Akshay Bhatia takes the crown of the 2026 Arnold Palmer Invitational

The finish of the 2026 Arnold Palmer Invitational presented by Mastercard was one to remember. 

Akshay Bhatia, 24, sat one-stroke behind the leader, Daniel Berger, when he teed off on the final round of the four-day tournament Sunday, March 8. But in the end, it was Bhatia who took home the $4 million prize and walked away the champion of the invitational. 

After Bhatia struggled on the ninth and finished with a bogey, Berger extended his lead to five strokes. 

But with only nine holes left, Bhatia changed his tone. He pushed deep and challenged his inner strength by producing five birdies and an eagle. He sunk putts, including a 58-footer, and three other putts ranging from 8 feet to 11 feet, on the back nine.

“I think (No. 16) was 193 yards or 191, and the wind laid down,” Bhatia said of his eagle. “It was a perfect 6-iron. Joe (Greiner, Bhatia’s caddie) said, ‘Just hit one of the best 6-irons of your life right here,’ and I did. I pushed it, the professional push, as we call it, and it landed a couple feet from the hole, went up to 3 feet, and that was a huge bonus to go from a couple (strokes) back to just one back.”

When Bhatia eagled the par-5 16th hole, Berger sank a bogey on the par-3 17th hole, and the pair was forced into sudden death after the 18th hole.  

In the playoff, Bhatia sank his 4-foot putt on the 18th hole to earn the red cardigan and the title of Arnold Palmer Invitational Champion. 

“I mean, definitely played bold,” Bhatia said. “I think that was a big thing that everyone knows of Mr. Palmer and it was really cool. I could feel the energy and the buzz. It was awesome. I’m very fortunate to win this tournament. I know the magnitude of this golf tournament … it was just, it was really special, and I think the coolest part of today is just the fans. Arnie’s Army was out there for me and it was really, really cool.”

He said he loves the big moments in golf — it’s what he plays for — and when he’s trying to win a big golf tournament, it’s impossible to shy away from them. 

Berger, who suffered from a back injury a few years ago and almost wasn’t able to play at all in 2024, finished in second at the invitational and took home $2.2 million for his accomplishments. 

“I’m proud of myself,” he said. “Obviously it didn’t go the way I wanted it to, 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.” 

For Bhatia, it was his first win since the 2024 Valero Open and his first Signature Event win. The sudden death also marked the first playoff at Bay Hill Club & Lodge since Tim Herron defeated Tom Lehman in 1999. It was the seventh since the tournament moved to Bay Hill in 1979 and marked the longest playoff-drought of all the tournaments on the current PGA TOUR schedule. 

“Everyone knows when you show up to this tournament how hard it is, an elite field, obviously, and just very honored to win his event,” Bhatia said. “I know he (Arnold Palmer) was up there watching and probably pretty proud of how that finish was for this week. ”

During the first round, he finished even; round two he shot 6-under-par; round three he shot 4-under-par; and round four he captured 3-under-par, plus the playoff win. All three of Bhatia’s PGA wins have come from a playoff when he won the first playoff hole.