17-Year-Old Bhatia And Tony Romo Receive Safeway Open Sponsor Exemptions

Golf prodigy Akshay Bhatia and Tony Romo received sponsor exemptions at the upcoming Safeway Open on September 25. For Bhatia, 17, it’s his first event as a pro. He’s also the first 17-year-old selected to play in the upcoming prestigious Walker Cup. Joel Beall has the report.

Bhatia, fourth in the World Amateur rankings, has won five junior and amateur events in the past year, highlighted by a victory at the Jones Cup Invitational. He made his first start in a PGA Tour event earlier this season at the Valspar Championship and was able to Monday qualify, and make the cut, at the Korn Ferry Tour’s Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail Championship.

“I’m very excited to make the Safeway Open my first event as a professional on the PGA Tour. This is what I have been working toward for a long time,” Bhatia said in a statement. “I am very thankful that Safeway and the tournament committee have given me this exciting opportunity.”

Meanwhile, Romo will play in his 4th PGA Tour event on a sponsor exemption. Yes, he’s a back-to-back winner of the American Century Celebrity Golf Championship, but that’s a far cry from ultra-talented Tour players. To wit, he missed the cut in the first three tournaments by 17, 16 and 10 shots.

I’ll anxious await any prop bets on the over/under on strokes Akshay beats Romo after two rounds.