OWINGS MILLS, Md. -- Akshay Bhatia recorded his first hole-in-one on the PGA Tour during the third round of the BMW Championship on Saturday at Caves Valley Golf Club.
Bhatia's ace at the 227-yard 17th hole helped him climb to even par for the tournament and polish off a 4-under-par 66, the low round of the day when he signed his scorecard just after 2 p.m. local time.
Bhatia was out of the running to win the tournament, but the ace could have downstream effects for the rest of his season. Bhatia entered
the week at No. 29 in the FedEx Cup standings. Only the top 30 advance to next week's Tour Championship -- meaning that hole-in-one might just be the shot that pushes him over the line.
Bhatia, 23, said it was the sixth hole-in-one of his life, but none were this consequential.
He was awarded a BMW luxury SUV, and the title sponsor will also grant a full, four-year college scholarship to a youth caddie via the Evans Scholars Foundation.
"When that golf ball goes in, it was the craziest thing in the world," Bhatia said. "My caddie was pointing at the car and I'm like, don't even know what to do. I couldn't even feel my body."
Bhatia didn't have plans for the new ride just yet.
"I don't really necessarily need a new car. I'm pretty happy with what I've got," Bhatia said. "I think either I'll give it to my caddie or figure something out to where I can donate it to charity or something."
On the flip side, he was thrilled for the young caddie whose life he changed with one swing.
"It's the coolest thing. It warms my heart that a golf shot that I hit can help a kid get a full scholarship," he said. "Again, it was a lot of fun. This event is amazing when the kids and the caddies get to come walk with us inside the ropes for two days. I just am very blessed and thankful for that opportunity that Evans Scholars provided this week."
A two-time winner on the PGA Tour, Bhatia actually holed out for eagle earlier in his round, using a sand wedge at the par-4 seventh hole.
Riding the momentum of a birdie at No. 16, Bhatia used a 5-iron off the tee at No. 17. The shot landed just short of the pin and rolled into the cup.
Bhatia's projected standing in the FedEx Cup race vacillated between No. 29 and 31 during the third round. He was not ready to reflect on what it would mean if that hole-in-one winds up the difference between 30th and 31st.
"I could have made two straight birdies to finish the round (instead of one ace)," he said. "I'm not going to say that one shot -- it obviously certainly helps, but there's still 18 holes tomorrow, so I'm just going to go try and play my best tomorrow."
Bhatia will have an eye on the standings throughout Sunday.
"I try not to, but I do. Even when I'm putting, I try and see where my FedEx is projected," he said. "Again, something that I'm aware of and need to, again, focus on what I'm trying to do. But just the nature of the game. You just want to know where you're at. Again, I'm not going to leave anything on the table tomorrow."
--Adam Zielonka, Field Level Media
