Akshay Bhatia Wins Arnold Palmer Invitational in Playoff

Akshay Bhatia staged a dramatic comeback on Sunday to win the Arnold Palmer Invitational, defeating Daniel Berger in a sudden-death playoff at the Bay Hill Club & Lodge in Orlando, Florida. The 24-year-old Bhatia, who trailed by five shots at the turn in the final round, birdied four straight holes on the back nine and eagled the par-5 16th to force extra holes, then parred the 18th in the playoff for his third PGA Tour victory and first in a Signature Event.

Bhatia closed with a 3-under-par 69 to match Berger's 2-under 70, both finishing at 15-under 273. Berger, the 54-hole leader at 13-under, had opened the tournament with a 63 and held a commanding position through much of the week on the demanding layout known for its thick rough, slick greens and water hazards. He extended his lead to five shots after Bhatia's bogeys on the front nine, including a missed 3-foot par putt on the ninth hole. But Bhatia responded with birdies on holes 10 through 13, highlighted by a 58-foot putt on the 11th, cutting the deficit to one. Berger bogeyed the 13th after a plugged lie in a greenside bunker forced a sideways escape.

The turning point came on the par-3 17th, where Berger's tee shot...