Indian American golfer Akshay Bhatia made a remarkable comeback at the Arnold Palmer Invitational, trailing by five shots with nine holes left. Bhatia forced a playoff at 15-under and secured victory by defeating Daniel Berger in the playoff. This win marked Bhatia’s biggest title to date.
Another Indian American, Sahith Theegala, also had a strong performance, finishing T-6 after a challenging third round. Despite carding 3-over 75 initially, Theegala bounced back with a final round of 6-under 66, concluding the week at 10-under par.
Bhatia, aged 24, displayed bold play during the tournament, echoing the words of Palmer. His impressive charge on the back nine included four consecutive birdies from the tenth hole and an eagle on the 16th, leading to the playoff victory at 15-under. Bhatia’s win in the playoff secured the $4 million prize at the Signature event.
During the tournament, Bhatia found himself two shots behind with three holes remaining. However, a remarkable eagle on the 16th hole, courtesy of a precise 6-iron shot, brought him within one shot of the lead. Bhatia’s victory was a testament to his bold and aggressive playstyle, reminiscent of Palmer’s approach to the game.
Bhatia’s win propels him into the top 20 in the world rankings as he gears up for upcoming major tournaments, including the Masters next month. Berger, who held a four-shot lead at one point, faltered towards the end, missing a crucial par putt on the 17th hole. Despite his efforts, Berger’s par putt in the playoff missed, granting Bhatia the victory.
