Checking In On Can't-Miss Akshay Bhatia After Four Starts

Through four PGA Tour sponsor invites, former world No. 1 junior Akshay Bhatia bypassed college golf after playing for the U.S. Walker Cup team, turned pro and has yet to make a cut. Granted, it’s not kind to fair on a teenager and most remain bullish on the 18-year-old as prototype of future greats by focusing on speed (Bhatia finished 36 holes leading the field in driving distance and was second-to-last Strokes Gained in putting).

Still, as Alex Myers writes for GolfDigest.com from the RSM Classic, the early signs are discouraging for those pinning their hopes on Bhatia as the next way young golfers develop and break through. He reports after talking to instructor George Gankas:

Bhatia was making his fourth PGA Tour start on a sponsor's exemption since turning pro, but is still in search of a first made cut. He's also got an uncertain schedule after failing to make it past the second stage of Korn Ferry Tour Q-school.

"I'm not sure, I'll sit down with the team and we'll see," Bhatia said of his upcoming schedule. "But I have three (PGA Tour) starts left and I'll definitely do some Mondays and maybe go to Europe and play some golf over there."

While Gankas was glad to fill-in on the bag, the in-demand instructor who also coaches Matthew Wolff says it won't be a common sight.

"But I did enjoy it and he's a great kid," Gankas said. "And I think he's going to be one of the best players in the world."

Shouldn’t teenagers only be referring to their college “team”?