Akshay Bhatia has explained how he ended up with the nickname “Ashtray,” which was given to him by Tiger Woods. The story dates back to Bhatia’s early days on the PGA Tour and has since followed him onto the TGL stage, where he now plays as part of Jupiter Links GC.

The nickname first caught fans’ attention earlier this year during a TGL broadcast, when Woods jokingly referred to Bhatia as “Ashtray” while speaking with SportsCenter anchor Scott Van Pelt in a pregame interview.

Golf insider Daniel Rapaport later asked Bhatia about the moment, wondering whether the name was a slip of the tongue or something Woods actually calls him. Bhatia confirmed that the nickname is very real.

“That’s my nickname, you know? You can’t argue with the GOAT,” Bhatia said.

He then shared how the name first came about during a practice session at Augusta National.

“We were playing Augusta. It was my first year. I’m on the putting green, and Tiger comes up to me,” Bhatia recalled. “He said, ‘Hey man, congrats. I give all the guys nicknames here. Your nickname is Ashtray.’ I just started laughing.”

Bhatia said the moment caught him completely off guard as he shook Woods’ hand for the first time.

“I’m shaking Tiger’s hand and I’m like, ‘Well, F you,’ you know, just joking,” he said. “But it stuck ever since. Now when we play TGL he calls me Ash, and then it slipped out on TV. Now a lot of guys on tour call me that.”

Speaking during a TGL press conference at SoFi Center on March 1, Akshay Bhatia also spoke about what it is like being around Woods as a teammate.

“Being with Tiger is really cool,” Bhatia said. “Not many people get the chance to be around greatness. For TK and I, being young and looking up to him, it’s special.”

He added that spending time with Woods has allowed players to see a different side of the 15-time major champion.

“Once you get to know Tiger, he’s like a brother. It’s cool for us to see that side of him, not just Tiger the golfer but Tiger the person.”

Bhatia joined Tiger Woods’ Jupiter Links GC as an alternate in the TGL league. The move came after reports that the left-hander had turned down a lucrative offer to join LIV Golf earlier in 2026 in order to remain on the PGA Tour. Akshay Bhatia has stepped in for Tom Kim and Woods at different points during the season for the team.

Akshay Bhatia heads to The Players Championship after Arnold Palmer Invitational win

Akshay Bhatia now turns his attention to The Players Championship after securing a major win at the Arnold Palmer Invitational. Bhatia claimed the title at Bay Hill Club and Lodge after defeating Daniel Berger in a playoff. The two players finished the tournament tied at 15 under par forcing extra holes. Berger made a bogey in the playoff while Bhatia secured the win with a two putt par.

The victory came after a strong finish in the final round. Berger held a four shot lead with nine holes left but Bhatia closed the gap quickly. He made four straight birdies from the 10th hole and later produced an eagle at the par five 16th to draw level. Both players finished with pars on the final hole to send the event into a playoff.

Akshay Bhatia carded rounds of 70, 66, 68 and 69 to win the tournament at 15 under par, earning the third PGA Tour title of his career.

The Arnold Palmer Invitational was the sixth event of Bhatia’s 2026 season. His year began with missed cuts at The American Express and the Farmers Insurance Open, but his form improved afterward.

He finished T3 at the WM Phoenix Open, T6 at the AT & T Pebble Beach Pro Am and T16 at The Genesis Invitational before winning at Bay Hill. Akshay Bhatia will now head to The Players Championship, where he finished tied for third last year.