Akshay Bhatia followed up his bogey-free 9-under 63 with a 70 featuring four birdies and two bogeys to move to 11-under 133 at the midway point of the Valero Texas Open. His five-stroke 36-hole lead equals the largest on Tour this season (Patrick Cantlay at the 2024 Genesis Invitational).

“It was stressful, for sure, wasn’t my best stuff. I felt like I struggled a lot off the tee today, golf swing didn’t feel great with any of the longer stuff, but iron play was still phenomenal, wedges were good, made some nice putts. I know I’m reading the greens really good so I kind of understand when I’m missing putts right now why that’s happening. So it’s good, a good kind of understanding of kind of where I need to improve the next couple days.

“I felt way calmer than I expected to [playing with the lead] and I don’t know if that’s a good thing or bad thing. It was definitely — you know, it’s different because you have expectations like, oh, I just shot 9-under so can I just do that again. It’s not possible. I mean, this golf course is so hard, the wind was a lot trickier today, greens are getting firmer and firmer even in the morning. It’s just kind of pace myself and try and execute.”

The American has had five top-20 finishes in nine starts this season, with a T11 at last week’s Texas Children’s Houston Open his best result. He had one win in 53 prior PGA Tour starts at the 2023 Barracuda Championship.

Brendon Todd closed with a 72 and a share of second place at 6-under alongside fellow Americans Russell Henley (69) and Denny McCarthy (70).

Northern Ireland’s Rory McIlroy, the highest-ranked player in the field at No. 2 in the Official World Golf Ranking, shot a 70 to move into fifth place at 5-under. His current streak of five starts to start the season without a top-10 is his longest since 2010, his first season as a member, when he won the Wells Fargo Championship in his sixth start to earn his first career PGA Tour title.

“It was pretty good,” said McIlroy. “I mean, I think, you know, I could stand here and say I wish I was a few shots better and missed a few putts and whatever, but it was tricky conditions.

“Obviously Akshay’s playing really well, but apart from that, no one’s really lighting the world on fire.

“Just keep grinding away. I’ve only made one bogey over two days, which I’m really pleased with. Would have been nice to make a few more birdies, but pretty happy with the last two days.”

Related: Grade “A” Architecture – PGA WEST

Mountain Course, 6th Hole / 401 Yards / Par-4. La Quinta, California, USA. Architect: Pete Dye (1980)