Akshay Bhatia’s Struggles Continue, Shares Lead But Falters At 3M Open

India-West News Desk

BLAINE, MN – In Minnesota at the 3M Open held at TPC Twin Cities, hopes were riding high for Akshay Bhatia as he entered the final round tied for the lead alongside Thorbjorn Olesen. The young prodigy, who turned professional in 2019 at just 17 and rapidly rose through the golf ranks, seemed poised to bounce back after a challenging year.

However, both Bhatia and Olesen faltered in the final round, with Bhatia shooting a 75 and finishing tied for 20th place. Meanwhile, Kurt Kitayama surged ahead, birdieing five of his first six holes to claim his second PGA Tour title.

Bhatia’s 2025 season has been marked by struggles that contrast sharply with his earlier success. Once a rising star with a pair of PGA Tour victories in the previous two years, the North Carolinian entered this year with lofty but realistic goals which have not seen fruition.

In a candid interview with pgatour.com, Bhatia admitted, “This is the first year of my life where I’ve felt like I’m on a decline.” The self-imposed weight of chasing a Ryder Cup dream, coupled with technical issues, has made 2025 a difficult stretch for the 21-year-old.

Despite the setbacks, Bhatia’s early career success and talent continue to fuel belief that he can recover his form. His fans remain hopeful that Bhatia will rediscover the momentum that made him one of golf’s most promising young players.