Smylie Kaufman has suggested a two-time PGA Tour winner is capable of performing like Scottie Scheffler at this year’s Open Championship.
The final major of 2024 gets underway at Royal Troon on July 18, and the world number one is currently taking time off ahead of the trip to Scotland.
After picking up his sixth PGA Tour victory of the season at the Travelers Championship, it’s hard to look past Scheffler landing his third major title.
Kaufman, however, has claimed there’s a youngster—who recently competed against Scheffler—who could be a “force” at The Open.
Akshay Bhatia could be a ‘force’ at The Open Championship
Speaking in the latest edition of the Smylie Show, Kaufman has claimed two-time PGA Tour event winner Akshay Bhatia is trending the right way after his latest near-miss at the Rocket Mortgage Classic.
“The way he’s trending, you could argue that Akshay is a force to be reckoned with this year at The Open,” he explained. “Let’s just look at what he’s done recently. Finally, the group at Travelers has a chance down the stretch to potentially win at the Travelers. Scottie Scheffler wins, but what were the takeaways from the Travelers for Akshay.”
Kaufman went on to suggest Bhatia is capable of matching Scheffler’s ball-striking ability.
“He got a little loose with the ball striking,” he added. “I think it’s a huge learning experience to be paired with the game’s best. What did Scottie do at the Travelers? He just kept hitting shot after shot after shot like he was supposed to, and that’s what Akshay is capable of doing.”
Akshay Bhatia one to watch at Royal Troon
Bhatia is undoubtedly one to watch heading into the season’s final stretch.
His near miss at the Rocket Mortgage was just the latest in a long line of impressive performances in 2024.
After his win at the Valero Texas Open, the lefty has regularly found himself in contention, including a top-15 finish at the US Open.
Of course, he’s still in the early part of his career, but all the signs point towards the American one day becoming a major championship winner.
The Open might come a little too soon, but it certainly wouldn’t be a surprise to see him contend once more.
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