PGA Tour star Akshay Bhatia has firmly rejected allegations of cheating as he aims for victory at the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am. The controversy erupted after a video surfaced on social media, seemingly showing Bhatia using a putting technique that some have interpreted as “anchoring,” a practice prohibited in golf.
Anchoring occurs when the top of a putter is secured against a player’s body while putting, which could involve points of contact such as the stomach, forearm, or chin. Violating this rule incurs a two-stroke penalty, a significant concern for Bhatia, who currently leads the tournament at 21 under par heading into the final stretch of play.
The video in question shows Bhatia with his putter in close proximity to his chest. While golfers are allowed to bring the putter near their body, they cannot let it rest against it. This situation has drawn mixed reactions from golf fans on social media, with some speculation bordering on accusations. One fan wrote, “Looks suspiciously like it’s anchored to his chest,” while another remarked, “Looks like anchoring to me.”
However, Bhatia has responded assertively, stating on Instagram, “Not anchoring. Literally 2 inches short of my chest haha.” As of now, there has been no indication of an official investigation into the matter, allowing Bhatia to remain focused on the tournament.
Bhatia’s performance leading up to this point has been remarkable. After struggling at the beginning of the season with missed cuts, he made a stunning turnaround, finishing the initial rounds without recording a single bogey, posting impressive scores of 65 and 64.
Rory McIlroy trails behind by six shots after an unsteady third round that landed him in T23 with a score of -2 on Saturday. Collin Morikawa is currently the closest competitor to Bhatia, alongside Tommy Fleetwood and Min Woo Lee, who are all poised to challenge him in the final round.
With a substantial prize pot of $20 million, Bhatia is not only in the hunt for glory but also in a position to significantly elevate his status in the sport. The final rounds promise an exciting showdown at Pebble Beach, as Bhatia looks to solidify his lead amid the mounting pressures and expectations.