Akshay Bhatia was down five with 9 holes to play at Bay Hill and stormed back to beat Daniel Berger in playoff to win the Arnold Palmer Invitational

Down five strokes with nine holes to play. On the PGA Tour. Against Daniel Berger, who was 15-under and simply had to protect a lead.

Somehow Akshay Bhatia won the golf tournament.

Bhatia made four straight birdies to open the back nine at Bay Hill. Par. Bogey. Then an eagle at 16. Suddenly the five-shot deficit was gone and the two men were tied after 72 holes.

On the first playoff hole, Bhatia finished it off. His third career PGA Tour victory. Incredibly, all three have come in playoffs. Even more incredibly, all three have been decided on the first playoff hole. The man simply does not lose playoffs.

Akshay Bhatia ridiculous putt on the 11th

An UNREAL putt from Akshay Bhatia to keep him within striking distance of Daniel Berger at the top of the leaderboard. 🍿 pic.twitter.com/ji9opLJdfH

— NBC Sports (@NBCSports) March 8, 2026

Akshay Bhatia DART to 3 feet for Eagle:

🎯🦅 Akshay Bhatia with a DART to 3 feet for eagle at 16. pic.twitter.com/bpAxyB95Bn

— NUCLR GOLF (@NUCLRGOLF) March 8, 2026

Akshay Bhatia wins the Arnold Palmer Invitational

Akshay Bhatia for the win at the Arnold Palmer Invitational! 👏 pic.twitter.com/XX5JWO4zeC

— NBC Sports (@NBCSports) March 8, 2026

Berger, who led by five at the turn, managed two birdies on the back nine but also had two bogeys including an errant tee shot at 17 that opened the door just enough for Bhatia to walk through.

That 17th hole bogey is going to haunt him for a while. You had the tournament in your hands and one bad tee shot changed everything.

It is also worth noting that Rory McIlroy withdrew from the tournament on Saturday morning with back spasms to protect himself ahead of the Players Championship this week and the Masters next month.

He was at 4-under through the cut when he pulled out. Whether Rory’s presence changes the final leaderboard is impossible to know but Bhatia earned this win on a brutal back nine against a guy who had every reason to close it out.

Three wins. All in playoffs. All on the first hole. Akshay Bhatia is built different.

The Players Championship is this week at TPC Sawgrass. Rory is the defending champion. The field resets and everyone gets another shot starting Thursday.

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