Scottsdale, Feb 9 (NationPress) Akshay Bhatia showcased a commendable performance with a 4-under 68, securing a tie for third place at the WM Phoenix Open. In contrast, fellow Indian-American Sahith Theegala faced disappointment as he ended tied for 18th after a late bogey on the final hole, which seemed to jeopardize his entry into the next two USD 20 million Signature Events.

However, Theegala received some good news later in the evening. Thanks to his recent impressive outings, which included two Top-10 finishes and two more in the Top-20 over his last four tournaments, he was granted a sponsor exemption for the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am, the first of the upcoming Signature Events. Although he missed automatic qualification for both limited-field tournaments, this exemption allowed him to maintain his strong early-season form heading into Pebble Beach.

Meanwhile, at the top of the leaderboard, Chris Gotterup made an incredible late surge, scoring birdies on five of his last six holes to set a clubhouse target at 16-under following a remarkable 7-under 64. After this, he faced a lengthy wait on the practice range as Hideki Matsuyama, who had a one-shot lead, approached the 18th. Matsuyama bogeyed the final hole, forcing a playoff.

The playoff concluded quickly, with Matsuyama encountering difficulties off the tee on the 18th, replicating his earlier struggles. In contrast, Gotterup capitalized on the opportunity, sinking a 27-foot birdie putt to secure his second win of the 2026 season and the fourth of his career. Matsuyama, who had previously won the WM Phoenix Open in 2016 and 2017, was left to lament another late misstep at TPC Scottsdale.

Bhatia's performance this week was a timely turnaround after experiencing back-to-back missed cuts leading into Phoenix. Remaining relatively unnoticed, he recorded five birdies against a single bogey in his final round, achieving a podium finish and boosting his confidence ahead of the upcoming high-stakes Signature Events. This result highlighted his increasing comfort in challenging conditions and his capability to compete when the scoring tightens.

Another player of Indian descent, Sudarshan Yellamaraju, ended his tournament with a closing round of 73, finishing tied for 54th.

World No.1 Scottie Scheffler mounted a strong challenge after starting the tournament with a 73. His second-round 65 kept his PGA TOUR-leading cuts streak alive at 66, and he steadily closed in over the weekend. Scheffler notched three birdies on the front nine during the final round and added another trio on the back, including an impressive 72-foot putt from the fringe on the 14th. A two-putt birdie from 63 feet on the 17th momentarily brought him within one of the lead, but a missed 24-footer for birdie on the final hole dashed his playoff hopes.

With the Phoenix tournament concluded, Bhatia carries momentum into the next segment of the season, while Theegala, despite the late bogey, departs with solid form and a spot at Pebble Beach—a vital opportunity to strengthen his case for future Signature Event appearances.