Why did Akshay Bhatia add mini driver and new ball to his 2024 Tour Championship bag? Reason explored

Akshay Bhatia teed off in the final event of the FedEx Cup Playoffs series, the Tour Championship, on Thursday, 29 August. Ahead of the opening round, the 22-year-old made a major change to his bag to better his odds of winning this week. The PGA Tour sensation has put in a Callaway AI Smoke Paradym Ti340 13.5 degrees Mini Driver to help him navigate the challenging East Lake Golf Club, looking to play more controlled draws with the club to adapt to the Atlanta course.

However, the dispersion is not the only reason Bhatia chose the more forgiving club. Its spin rate and yardage also played a big role in the decision. Here's what he had to say about the new addition to his bag (via PGA Tour):

"If I have restricted start lines, I can draw a driver, but if I have this mini driver to where I can turn it a lot easier, then it’s a nice option. I can hit (my hybrid) 260 yards – and 3-wood for me can either be really good, or I can hit it off the heel one day, or I can get a hot pull. It’s just very inconsistent for me. So the mini driver gives me more options; it's faster, but it spins a little more, so the consistency of the ball flight is tighter, and that’s what I need."

Additionally, ranked 19th on the FedEx Cup standings, Akshay Bhatia modified his Callaway Rogue ST driver to help him with consistency. He has put in a much lighter and faster Fujikura Ventus Black 7X shaft. The change has given the two-time PGA Tour winner an added two miles per hour to his swing speed.

Further, to give him the best shot at taking home a slice of the whopping $100 million purse prize, Bhatia will use the higher spinning and softer feel Callaway Chrome Tour X golf ball.

"Obviously the greens are really firm this week. Softer for me, like, you want to win major championships, you need to hit it higher and softer. ... I’ve wanted to make this switch for a long time. I feel like there’s no better reason to do it than this week. I mean, it’s kind of a free-for-all and trying to get used to the golf ball, and prep for the majors and some of the bigger events," Akshay Bhatia said.

After the first round of the Tour Championship, Bhatia sits in solo 25th place in a 30-player field.

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Akshay Bhatia's 2024 Tour Championship Round 1

An opening round score of one under par brings Akshay Bhatia's net score to three under par as per the PGA Tour's Tour Championship and FedExCup Starting Strokes system.

Akshay Bhatia (L) at PGA: TOUR Championship - First Round - Source: Imagn

Here's a look at Bhatia's stats for the first round:

• SG - Off the Tee: (-0.471)
• SG - Approach to Green: (-1.832)
• SG - Around the Green: (-0.090)
• SG - Putting: 0.860
• SG - Total: (-1.533)
• Driving Accuracy - 50%
• Average Driving Distance - 311.90 yards
• Longest Drive - 324 yards
• Greens in Regulation - 55.56%
• Sand Saves - 100%
• Scrambling - 75%
• Putts per GIR - 1.60
• Total Feet of Putts Made - 93 feet
• Birdies - 4
• Pars - 12
• Bogeys - 1
• Double Bogeys - 1