Akshay Bhatia finishes T-6 at St. Jude Championship

Memphis: Akshay Bhatia delivered a steady final round to claim a share of sixth place at the St. Jude Championship, boosting his FedEx Cup ranking into the Top 30 and keeping his Tour Championship hopes alive.

Bhatia closed with a 1-under 69 on Sunday at TPC Southwind, capping a week that began with a dazzling 8-under 62 in the opening round. His four-day total of 10-under par left him six shots behind eventual champion Justin Rose, who outlasted JJ Spaun in a playoff.

Bhatia’s round featured strong early momentum, with birdies at the second and third holes on Sunday, followed by another on the ninth. Bogeys at the seventh and 17th prevented a bigger climb, but his tie for sixth was enough to move him 16 places up the standings from 45th to 29th — the second-largest jump of the week.

The finish guarantees the 22-year-old a spot in next week’s BMW Championship and secures his place in all $20 million Signature Events in 2026. Maintaining a Top-30 FedExCup position would earn him a second straight appearance at the Tour Championship.

Rose, 45, produced a late surge with four straight birdies from the 14th to the 17th to post a final-round 67 and force extra holes with Spaun. The Englishman sealed his 12th PGA Tour title — and 24th worldwide victory — with a birdie on the third playoff hole, vaulting him from 25th to fourth in the FedExCup standings and into the world’s top 10. IANS

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