Akshay Bhatia just put up the greatest putting week in PGA Tour history — with a putter I hate.

I am not gonna lie…I hate the broomstick putter. It’s never been my vibe, and every time I see someone putting with it, something in me dies a little.

Let’s combine that with Akshay Bhatia, who somehow mimics the broomstick a bit. Hahaha. No disrespect. Standing at slim 6’1, weighing reportedly at 130 lbs soaking wet…wearing his slim pants…very slim…like broomstick slim.

Down five shots at the turn to Daniel Berger, who’s been leading the Arnold Palmer Invitational, Bhatia went birdie-birdie-birdie-birdie…then an eagle on the 16th to eventually tie Daniel Berger and beat him on the 1st hole of the sudden-death playoff.

Pure magic.

Not only that, Bhatia ranked first in strokes gained/putting for the week, leading the field average by more than 10 strokes, first in putts per green in regulation, and first in feet of putts made — averaging 109 feet of made putts per round. His +16.3 strokes gained in short game was reportedly the highest recorded in a PGA Tour win in the entire ShotLink era.

Say what you want about the broomstick…those numbers don’t lie.

None of the above is actually why this win matters. Bhatia’s niece Mia passed away in December at just 6 years old after battling a rare genetic disease her entire short life. She died on the morning of his wedding day. When Bhatia walked off the 18th green Sunday, a playoff winner, red cardigan on, $4 million richer, a rainbow appeared in the Orlando sky.

“I told my sister, you know, I’ve been thinking about her for a long time after she passed, and I dedicated this win for her.”

That’s not a golf story. That’s a human one, and it just happened to end with a trophy at Bay Hill.

And for what it’s worth? I might be looking into a broomstick putter.