CHARLES SCHWAB CHALLENGE

May 24, 2025

Akshay Bhatia

Colonial CC

Press Conference

THE MODERATOR: What can you take from battling through this tough year? You played through the worst of it today.

AKSHAY BHATIA: Yeah, it's such an old golf course, short golf course. Yet, it makes you think a lot out there. It's pretty fun playing a golf course that's getting firm and fast. Obviously the wind blew a lot today, so it was great.

I grinded. I tried to stay as patient as I could and definitely got flustered out there, especially forwards the end because I felt like I was playing so good and just needed to sharpen up a little bit the chipping.

Pretty excited to be in the mix.

Q. You won the 2024 Texas Open. I was covering it. There were similar conditions, gusty winds, firm conditions. Why do you excel when it's like this?

AKSHAY BHATIA: You know, this golf course is pretty different just in the sense that I don't have to hit driver as much. I've been struggling with driver, but I just love hitting shots, you know, crosswinds, and I typically flight in.

So it's kind of my game. I'm not a stock, one-shot, one-dimensional guy, so it gives me the opportunity here, especially where they put the flags. You have to be really creative and be smart as well.

I just enjoy that aspect, and it gives you a little more focus on executing the golf shot.

Q. Vastly different format. You won the 2023 Barracuda Championship coming from behind. Is there anything you can take from that into tomorrow?

AKSHAY BHATIA: I mean, maybe. I obviously know I can win. I've won twice, which is nice, but all in all, I just feel like I'm going to go out there and have the determination to win. That's kind of what I came here for this week. That's kind of my goal is just to keep plugging away.

This golf course is going to get harder and harder, so you know, it doesn't need anything special to win this golf tournament, but certainly just a lot of focus.