By Rahul Banerji
Akshay Bhatia made his first US Open appearance a memorable one by entering the weekend in dramatic fashion at Torrey Pines on Friday.
The California teenager was in danger of missing out on 5-over par but a crushing drive, and a delicate chip set up a critical birdie putt on his very last hole of the second day.
The four-foot pressure putt dropped, sending Bhatia into the money rounds right on the number, a 4-over 146 (73-73). He was the 71st and final entrant into the weekend.
Two bogeys on his back nine had put Bhatia’s hopes in jeopardy but the 19-year-old held his nerve superbly just when it was needed.
On the par-5 18th he could have made a mess of his chance but a delicate chip – possibly learnt from hours spent with Phil Mickelson – from just off the green set up the birdie putt that counted.
Fairlytale progress
There was another fairy-tale in progress at the other end of the leader-board by close on Friday.
England’s Richard Bland, a first-time winner at the British Masters in his 478th professional start this May was in a share of the lead going into Moving Day.
At 48, Bland is the oldest player to take the 36-hole lead or a share at the US Open, and he is playing the event for only the second time.
“A lot of guys have a lot more on the CV than I do. But I’m here to compete and give it everything I’ve got,” Bland said later.
“To lead a major is always pretty special. I tied the lead at The Open in 2017 for a hole, so it is nice to have it a bit longer than that.”
His Masters win had also made Bland the oldest first-time winner on the European Tour.
Late drama
A four-under 67 in which he birdied three of the first and last six holes followed a 1-under 70 in round one had Bland on 5-under 137 and a shot behind American Russel Hanley.
Hanley, a three-time PGA Tour winner however, bogeyed his last hole to drop back into a tie for top spot.
South African Louis Oosthuizen (67-71) and 2020 runner-up Matthew Wolff (70-68) of the US were a shot behind.
Hanley in fact had the outright lead with birdie on 17 and had a birdie opportunity on 18. Instead he three-putted for bogey to let Bland back up alongside at the top.
Defending champion Bryson DeChambeau pulled himself to level par 142 with a 3-under 68 to find two-time winner Brooks Koepka (73) alongside.
They will not be paired in round three despite many hoping for a head-to-head face-off in this on- and off-course rivalry.
Also read: Megha Ganne is riding the wave, and doing a good job of it too
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