Akshay Bhatia beat fellow American Daniel Berger on the primary sudden loss of life play-off gap to win the Arnold Palmer Invitational at Bay Hill in Orlando.
Berger, who had led for the reason that first spherical, bogeyed the par 4 18th as he missed a putt from seven ft, whereas Bhatia made par to seal his third PGA Tour win.
Bhatia, 24, went into the ultimate spherical a shot behind Berger, however 4 birdies on the again 9 which included a 57ft putt on the par 4 eleventh plus an eagle on the par 5 sixteenth noticed him card a three-under par 69.
That put him on 15 below for the event, stage with Berger, who shot a 70.
“Everybody is aware of once you present as much as Bay Hill it should be a take a look at and to play one of many hardest golf programs,” mentioned Bhatia after successful his first PGA Tour title for the reason that 2024 Texas Open, additionally gained through a play-off. “And to succeed is actually cool.”
Berger, 32, who has not gained on the PGA Tour since 2021, led by 5 photographs after the second spherical.
However his lead was lower to at least one on Sunday morning when the third spherical was accomplished, having been delayed due to darkness on Saturday.
“Clearly it did not go the way in which I wished it to,” Berger mentioned. “However at the beginning of the week should you advised me I’d have an opportunity on the 18th gap to win Bay Hill, I’d be ecstatic with that. So a variety of positives, a variety of issues to study from.”
American Cameron Younger and Sweden’s Ludvig Aberg had been tied for third place on 12 below, whereas world primary Scottie Scheffler carded a 73 to complete on two below in a tie for 23th.
England’s Harry Corridor was tied for ninth on eight below.
Northern Eire’s five-time main winner Rory McIlroy was pressured to withdraw earlier than the third spherical on Saturday due to again spasms.
