SI

Akshay Bhatia Leads, Rory McIlroy Lurks and One Betting Option Looks Promising for the Weekend

Bhatia has opened a five-shot lead through 36 holes in San Antonio, but there's an under-the-radar wager that could pay off on Sunday.

Jeff Ritter

Apr 5, 2024; San Antonio, Texas, USA; Akshay Bhatia walks towards the green on the 18th hole during
Apr 5, 2024; San Antonio, Texas, USA; Akshay Bhatia walks towards the green on the 18th hole during / Erik Williams-USA TODAY Sports

Akshay Bhatia has opened a five-shot lead heading into the weekend in breezy San Antonio, and the 22-year-old has understandably become the betting favorite, even with Rory McIlroy lurking on the leaderboard in solo fifth, six shots back. But are there any betting values left for the weekend? Our model has found an option;

Denny McCarthy, currently 14-1 to win and tied for second place at six under, presents a compelling case for several reasons. First, he’s known for his putting skills, a nice advantage for the challenging greens at TPC San Antonio. 

McCarthy's statistical profile, particularly in strokes gained putting and strokes gained approach, aligns well with the course, emphasizing precision and skill on the greens. 

With 36 holes to go and odds of +1400, McCarthy has the right mix of form, skill and course compatibility, making him a smart live bet. All McCarthy must do to get in the mix is be slightly above average in most other categories and let his putter do the work. 

Key Stat: 2.38 strokes gained around the green thus far. He’s worth the gamble today.

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Jeff Ritter

JEFF RITTER

Jeff Ritter is the Managing Director of SI Golf. He spent more than a decade at Sports Illustrated and Golf Magazine, and in 2020 joined Morning Read to help spark its growth and eventual acquisition by Arena Group, the publisher of Sports Illustrated. He has covered more than 25 major championships, and previously helped launch SI Golf Plus Digital, Golf Magazine’s first original, weekly e-magazine, and served as its top editor. He also launched Golf's “Films” division, the magazine’s first long-form video storytelling franchise, and his debut documentary received an Edward R. Murrow Award for sports reporting. His writing has earned first-place awards from the Society of American Travel Writers, the MIN Magazine Awards, and the Golf Writers Association of America, among others. He received a bachelor’s degree from the University of Michigan and a master’s from the Medill School of Journalism at Northwestern University. A native Michigander, he remains a diehard Wolverine fan and will defend Jim Harbaugh until the bitter end.