Akshay Bhatia Beats Denny McCarthy In Thrilling Valero Texas Open Playoff To Book Masters Debut

SPIETH ENJOYING A MUCH BETTER TIME TODAY

Fan favourite Jordan Spieth endured a day to forget in the third round as his 72 even included a shot on to the clubhouse roof which ended in the gutter. But Spieth has made a fine start today with two birdies in his first three holes to climb to -5 and into tied seventh. 

LEADERS TEE OFF AS BHATIA SHOWS HE MEANS BUSINESS

What an opening drive from Bhatia who shows no signs of nerves as he smashes his opening tee shot 350 yards down the fairway. His adrenaline must be flowing freely.

CONTENDERS OPEN UP WITH BIRDIES 

Hideki Matsuyama has already won on the PGA Tour once this year and he will fancy another title if Bhatia slips up. The Japanese pro has opened up with a birdie 3 at the first in the group ahead after holing out from the sand to -8. 

BHATIA TAPS IN FOR OPENING BIRDIE TO EXTEND LEAD

Dream start for Bhatia who now leads by five shots after an opening birdie on the first. A huge drive left him just 108 yards in which he put to seven foot before converting.

BHATIA'S IMPRESSIVE START CONTINUES ON SECOND

Our leader has followed up his opening birdie with a drive of 319 yards to the right side of the fairway leaving 276 yards to hole at the 598-yard par 5.

McILROY MAKES PROMISING START IN FINAL ROUND BEFORE MASTERS

Rory McIlroy, who will tee up at Augusta next week chasing a Grand Slam, is -2 after three holes in his final round to get to -7. Elsewhere Adam Schenk is -3 after four holes to get to -7.

BHATIA'S SENSATIONAL START CONTINUES

Bhatia, who is bidding to go wire to wire, literally could not have dreamed of a better start than this surely after following his opening birdie with another on the second to extend his lead to six shots. He hit two big shots into the green side bunker at the par 5 second before playing out to leave a tap in birdie. 

BHATIA IN GOOD SHAPE ON THE THIRD 

Leader Bhatia has hit the green at the par 3 third from 166 yards after firing his tee shot to 18 foot. He can't make a third straight birdie but has a tap in par.

BHATIA'S AMAZING DRIVING CONTINUES ON FOURTH

Bhatia, who leads by six, has just boomed another huge drive on to the fairway. His latest effort goes 349 yards to the right side of the fairway, leaving 119 yards to hole. The 22-year-old then fires his wedge in close to six foot leaving it below the hole to enable him to convert his third birdie in four holes. 

BHATIA MISSES FIRST FAIRWAY ON FIFTH

Left-hander Bhatia, taking a fairway wood off the tee, is in the left-hand rough at the 396-yard par four fifth to lie 113 yards away. But Bhatia nearly holes it and will have another look at birdie. Incredible form from the leader. He doesn't convert from 12 feet but is only the second player in the field so far today to put it so close.

NORMAL SERVICE RESUMES FOR BHATIA WHO FINDS SIXTH FAIRWAY

After missing his first fairway off the tee at the fifth, Bhatia, who has been driving the ball so well, has just fired the ball 271 yards on to the left side of the fairway leaving 121 yards to hole. His approach rolls off into the fringe but the leader has chipped up close and taps in for par to stay six shots ahead.

McILROY UP INTO SIXTH SPOT AFTER THIRD BIRDIE OF DAY

McIlroy, who had a lesson recently with Butch Harmon, has just recorded his third birdie of the day after eight holes to climb to sixth as he looks for a good finish ahead of the Masters.

BHATIA FINDS THE GREEN AT THE PAR 3 SEVENTH

Bhatia continues to keep the field at arm's length with a six shot lead after finding the par 3 seventh with a 5 iron from 213 yards, where he makes par.

RARE ERROR FROM BHATIA OFF EIGHTH TEE AS FINDS SAND

Bhatia's tee shot on the eighth has flown 252 yards into the right fairway bunker, 343 yards from hole but it is a par 5 giving the leader a better chance of escaping with at least a par.

HENLEY AMONG THE CHASING PACK AFTER NEARLY MAKING ACE 

Russell Henley is going well at -2 today after eight holes to get to -9 and he could be even better if he had aced the par 3 seventh when his tee shot hit the pin and he ended up with a par.

BHATIA MAKES LATEST PAR ON EIGHT AS PACK MISS CHANCE TO CLOSE

With such a big lead, pars are going to be good enough from this point for Bhatia. He drove into the sand on the par 5 eighth but played out and was 18 feet away in three. He then putts up close to get his par as his playing partners Denny McCarthy and Brendon Todd both miss their birdie putts and are unable to exert any pressure.

IS BHATIA CREAKING AS HE APPROACHES THE TURN?

Bhatia,22, has looked ice cool out in front as he bids to go wire to wire. But the 22-year-old left-hander, who likes to fade the ball, has just turned over his last two drives and missed the eighth and now the ninth on the right. The ninth hole is playing tough today and Aberg and Henley have just dropped shots there up ahead but Bhatia puts his approach to the fringe. 

BHATIA MAKES THE TURN WITH PAR AT NINE AND REMAINS -18

Bhatia makes his par at the tricky 480-yard par four ninth after he chips up close from the fringe. He is looking good for the biggest win of his career to clinch a spot in the Masters. 

McILROY INTO SOLO THIRD WITH FIFTH BIRDIE IN 11 HOLES

How encouraging is this for Rory McIlroy ahead of the Masters...back to back birdies on 10 and 11 have got the Northern Irishman to -5 today and -10 in total in third place alone ahead of next week's Major to Augusta. Proof that his recent work with Butch Harmon is working.

BHATIA DROPS HIS FIRST SHOT AFTER ERROR ON 10TH

Just when Bhatia appeared to be cruising to victory, drama on the 10th and Bhatia's six-shot lead is down to four after he three-putted from 15 foot from the edge of the green following playing partner McCarthy's birdie. 

COMEDY MOMENT ON THE COVERAGE FROM MAX HOMA'S DRIVE 

BHATIA RECORDS FINE BOUNCE BACK BIRDIE ON 11

After dropping his first shot on the 10th with a three-putt from 15 feet, Bhatia will have a birdie putt on the 11th after putting his wedge close from 95 yards. He converts it downhill left to right and fist pumps. 

BHATIA SAVES PAR ON 12 AFTER LOOSE DRIVE

Bhatia has played a low shot out of the rough to the front edge of the green after missing the fairway off the tee. He has then chipped up close and has a tap in for par as McCarthy converts a superb birdie and the lead is down to four.

BHATIA HAS FOUR SHOT LEAD WITH SIX HOLES LEFT 

DRAMA ON 13TH AS BHATIA FINDS GREEN BUT McCARTHY IS CLOSER 

What a shot from McCarthy at the par 3 13th which is 251 yards long. McCarthy has put his tee shot to 3 foot 11 inches and has a chance to cut Bhatia's lead to three shots which he achieves as the leader makes par.

BHATIA SEEMS UNFAZED BY McCARTHY'S CHARGE

McCarthy is now -4 for today and -15 in total, just three shots behind Bhatia. McCarthy has started to assert serious pressure on the back nine with three birdies in the first four holes. However Bhatia doesn't seem unduly bothered after a 329-yard drive into the middle of the fairway on the par 5 14th from where he finds the green side trap with his second before splashing out to make birdie as McCarthy also gets a four. 

BHATIA AND McCARTHY BOTH IN DECENT SHAPE OFF 15TH TEE 

Bhatia and McCarthy have both thumped decent drives down the par 4 15th. Bhatia's is especially impressive at 308 yards into the middle of the fairway where he has just 138 yards to the flag but the pair both come up surprisingly short of the green. McCarthy chips in though in stunning fashion for a fourth straight birdie as he trims the lead to two following Bhatia's two-putt par from the fringe.

McCARTHY IS APPLYING HUGE PRESSURE AND IT IS TAKING ITS TOLL

McCarthy is on a heck of a run after four birdies in a row from the 12th in search of his first PGA Tour win. He has now put a nine iron in close on the 16th to 12 feet at the par 3. It has reduced Bhatia's lead from six shots to one as McCarthy drains his 12 footer and Bhatia two putts for a par. 

ENCOURAGING ROUND FOR RORY WHO FINISHES WITH A 66

McIlroy has just finished with a birdie at the par 5 last to sign for a 66 and a -11 total after an impressive -6 round. McIlroy has been working with Butch Harmon recently and will head to Augusta with renewed confidence ahead of his latest Grand Slam bid after his best finish on tour this season for his first top ten this term.

THRILLING SHOOT-OUT FOR BHATIA AND McCARTHY ON 17

Bhatia now just has a one shot lead after both he and McCarthy missed the 17th green at the short par 4 with the leader in the sand and first to play. He splashes out to five feet and McCarthy chips his ball inside it. Brilliant play. Can Bhatia hold his nerve to ensure he has a lead up the last? No as he misses and McCarthy converts.

WHAT DRAMA AS McCARTHY'S BIRDIE CHARGE CONTINUES

McCarthy has just reeled off his SIXTH birdie in a row at the short par 4 17th and the pressure has told on Bhatia who has missed a short putt to stay infront. This is sensational golf by McCarthy who is chasing his first win on the PGA Tour. He is now -7 on the back nine alone and -8 in total today as Bhatia's six-shot lead has evaporated. 

BHATIA AND McCARTHY HEAD UP THE LAST TIED AT TOP

The joint leaders have got their tee shots away on the 18th and the pair are both about 300 yards away at the par 5 and will have to lay up. Bhatia has the better line from the fringe of the left-side rough but both players chose to lay up and we will have a wedge shoot-out.

BHATIA AND McCARTHY BOTH ON FAIRWAY IN TWO AT PAR 5 LAST

Bhatia will be first to play his third from 102 yards before McCarthy will play his third from 67 yards at the last. A birdie for one of the pros could win this thrilling duel or we might have a play-offs.

BHATIA WEDGES IN CLOSE AND McCARTHY DOES LIKEWISE

The shoot-out is now down to a putting contest for the joint leaders who are -19. Bhatia is 11 ft 6 in from the hole and McCarthy is 12 ft 6 in away. 

INCREDIBLE FROM McCARTHY WHO HOLES FOR HIS 7TH SUCCESSIVE BIRDIE

Amazing golf from Denny McCarthy who has just completed his seventh straight birdie and his eight from nine holes on the back nine. Now Bhatia must hole to force a play off and he follows him in. Unbelievable 

WE ARE GOING INTO A PLAY-OFF HERE ON THE 18TH

McCarthy finished with eight putts on the last nine holes, where he also chipped in, to ensure he and Bhatia, who was -5 himself in the final round, go to a play-off here in Texas. McCarthy is already in the Masters next week and Bhatia needs to win to punch his ticket. McCarthy's display has tied the PGA Tour record for just 92 putts in 72 holes. 

DEJA VU AS BOTH PLAYERS AGAIN LAY UP AT PAR 5 LAST

Bhatia has found the fairway and smashed his drive further than McCarthy who will be forced to lay up. Bhatia could potentially go for the green in two at the par 5  but both players have laid up and we have another wedge contest.

OH MY, McCARTHY HAS JUST DUMPED HIS WEDGE IN THE DRINK

More huge drama at the first play-off hole where McCarthy has just dumped his wedge and his third shot in the water infront of the green. Bhatia now just needs to put his wedge from about 85 yards on to the green but he strangely opted to take a brief break to get treatment on a shoulder injury incurred from punching the air wildly when he forced a play-off. Yet he has shrugged off the injury to fire his wedge in close.

BHATIA NOW HAS TWO PUTTS FROM CLOSE RANGE FOR THE TITLE

McCarthy's unforced error fatting his wedge into the drink has left Bhatia with at least two putts from in close to win. 

VICTORY FOR ASKHAY BHATIA WHO IS GOING TO THE MASTERS

Bhatia birdies the first play-off hole to beat McCarthy who had put his approach into the water.