Akshay Bhatia and his Jupiter Links team took on Rory McIlroy’s Boston Common outfit on Sunday night in the TGL showdown at SoFi Center.
Bhatia and current Masters champion McIlroy are two of the most popular players in the professional game right now.
Back in April, Bhatia raved about McIlroy’s ability, after playing alongside him during the first two rounds of The Masters at Augusta National.
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The 36-year-old obviously went on to win that week and he is already dialling up his preparations for his Masters defence next month.
McIlroy is in fine form right now, and his confidence seems to be as high as it ever has been before.
The five-time major champion was absolutely smoking his driver during the TGL showdown on Sunday night.
He actually hit the longest drive in TGL history as well after firing off a 394-yard rocket. Bhatia was left stunned by McIlroy’s ferocious power off the tee.
Akshay Bhatia makes Rory McIlroy comment after TGL showdown
Boston Common just got the better of Jupiter Links on Sunday night, and clinched the top playoff seed after their overtime victory.
Bhatia was the standout performer for Jupiter and he was asked by reporters at the SoFi Center how he manages to generate so much speed, given his slim build.
And the 24-year-old made a comment on McIlroy’s power when responding to the question.
“I think I’ve always been kind of average,“ Bhatia said.
“A lot of speed for my weight and size. But I would say, yeah, around 16, 17, I was probably average to a little longer, kind of keeping up with some of the guys.
“But everyone has just gotten way faster now. It’s pretty frustrating. We saw Rory hit like 192. He was talking about it, and I was just excited if I got like 180. It’s crazy how far the game is going.“
Bhatia is right; professional golf is heading in a crazy direction due to the speeds that players are generating these days.
However, the golf ball rollback, which will be introduced on the PGA Tour in 2028, is expected to quell the recent speed and distance increases.
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In 2023, the Northern Irishman explained why he is in full support of the USGA’s move to dial back the golf ball.
“I don’t understand the anger about the golf ball roll back. It will make no difference whatsoever to the average golfer and puts golf back on a path of sustainability.
“It will also help bring back certain skills in the pro game that have been eradicated over the past 2 decades.
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“The people who are upset about this decision shouldn’t be mad at the governing bodies, they should be mad at elite pros and club/ball manufacturers because they didn’t want bifurcation.
“The governing bodies presented us with that option earlier this year. Elite pros and ball manufacturers think bifurcation would negatively affect their bottom lines, when in reality, the game is already bifurcated.
“You think we play the same stuff you do? They put pressure on the governing bodies to roll it back to a lesser degree for everyone. Bifurcation was the logical answer for everyone, but yet again in this game, money talks.“
McIlroy makes a series of great points there.
The bottom line is that a ball that flies 10-15 yards shorter for the best players in the world will prevent golf courses needing to buy more land to build on and expand in order to remain relevant.
Golf as a sport will have a far more sustainable future when the new ball comes into play in 2028 for professionals, and 20230 for amateurs.