Akshay Bhatia turns pro, signs equipment deal with Callaway
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JACKSON, Miss. -- Seventeen-year-old Akshay Bhatia, who had a dominant amateur golf career, will make his professional debut as a Callaway staffer this week at the 2019 Sanderson Farms Championship at the Country Club of Jackson.
“Akshay is one of the most prolific amateurs the golf world has seen in a long time, and we’re thrilled to have him join our Professional TOUR Staff,” said Tim Reed, Senior Vice President of Global Sports Marketing at Callaway Golf, in a press release. “He has all the tools to compete at a high level, he’s mature beyond his years, and we’re confident that he is going to have a lot of success using our equipment. We’re fortunate to have so many impressive young players on our staff, and we look forward to working with Akshay for many years to come.”
Bhatia, most recently ranked 5th in the World Amateur Golf rankings, made his PGA TOUR debut as an amateur at the 2019 Valspar Championship, although he missed the cut. He also Monday qualified for the Korn Ferry Tour’s 2019 Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail Championship in Alabama, where he made the cut.
Earlier this month, Bhatia -- from Wake Forest, North Carolina -- represented Team USA in the 2019 Walker Cup at Royal Liverpool Golf Club in England, where he captured two points in a 15.5-to-10.5 victory by the United States.
Now, the lefty will be teeing it up at the 2019 Sanderson Farms Championship with a Callaway staff bag full of Callaway golf equipment.
“I’m joining Callaway because the performance from the equipment is amazing; it’s better than what I could have ever imagined,” Bhatia said in a press release. “Working with the TOUR Team and learning about all of the technology that goes into their products has been a lot of fun for me, and the equipment gives me a lot of confidence as I start my professional career.”
Ahead of the 2019 Sanderson Farms Championship, PGATOUR.COM took a peak at what Callaway equipment was in his bag. While it appears he is still testing equipment – mainly the driver and putter – below is what was in Bhatia’s bag as of Monday afternoon.
Driver:Callaway Epic Flash Sub Zero (8.5 degrees, draw setting)
Shaft: Project X HZRDUS Smoke Green Small Batch 60 grams 6.5TX
3 Wood:Callaway Epic Flash Sub Zero 3+ (13.5 degrees)
Shaft: Project X HZRDUS T1100 85 grams 6.5-flex
Irons:Callaway Apex MB (4-9 iron)
Shafts: KBS Tour $-Taper 125
Bhatia was testing a number of different Odyssey Stroke Lab Ten putter options on Monday, and remains undecided about which putter he will use come Thursday. Most recently, in competition, Bhatia was using a TaylorMade Spider Tour Red putter, and he was using a TaylorMade golf ball.