PGA Tour: Bhatia Shines, Theegala Makes Top 25

HILTON HEAD, SC – Golfer Akshay Bhatia produced an under-par final round to climb nine places and finish tied-16th at the RBC Heritage on the PGA Tour, while fellow Sahith Theegala ended tied-25th and England’s Matt Fitzpatrick defeated World No. 1 Scottie Scheffler of the United States in a playoff to win the title.

Bhatia moved up from his overnight tied-25th position with a strong closing effort, capping another solid week on the PGA Tour.

Theegala also improved on the final day, rising from tied-41st to tied-25th with an under-par round. Another Indian-origin player, Sudarshan Yellamaraju, who shot 68, finished tied-53rd.

Fitzpatrick, who carded a final-round 70, and Scheffler, who closed with a 67, finished regulation play tied at 18-under at Harbour Town Links.

In the playoff, Fitzpatrick, 31, hit a 4-iron from 204 yards to 13 feet and converted the birdie putt to secure the RBC Heritage title for the second time.

The victory was Fitzpatrick’s fourth on the PGA Tour and 13th worldwide, lifting him to a career-high No. 3 in the world rankings.

It was also his second win in the last month after victory at the Valspar Championship following a runner-up finish at The Players Championship.

Scheffler, trailing by three shots with four holes remaining, forced the playoff with two late birdies in a four-under 67, but Fitzpatrick responded under pressure to seal victory.

It was the second straight runner-up finish for Scheffler, who had finished one shot behind Northern Ireland’s Rory McIlroy at the Masters after starting the weekend 12 shots back.

South Korea’s Tom Kim closed with a 68 to finish alone in third place as Fitzpatrick and Scheffler ended at 18-under 268. (IANS)