"Akshay Bhatia Clinches Masters Berth with Dramatic Valero Texas Open Victory"
22-year-old Akshay Bhatia won the Valero Texas Open in a sudden-death playoff, securing a spot in the Masters. Bhatia held a six-shot lead before Denny McCarthy's late surge forced the playoff, which Bhatia won with a birdie as McCarthy double-bogeyed. Bhatia, who turned pro at 17, overcame struggles to earn his second PGA Tour win and will make his Masters debut after a dominant wire-to-wire victory.