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2024 TICKETS

The TOUR Championship is Atlanta’s must-attend outdoor sporting event of the summer, with something for every fan to enjoy

General Admission

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GROUNDS TICKETS

Daily Grounds tickets for the 2024 TOUR Championship offer access to the tournament grounds and all open-to-the-public venues throughout the course. Tickets are dynamically priced, so fans are encouraged to purchase early to secure the lowest available price.

Special Ticket Offer

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MASTERCARD OFFER

Use your Mastercard® to receive preferred pricing for the TOUR Championship. Purchase up to eight (8) Grounds tickets per day, per account, while supplies last when accessing via the link in the button below. Terms and Conditions apply. Limited quantities.

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Michelob ULTRA Athletic Club

Situated in the central part of the iconic East Lake Golf Course, the ULTRA Club is an open-air shared hospitality venue with views of the driving range and located near No. 16 tee. Tickets to the ULTRA Club are inclusive of beer and seltzer with food and other beverages for purchase. Open from Wednesday to Sunday, ULTRA Club is the perfect spot to feel a part of the TOUR Championship action.

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THE STARTER LOUNGE PRESENTED BY NETJETS | 1 TEE

Experience the TOUR Championship like never before! The Starter Lounge is a unique shared hospitality venue located on the ground floor of #1 tee providing front row access to one of the most pressure-packed walks in the game of golf. Each ticket includes food and beverage throughout the day.

Additional Ticket Options

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Youth Ticket Policy

Those looking for an activity the entire family can enjoy should look no further than the TOUR Championship. The Youth Ticket Program offers a maximum of two children ages 15 and under to be admitted free per one ticketed adult (applies to grounds access only). Families need only to show up at any tournament gate to receive complimentary youth tickets; no pre-registration is required. All youth ages six and older must have a ticket in order to access hospitality venues.

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Military & Veteran Tickets

The TOUR Championship will once again plan to honor its military and veterans. More information regarding military and veteran tickets will be shared at a later date.

Manage Tickets

tour championship atlanta tickets

MOBILE TICKET MANAGEMENT

For fans who purchased tickets or parking online through Ticketmaster.com, please use your mobile device to click the link below and sign in. To access tickets purchased from a third party not affiliated with the TOUR Championship or Ticketmaster, please contact the source from which you purchased the ticket(s) with any issues or questions.

TOUR Championship Newsletter

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2024 TOUR Championship tickets on sale to general public

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Tournament officials announced today that Daily Grounds tickets are now on sale to the general public for the 2024 TOUR Championship.

The historic East Lake Golf Club will serve once again as the host for the culminating event of the FedExCup Playoffs and the PGA TOUR Regular Season, from Aug. 28 – Sept. 1. Only the PGA TOUR’s 30 best players reach the TOUR Championship and earn the right to compete for the FedExCup and the season-long title.

The launch of ticket sales for the TOUR Championship comes alongside East Lake Golf Club’s full-scale course renovation as it returns to its ‘Golden Age.’ The renovation project, led by golf course architect Andrew Green and influenced by a 1949 aerial photo of the famed club, will bring the club closer to its historical roots, back to the days when the legendary amateurs Bobby Jones and Alex Stirling called the course home.

Daily Grounds tickets are available Wednesday through Sunday for the 2024 TOUR Championship and start at $35 plus taxes and fees. Tickets are dynamically priced, so fans are encouraged to purchase early to secure the lowest available price.

Tickets can be purchased by visiting  TOURChampionship.com/tickets .

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Home › News › Mar 2024

2024 TOUR Championship Tickets On Sale To General Public

Staff Report From Georgia CEO

Thursday, March 14th, 2024

Tournament officials announced today that Daily Grounds tickets are now on sale to the general public for the 2024 TOUR Championship. The historic East Lake Golf Club will serve once again as the host for the culminating event of the FedExCup Playoffs and the PGA TOUR Regular Season, from August 28 – September 1. Only the PGA TOUR’s 30 best players reach the TOUR Championship and earn the right to compete for the FedExCup and the season-long title.

The launch of ticket sales for the TOUR Championship comes alongside East Lake Golf Club’s full-scale course renovation as it returns to its ‘Golden Age.’ The renovation project, led by golf course architect Andrew Green and influenced by a 1949 aerial photo of the famed club, will bring the club closer to its historical roots, back to the days when the legendary amateurs Bobby Jones and Alex Stirling called the course home.

Daily Grounds

Daily Grounds tickets are available Wednesday through Sunday for the 2024 TOUR Championship and start at $35 Sunday plus taxes and fees. Tickets are dynamically priced, so fans are encouraged to purchase early to secure the lowest available price.

As Atlanta’s must-attend outdoor sporting event of the summer, the TOUR Championship has something for every fan to enjoy. A Daily Grounds ticket offers unparalleled value with access to several unique, open-to-the-public venues throughout the golf course, including SO Cool Zone, Coca-Cola Lounge, The Grove and more. The tournament is also excited to unveil new fan areas alongside the redesigned course in a true re-imagining of the event.

All Mastercard® cardholders can use their Mastercard to receive preferred pricing for the TOUR Championship while supplies last. Cardholders may purchase up to eight (8) Daily Grounds tickets per day, per account. The offer is available while supplies last, and terms and conditions apply.

As is tradition at the TOUR Championship, two (2) youth ages 15 and under receive complimentary admission per one (1) ticketed adult. More information on complimentary ticket programs for military attendees will be announced at a later date.

Tickets can be purchased by visiting TOURChampionship.com/tickets .

ULTRA Athletic Club

Situated in the epicenter of East Lake Golf Course – a new location for 2024 – the ULTRA Athletic Club is an open-air, shaded hospitality venue with views of the driving range and located near No. 16 tee. Tickets to the ULTRA Athletic Club are inclusive of beer and seltzer with food and other beverages available for purchase. Open from Wednesday to Sunday, the ULTRA Athletic Club is the perfect spot to feel a part of the TOUR Championship action.

Hospitality Options

Fans interested in upgrading their experience at the TOUR Championship should look no further than the event’s re-imagined comprehensive hospitality program offerings, including The Georgian, the Starter Lounge presented by NetJets, the Chattahoochee Club and the Centennial Cabins. Each offers its own unique setting across the golf course for companies to host clients and invited guests. To inquire, visit TOURChampionship.com/ hospitality .

The TOUR Championship will make a return to Labor Day weekend in 2024, with tournament dates set for Aug. 28 –Sept. 1, as the PGA TOUR’s top 30 players compete in the FedExCup Playoffs finale for their chance to win the FedExCup and the season title.

For more information about the 2024 event, visit TOURChampionship.com . Fans are encouraged to follow the TOUR Championship on Facebook , Twitter and Instagram for tournament updates.

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Tour championship, see golf’s biggest finish in atlanta.

This event may have been changed due to COVID-19 outbreak precautions. Please check official event and venue websites to confirm the status.

When:  August 25 – 28, 2022 Where:  East Lake Golf Club

Golf’s biggest finish comes to  East Lake Golf Club in Atlanta  this August. The TOUR Championship is the event that crowns the FedEx Cup champion, bringing 30 of the PGA TOUR’s best golfers to Atlanta. Head out to East Lake Golf Club for top-notch golf, family-friendly activities and a chance to watch golf history in the making.

Reasons to go to the PGA Tour Championship in Atlanta

  • Golf’s biggest finish:  PGA TOUR players compete all season to earn a spot to play at East Lake Golf Club and only the top 30 will be here. With the title of FedEx Cup Champion and a $10 million purse on the line, players will bring their A-game. You’ll have a rope-side seat, exciting tee shots, crowd-roaring putts and shots from the fairway from the PGA TOUR’s best you didn’t believe were possible – all in your backyard.
  • Not just great golf:  Sure we have great golf, but that’s not all! Look for interactive areas throughout the course including kid zones, local food, fun activities and more. Gates open at 8 a.m., so make sure you come early to experience it all.
  • Free for kids and military:  Want to bring kids? Go right ahead – it’s free! Youth 18 and under get in free when accompanied by a ticketed adult, up to four per adult. That’s a deal that can’t be beat! All active duty, Reserve and National Guard military members, military retirees and their dependents also receive free admission.
  • Home of a legend:  Not only does East Lake Golf Club host golf’s biggest finish, but it was home to arguably one of golf’s biggest legends, Bobby Jones. You can walk the grounds of the course that the Atlanta-native claimed as his home throughout his successful amateur career. Jones was most famous for his 1930 “Grand Slam” – winning all four of golf’s major championships in one year.
  • Amazing fan amenities:  With the purchase of a grounds ticket, the most accessible of all ticket options, attendees have the opportunity to watch the 30 best players in the world compete while enjoying FREE access to incredible fan amenities, such as the Coca-Cola Lounge and Back Nine Brews as well as the ever-popular SO Cool Zone, GREY GOOSE 19th Hole Lounge, Peachtree Porch, the Deck and much more!.

Insider tips

  • Park for free:  Worried about parking? Don’t be! Parking is free at Center Parc Credit Union Stadium at Georgia State University on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday and at Cellairis Amphitheatre at Lakewood on Saturday and Sunday, and free shuttles run continuously to and from East Lake Golf Club.
  • Stay Connected:  Social media savvy? Cell phones are allowed at the TOUR Championship and we’d love to connect with you! Share your fun tournament photos (remember, these can only be taken in our designated cell phone zones), use our hashtags and keep a look out for our social media caddies giving away tournament swag. Follow us on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook for all the latest news and insider-tips while on site.
  • Curated Fan Journey:  Whether you’re a foodie, socialite, family of four or golf fanatic, the TOUR Championship has mapped out curated fan journeys to provide the most efficient and memorable experience for all types of fans. Determine your “fan personality” by exploring the journeys online at tourchampionship.com and downloading the PGA TOUR app to follow along with the interactive maps.
  • Where to Watch:  East Lake Golf Club offers a great viewing experience on all 18 holes. Favorite places to watch the PGA TOUR’s best include the practice area next to No. 9, No. 1 tee box and No. 18 green.

Know before you go

Where does the pga tour championship take place.

The PGA Tour Championship takes place at  East Lake Golf Club , located at:

575 Alston Dr SE Atlanta, GA 30317

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The First Look: PGA Championship

The First Look

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The season’s second major championship is here – and there's no shortage of exciting storylines as the TOUR returns to the Bluegrass State.

This year’s PGA Championship features a hearty 1-2 punch of Scottie Scheffler – expected to return to action – and Rory McIlroy, who's arriving in Kentucky with momentum after Sunday’s Wells Fargo Championship victory – near the top of the board in terms of favorites.

Valhalla Golf Club, now lengthened and completely renovated, will make for a solid championship test once again, with Mother Nature sure to have her say as well.

Whether it’s someone seeking their first major, or Scheffler or McIlroy looking to add to their legacy (or even Jordan Spieth, eyeing the final leg of the career Grand Slam), it’s set to be a loaded week in Louisville.

Here’s everything else you need to know for the 106th PGA Championship.

SIGNATURE EVENT STORYLINES: The next Signature Event on the PGA TOUR schedule is the Memorial Tournament presented by Workday… The top 10 players on the season-long FedExCup standings, not otherwise exempt, will earn spots at the Memorial via the Aon Next 10 … Ludvig Åberg remains atop the Aon Next 10… Taylor Pendrith was the only player to move inside the Aon Next 10 at the Wells Fargo Championship, finishing T10 a week after his maiden TOUR title… The top five FedExCup points earners across the Myrtle Beach Classic, Charles Schwab Challenge and RBC Canadian Open, not otherwise exempt, will earn spots via the Aon Swing 5… Thanks to his win in Myrtle Beach, Chris Gotterup leads the Aon Swing 5 , with Davis Thompson in the No. 2 position and six players tied for the final three spots.

COMCAST BUSINESS TOUR TOP 10 UPDATES : With his win at the Wells Fargo Championship, Rory McIlroy jumped into the Comcast Business TOUR TOP 10 for the first time this season, moving from No. 16 to No. 4 in the standings… Byeong Hun An , after finishing third at Quail Hollow , moved from No. 8 to No. 6. An and Chris Kirk remain the only players to have stayed in the TOUR TOP 10 every week so far this season… Xander Schauffele , after finishing second at the Wells Fargo Championship, moved up one spot from No. 3 to No. 2, swapping with Wyndham Clark … Jason Day’s T4 result in Charlotte jumped him up the standings from No. 27 to No. 12 – he’s now knocking on the door of moving into the TOUR TOP 10.

FEDEXCUP: Winner receives 750 FedExCup points.

COURSE: Valhalla Golf Club, par 71, 7,609 yards. In comparison to the previous PGA Championship at Valhalla (in 2014), the Kentucky club has been completed renovated. An extensive fairway renovation was coordinated by the PGA of America in 2021: The project consisted of changing fairway turf and tees from bent grass to Zeon Zoysia. Zeon Zoysia fairways (requiring less water) allow for firm, fast playing conditions all season long, as opposed to the seasonality of bent grass. The PGA Championship team, with consultation from the Nicklaus Design team, decided to create new championship tees on Nos. 1, 12, 13, 14 and 18. The total length of the 2024 PGA Championship is 151 yards longer than 2014.

The club was purchased by the PGA of America in 2000 but sold in 2022 to a group of Louisville investors with a continued desire to host elite events.

72-HOLE RECORD: 264, Brooks Koepka (2018 at Bellerive Country Club)

18-HOLE RECORD: 63, Bruce Crampton (Round 2, 1975 at Firestone CC), Raymond Floyd (Round 1, 1982 at Southern Hills), Gary Player (Round 2, 1984 at Shoal Creek), Michael Bradley (Round 1, 1993 at Inverness), Vijay Singh (Round 2, 1993 at Inverness), Brad Faxon (Round 4, 1995 at Riviera CC), José María Olazábal (Round 3, 2000 at Valhalla), Mark O’Meara (Round 2, 2001 at Atlanta AC), Thomas Bjorn (Round 3, 2005 at Baltusrol), Tiger Woods (Round 2, 2007 at Southern Hills), Steve Stricker (Round 1, 2011 at Atlanta AC), Jason Dufner (Round 2, 2013 at Oak Hill), Hiroshi Iwata (Round 2, 2015 at Whistling Straits), Robert Streb (Round 2, 2016 at Baltusrol), Brooks Koepka (Round 2, 2018 at Bellerive; Round 1, 2019 at Bethpage Black), Charl Schwartzel (Round 2, 2018 at Bellerive), Bubba Watson (Round 2, 2022 at Southern Hills).

LAST TIME: Brooks Koepka won his third PGA Championship, topping Scottie Scheffler and Viktor Hovland by two shots at Oak Hill in Rochester, New York. Koepka joined Jack Nicklaus and Tiger Woods as the only players to win the Wanamaker Trophy three times in the stroke-play era. He had a one-shot lead through 54 holes and raced out of the gate, making birdie on Nos. 2-4. He made back-to-back bogeys on Nos. 6 and 7 but shot a 2-under 33 on his back nine to top Hovland and a hard-charging Scheffler, whose 5-under 65 tied for the low round of the day. Among those who also shot 65 in the final round were Cam Davis and Kurt Kitayama, who shared fourth place alongside Bryson DeChambeau. It marked a career-best major finish for both Davis and Kitayama.

McIlroy won the previous PGA Championship contested at Valhalla, in 2014.

HOW TO FOLLOW (all times ET):

Television :

  • Thursday: 7 a.m.-noon (ESPN+), noon-8 p.m. (ESPN)
  • Friday: 7 a.m.-noon (ESPN+), noon-7 p.m. (ESPN)
  • Saturday-Sunday: 8-10 a.m. (ESPN+), 10 a.m.-1 p.m. (ESPN), 1-7 p.m. (CBS).

PGA TOUR Radio on SiriusXM and free on PGATOUR.COM/liveaudio :

  • Thursday-Friday: 1-7 p.m
  • Saturday-Sunday: 2-7 p.m. (SiriusXM)
  • More information on International YouTube streaming of the 2024 PGA Championship will be available during tournament week.

Editor's note: The PGA of America, which owns and operates the PGA Championship, controls all digital streaming and broadcast rights to this event. PGA TOUR LIVE coverage will resume next week at the Charles Schwab Challenge.

Click here for full How to Watch details via the PGA of America.

Golf

Akshay Bhatia’s Valhalla history gives him confidence ahead of PGA Championship

HOUSTON, TEXAS - MARCH 29: Akshay Bhatia of the United States walks the course during the second round of the Texas Children's Houston Open at Memorial Park Golf Course on March 29, 2024 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Logan Riely/Getty Images)

“Did you chunk it?”

All Akshay Bhatia could do was shake his head at the ridiculous question from his friend after the round. Sixteen-year-old Bhatia had just sunk a near-impossible 40-foot chip for an eagle. And this was not your average hole out. Bhatia did it on the 72nd hole of the 2018 Junior PGA Championship at Valhalla Golf Club. A downhill slider from just long of the par 5, which he reached in two.

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It is not an exaggeration to say that Bhatia left himself with one of the most precarious chips possible around the horseshoe-shaped green complex. And with the clubhouse leader one shot ahead, Bhatia needed an up-and-down birdie to tie and move into a sudden-death playoff.

He did one better instead.

“It was one of the clutchest moments of my career,” Bhatia said three weeks before the PGA Championship’s return to Valhalla for the fourth time.

Earlier today, Akshay Bhatia won the #JuniorPGA at @ValhallaGolf … by doing this! pic.twitter.com/MeITpo4ufH — PGA of America (@PGA) August 4, 2018

The chip was airborne for less than a yard — hence the inquiry about it being an accidental mishit — before it softly landed on the putting surface and picked up speed. The lefty retracted his wedge into his right hand like a knight returning his sword to his sheath as he watched his ball head directly toward the cup. It was all part of Bhatia’s plan.

“I hit it exactly how I wanted to,” Bhatia said. “It was one of those chips where you just have to tap the golf ball and it’s going to feed down to the hole.”

The teenage golf sensation triumphantly pumped his clenched fists as the ball fell over the hole’s edge, family and friends joining him in celebration around the green. With the improbable chip-in, Bhatia defended his 2017 Junior PGA title, becoming the first back-to-back champion in the event’s 48-year history. Tiger Woods, Phil Mickelson, Jordan Spieth and Justin Thomas have all played in the prestigious junior tournament. Sam Burns and Trevor Immelman have won it. Bhatia is the only player who has come out on top twice.

He might not have known it then, but the confidence Bhatia mustered to visualize and execute that shot epitomizes exactly why he came out on top on that sticky afternoon in Louisville. It also explains how he made it back to Valhalla six years later, this time as a PGA Tour player making his first PGA Championship start.

He stands a couple of inches taller, and a few additional pounds support his recognizable lanky physique. His signature eyeglasses have shape-shifted from nerdy rectangles to sleek, rounded frames. A few more trophies stand on his shelf at home in Wake Forest, N.C. Bhatia is ready as ever to compete in his third major, at the same venue that started it all: The Kentucky course awaits another flash of brilliance from the former golf prodigy.

Full-circle moments are starting to feel like regularly scheduled programming for Bhatia.

Last month, the 22-year-old clinched his second PGA Tour victory at the Valero Texas Open in a one-hole playoff against Denny McCarthy to earn the final Masters invitation up for grabs. He was the last player to be added to the field at Augusta National, but his entry had another significance.

That week Bhatia became the first Drive, Chip & Putt Finals alum to tee it up in the Masters, 10 years after participating in the competition for 7-to-15-year-olds hosted annually at Augusta National.

Friday morning, he found himself next to Tiger Woods on the practice green.

“Tiger came up to me and said congrats,” Bhatia said. “He joked around with me and gave me a nickname. The first time I met him, it was just a handshake in line with a bunch of other junior golfers. For Tiger Woods to recognize me as a player and a person is something I’ll cherish as a memory from my first Masters.”

He made the cut in his Masters debut and finished tied for 35th.

Threads continue to string themselves together throughout Bhatia’s career, with Valhalla being the latest example. The trend won’t stop here. Why? Bhatia has been winning and succeeding at the game’s highest levels for a long time.

Bhatia’s journey to his current position as the No. 33-ranked player in the world, per DataGolf.com, was unconventional. But Bhatia wouldn’t have had it any other way.

Already gaining significant traction on the amateur golf scene as a middle schooler, Bhatia’s parents, Sonny and Renu, knew they had a special talent on their hands. Renu took on additional work outside of her 9-to-5 corporate planning job to continue supporting her son’s dream of becoming a professional golfer. Sonny traveled with Bhatia to tournaments across the country. Bhatia took advantage, honing his craft nonstop.

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The accolades kept coming. When Bhatia won tournaments, he’d ask his coach at the time, George Gankas, what he could have done to win by more. He would speak about getting bored when playing so well, always searching for a new skill to perfect on the course. Bhatia’s relentless, never-satisfied attitude was innate. His parents decided to transition Bhatia to online home school starting in sixth grade.

Most elite junior golfers in the U.S. have sights set on verbal commitment offers from Stanford, Texas or another top-tier Division I golf program. Bhatia had a different vision, and his parents were on board, despite his older sister Rhea enjoying college golf at Queens University of Charlotte. Bhatia wanted to skip college and turn professional as soon as he completed online high school, and that’s exactly what he did. A path that American juniors rarely dare to take was the only option Bhatia ever truly considered.

A 17-year-old Bhatia turned pro at the 2019 Sanderson Farms Championship. Already growing a social media following for his junior dominance and powerful swing, Bhatia received seven sponsor exemptions to PGA Tour events. He missed all seven cuts. Bhatia wasn’t sitting in a classroom, but he was learning.

He didn’t earn a fast track to the PGA Tour by succeeding in those coveted sponsor exemptions, like college stars Viktor Hovland, Matthew Wolff and Collin Morikawa had done that summer. Instead, Bhatia had to grind it out on the mini-tours. He encountered all sorts of unforeseen hurdles: His mental game was in disarray and the onset of the pandemic limited his competitive schedule. Many questioned his decision to forgo an NCAA career.

Traveling the country as a sub-21-year-old presented its challenges. While competing on the Korn Ferry Tour, Bhatia was forced to drive a U-Haul to the Wichita Open because he was too young to rent an SUV.

Finally, Bhatia made his first PGA Tour cut and found a groove. He won a Korn Ferry Tour event in 2022. He secured special temporary member status on the PGA Tour by early 2023. Bhatia parlayed the opportunity into his maiden PGA Tour victory at the opposite-field Barracuda Championship that July, where he sunk a 15-foot putt to force a playoff.

He captured his second victory on tour at the Valero in a similar fashion. After Bhatia made the turn with a comfortable six-shot lead, Denny McCarthy charged, making eight birdies on the back nine to shoot a back-nine 28. Bhatia again faced a putt that would determine his fate: He drained an 11-footer for birdie to enter a playoff, and the ensuing fist pump was so forceful it nearly threw out his bad shoulder. He won in sudden-death play.

Bhatia’s winning instinct took over. He executed the task at hand when it mattered the most. Sound familiar?

“I always go back to those three moments I’ve had,” Bhatia said, “Barracuda, Valero and Valhalla. Those are all shots I needed to make and I was able to do it three times. It shows me that I can dig deep and truly embrace the moment when a lot of people can’t.”

Near ACE for Akshay Bhatia on 17. 😨 📺: Golf Channel & @peacock | @WellsFargoGolf pic.twitter.com/yxJGidZqeC — Golf Channel (@GolfChannel) May 11, 2024

That summer at Valhalla, Bhatia was in the middle of his most successful junior golf season. The No. 1 junior in the world at the time, Bhatia was busy claiming victory after victory. He began winning the prestigious Junior Invitational at Sage Valley, just 20 miles from Augusta National. A few weeks later, he claimed the AJGA Polo Golf Junior Classic title by 10 shots, his sixth victory on the elite junior tour.

Then it came time to chase junior golf’s pinnacle achievement: the U.S. Junior Amateur, a match-play format tournament with a 36-hole championship match, hosted at Baltusrol Golf Club in 2018. It was no surprise when Bhatia made it to the finals. But that Sunday Bhatia was outplayed. Fellow 16-year-old Michael Thorbjornsen defeated Bhatia in a thrilling back-and-forth battle, winning 1 up on the final hole.

The loss stung, but Bhatia pressed on. The Junior PGA — where he had won the year prior by shooting a record-breaking 61 — was the next major junior event on his schedule.

Bhatia remembers bits and pieces of his historic week in Kentucky in 2018. He recalls studying the hole locations from the 2014 PGA Championship at Valhalla, when Rory McIlroy won his last major championship. When the tournament began, Bhatia recognized the pin positions from his pre-tournament research. He felt like he suddenly had a leg up on the rest of the field.

Bhatia can grudgingly recount shooting a 4-over 76 in the second round. He needed a pep talk from his coach, Chase Duncan, in the car. The next day he fired a 7-under 65 to take a share of the lead heading into Sunday.

Then came the eagle hole-out that cemented his status as a junior golf legend.

“We were expecting him to get it up and down, no question,” said Canon Claycomb, a current member of the University of Alabama men’s golf team who finished top five at the Junior PGA. “The chip was so hard. We were all kind of joking, ‘He’s gonna make this’ because he had just killed everyone all year.”

Returning to Louisville six years later, Bhatia is a different person. He’ll still be one of the youngest competitors in the PGA Championship field, but he’s engaged to his long-time girlfriend Presleigh Schultz. He’s hired a full team around him, including mental coach Ryan Davis, putting coach Stephen Sweeney and short-game expert Gabe Hjerstedt. Still at an age when his peers are just entering professional golf, ">Bhatia has built a brand and has proved he belongs among the world’s best.

But Bhatia knows he is the same in many ways. He’ll always be the fearless competitor who got up and down from jail on the 18th green at Valhalla for the win.

The shot was far from a “chunk” that got lucky. It was the chip that started it all.

(Top photo: Logan Riely / Getty Images)

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Gabby Herzig

Gabby Herzig is a Staff Writer for The Athletic covering golf. Before joining The Athletic, she worked as a breaking news writer for Sports Illustrated’s golf vertical and a contributing editor at Golf Digest. She is a graduate of Pomona College, where she captained the varsity women’s golf team.

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COMMENTS

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  12. 2024 TOUR Championship Tickets On Sale To General Public

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  19. The First Look: PGA Championship

    The PGA Championship team, with consultation from the Nicklaus Design team, decided to create new championship tees on Nos. 1, 12, 13, 14 and 18. The total length of the 2024 PGA Championship is ...

  20. Release: Rangers expand replica ring promotion 5/13/24

    Below is the schedule of replica ring giveaways and theme nights adjusted for the latest announcement: Tuesday, May 14 vs. Cleveland Guardians - 7:05 p.m., Gates Open at 5 p.m. Corey Seager Replica World Series Ring, presented by Coca-Cola (First 15,000 fans) Tuesday, June 4 vs. Detroit Tigers - 7:05 p.m., Gates Open at 5 p.m.

  21. As the Wells Fargo Championship takes a golf bow, what's next for

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  22. He's one of the PGA Tour's young stars but Akshay Bhatia's story begins

    Bhatia did it on the 72nd hole of the 2018 Junior PGA Championship at Valhalla Golf Club. A downhill slider from just long of the par 5, which he reached in two. It is not an exaggeration to say ...