Akshay Bhatia stole the show during the BMW Championship’s third round at Caves Valley, scoring a hole-in-one on the dramatic 17th that left fans buzzing as Robert MacIntyre and Scottie Scheffler chased the leaders.
MacIntyre and Scheffler remained at the head of the leaderboard, with MacIntyre posting a 2-under 68 to reach 16-under 194. Scheffler was 3-under on the day, finishing at 12-under for the round and four shots behind the Scottish star. Sweden’s Ludvig Åberg was next at 10-under after a 2-under 68 round. The day proved demanding on a treacherous 7,601-yard layout, and MacIntyre noted it was tougher than the first two rounds, even as he stayed steady and took advantage of some holes while missing a few opportunities.
The atmosphere intensified when fans in the 17th hole grandstand erupted after Bhatia’s ace. The American left-hander’s 5-iron tee shot landed two feet from the cup, kicked once and slid in along the right edge for his first career hole-in-one. The moment drew a celebratory response from his caddie, John Limanti, and a pair of high-fives from Xander Schauffele, who was in the same pairing.
Bhatia began the day on the bubble for the FedEx Cup’s top-30, and the ace propelled him up the standings. He moved from No. 31 to No. 30 with the ball disappearing, securing a spot in next week’s Tour Championship at East Lake. A light-hearted moment around the winning shot also involved a BMW X5 on display near the 17th tee, with Bhatia joking about what he might do with the luxury prize, a car valued well north of $67,000. He hinted he might hand it to his caddie.
The ace wasn’t the only notable moment for Bhatia. He later reflected on the emotional weight of the shot and the rush of competing on the FedEx Cup stage, emphasizing how special it is to contribute to a community-focused cause tied to his career.
In addition to the on-course drama, MacIntyre was vocal about the surrounding atmosphere, including chants from fans and the occasional sharp remark from the grandstands. Scheffler downplayed the heckling, saying such banter is part of the sport and that players can use it to fuel their performance.
Looking ahead, the field will finish the BMW Championship with a final push toward East Lake, where the FedEx Cup playoff picture will culminate. The result of Saturday’s action left MacIntyre ahead, Scheffler within striking distance, and Bhatia poised to continue riding the momentum of his dramatic ace as the climb toward the Tour Championship narrows.
Summary: Akshay Bhatia’s hole-in-one on the 17th at the BMW Championship drew attention away from a tight leaderboard, moving him into the FedEx Cup top 30 and fueling a weekend finale that features MacIntyre chasing back-to-back titles with Scheffler in pursuit.
Additional value and context:
– Bhatia’s ace adds a compelling moment to the playoff narrative and highlights the pressure and excitement of the FedEx Cup bubble, which determines who reaches the season-ending Tour Championship at East Lake.
– The incident around the 17th illustrates how one stellar shot can shift momentum for a golfer still building consistency on the PGA Tour.
– The Evans Scholars Foundation angle, tied to Bhatia’s career-best ace, showcases the charitable side of golf and how individual moments can have lasting benefits for others.
– As the course tests players with long carries and tight pins, fans can expect a dramatic finish Sunday, with several contenders in a position to claim both the BMW Championship crown and a stronger footing heading into East Lake.
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