Akshay Bhatia defeats Daniel Berger to claim victory at the Arnold Palmer Invitational.

ORLANDO, Fla. — Arnold Palmer famously stated, “You must play boldly to win,” and Akshay Bhatia embodied that philosophy on Sunday with a remarkable comeback victory at the Arnold Palmer Invitational.

Bhatia initiated his back-nine surge with four consecutive birdies. He nearly made an eagle on the par-5 16th after almost holing his 6-iron. He ultimately triumphed over Daniel Berger with a par on the first playoff hole at Bay Hill.

“You just never know what can happen in this game,” Bhatia remarked after finishing with a 3-under 69, securing his third PGA Tour title, all of which have come in playoffs.

This victory was significant, a $20 million marquee event that elevates the 24-year-old into the top 20 in the world rankings as he approaches a crucial stretch in golf culminating in the Masters next month.

Berger appeared to be in control, confidently navigating his shots to build a four-shot lead at the turn. However, he relinquished the lead by missing a 7-foot par putt on the 17th hole and demonstrated considerable resilience to reach the playoff with a par after an up-and-down from 70 yards on the final hole for a 70.

They concluded at 15-under 273, resulting in the first playoff at Bay Hill since 1999.

In regulation, Berger hit his tee shot into the right rough on the 18th, and during the playoff, he pulled his drive but managed to strike a 6-iron to the front edge of the green, 106 feet away. He rolled that to 7 feet below the hole, but his par putt to extend the playoff was weak and missed below the cup.

Bhatia, who attempted the traditional Sunday flag on the 18th over the rock-framed water in regulation and nearly succeeded, opted for the center of the green in the playoff. He took two putts from just inside 30 feet to secure the win and the $4 million prize.

“Everyone knows when you show up to Bay Hill it’s going to be a test,” Bhatia stated.

It certainly proved to be that. He was five shots behind at the turn when he reeled off four straight birdies, including one from just inside 60 feet on the 11th hole. A two-shot swing occurred at the 13th when Bhatia made a 10-foot birdie putt while Berger faced a plugged lie in a bunker, needing to navigate a shot to the firm green with water beyond. He wisely played back toward the fairway and salvaged a bogey, reducing his lead to one shot.

The final hour became electrifying on the par-5 16th, with the pin tucked left near the water. Bhatia struck a high and true 6-iron that nearly found the cup on the second bounce, setting up a 3-foot eagle. Berger made birdie to maintain a one-shot advantage.

Bhatia was the only player to land his second shot within 10 feet of the 16th hole all day. He mentioned that caddie Joe Greiner advised him, “Just try to hit the best 6-iron of your life.”

“It was one of those professional pushes,” he explained. “I wasn’t trying to aim at the flag.”

Berger, who has missed significant time in recent years due to a back injury and a broken finger sustained last August, was aiming to become the first wire-to-wire winner at Bay Hill in a decade.

“It’s tough to win. It’s tough to battle,” he noted. “A shot here or there was the difference.”

This also applies to Bhatia. He and Berger returned Sunday morning to complete the third round. Berger held a three-shot lead until the 18th hole, where he made bogey from the right rough while Bhatia made birdie, with his 10-foot putt hanging on the lip for just under 10 seconds before dropping.

Berger’s consolation, aside from the $2.2 million for finishing second, was securing a spot in the British Open and moving well into the top 40 in the world, which should ensure his return to the Masters next month.

Cameron Young, who spent his winters in Orlando as a child, played without a bogey for a 69 and tied for third with Ludvig Åberg (67).

Scottie Scheffler recorded another double bogey on the 18th hole — his second in as many rounds and his third double bogey in his last 19 holes at Bay Hill — finishing with a 73. He tied for 24th, marking his worst finish on tour since a T-25 at the Phoenix Open in February 2025. This was the first time since the U.S. Open last year that he failed to break 70 in a tournament.

Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.