Batia: "I am the final winner of the Masters"

Secured Masters Ticket with Texas Open Playoff Victory
McCarthy Runner-up, World No. 2 McIlroy 3rd
Henry 4th, Schenk 5th, Kim Seong-hyun Tied 14th

Akshay Bhatia (USA) secured the final Masters ticket.

Akshay Bhatia is smiling brightly and posing in front of the trophy right after winning the Texas Open in ballet. [San Antonio (USA) = AFP·Yonhap News]

On the 7th (local time), at the TPC San Antonio Oaks Course (par 72, 7,438 yards) in San Antonio, Texas, USA, during the 4th round of the PGA Tour Valero Texas Open (total prize money $9.2 million), Bhatia shot 5 under par to tie with Danny McCarthy (USA) at 20 under par 268. He then made a 'winning birdie' on the first hole of the playoff at the 18th hole (par 5). He maintained the lead throughout the four days, achieving the tournament's first 'wire-to-wire' victory in 30 years.

Bhatia earned his second career win nine months after his first tour victory at the Barracuda Championship last July. The winner's prize money was $1,656,000 (approximately 2.24 billion KRW). The joy was even greater as he secured his spot in the prestigious Masters Tournament starting on the 11th. This marks Bhatia's first appearance at the Masters.

Bhatia started with a 4-stroke lead, recording six birdies and one bogey. Although he lost the lead to McCarthy, who made seven consecutive birdies from holes 12 to 18, Bhatia made a dramatic birdie on the 18th hole to push the match into a playoff. Bhatia was fortunate on the first playoff hole when McCarthy made a critical mistake by hitting his third approach shot into the water. Without the pressure of winning, Bhatia made a birdie and claimed the top spot.

World No. 2 Rory McIlroy (Northern Ireland) performed well, finishing 3rd at 11 under par 277. He will attempt to achieve the 'Career Grand Slam' again at this year's Masters. Russell Henley finished 4th (10 under par 278), and Adam Schenk and Brendan Todd (both USA) tied for 5th (9 under par 279). Among Korean players, Kim Sung-hyun, the only one to qualify for the main event, finished strong with 6 under par. He climbed 40 spots to finish tied for 14th (5 under par 283) in the tournament.