During the second round of the Rocket Mortgage Classic in Detroit, golfer Akshay Bhatia faced an unusual situation on the 17th hole. His ball disappeared down a drain in the fairway, causing a moment of confusion for him and his fellow players. In a video posted by the PGA Tour, Bhatia humorously identified his ball at the bottom of the drain as a Callaway, the brand he uses.
Fortunately, Bhatia was able to relocate his ball with the help of a rules official without needing to treat it as a lost ball. This allowed him to avoid replaying the previous stroke and continue on with the hole. The young American golfer ended up finishing the par-5 hole with a par, maintaining his momentum despite the mishap.
Bhatia didn’t let the drain incident affect his game, managing to card five birdies and shoot a 67 in the second round. With a lead going into the final two rounds of the tournament and a cumulative score of -13, he has a good chance of securing his third career PGA Tour win since turning professional in 2019. The Rocket Mortgage Classic boasts a significant purse of $9,200,000, making it a lucrative opportunity for golfers like Bhatia to showcase their skills and potentially earn a substantial prize. With his determination and skill on the course, Bhatia looks poised to make a strong finish in the tournament.