Golf

Akshay Bhatia inches closer to second PGA victory at the Valero Open

He goes into Sunday’s final round with a four-shot lead.

Akshay Bhatia impressed in Texas (Eric Gay/AP)
Texas Open Golf Akshay Bhatia impressed in Texas (Eric Gay/AP) (Eric Gay/AP)

American Akshay Bhatia edged closer to his second PGA victory at the Valero Texas Open in San Antonio.

Bhatia heads into the final round on Sunday with a four-shot lead.

Fellow American Denny McCarthy is in second place at 11-under.

Brendon Todd is trailing behind him by another three shots while Japan’s Hideki Matsuyama and American Russell Henley sit at five-under.

Akshay Bhatia is in pole position to win in Texas (Eric Gay/AP)
Texas Open Golf Akshay Bhatia is in pole position to win in Texas (Eric Gay/AP) (Eric Gay/AP)

If Bhatia is to win, it will extend his PGA Tour card and give him the green light to play next week’s Masters.

Bhatia qualified for and made the cut at Torrey Pines, the 2021 US Open, and won last season’s Barracuda Championship in Truckee, California.

Aside from that, the 22-year-old has not participated in any other major championships.

Swede Ludvig Aberg sits at six-under in Texas alongside four players who round out the top 10 on the leaderboard with a score of five-under.