, $16,652
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