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Akshay Bhatia beat fellow American Daniel Berger on the first sudden death play-off hole to win the Arnold Palmer Invitational at Bay Hill in Orlando.<\/p>\n
Berger, who had led since the first round, bogeyed the par four 18th as he missed a putt from seven feet, while Bhatia made par to seal his third PGA Tour win.<\/p>\n
Bhatia, 24, went into the final round a shot behind Berger, but four birdies on the back nine which included a 57ft putt on the par four 11th plus an eagle on the par five 16th saw him card a three-under par 69. <\/p>\n
That put him on 15 under for the tournament, level with Berger, who shot a 70.<\/p>\n
“Everyone knows when you show up to Bay Hill it’s going to be a test and to play one of the hardest golf courses,” said Bhatia after winning his first PGA Tour title since the 2024 Texas Open, also won via a play-off. “And to succeed is really cool.”<\/p>\n
Berger, 32, who has not won on the PGA Tour since 2021, led by five shots after the second round.<\/p>\n
But his lead was cut to one on Sunday morning when the third round was completed, having been delayed because of darkness on Saturday.<\/p>\n
“Obviously it didn’t go the way I wanted it to,” Berger said. “But at the start of the week if you told me I would have a chance on the 18th hole to win Bay Hill, I would be ecstatic with that. So a lot of positives, a lot of things to learn from.”<\/p>\n
American Cameron Young and Sweden’s Ludvig Aberg were tied for third place on 12 under, while world number one Scottie Scheffler carded a 73 to finish on two under in a tie for 23th.<\/p>\n
England’s Harry Hall was tied for ninth on eight under.<\/p>\n
Northern Ireland’s five-time major winner Rory McIlroy was forced to withdraw <\/a>before the third round on Saturday because of back spasms.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n