ARNOLD PALMER INVITATIONAL

March 7, 2026

Akshay Bhatia

Bay Hill Club and Lodge

Quick Quotes

Q. This day was a little bit of an abstract from the norm. You had the rain delay, but you still went out there and played beautifully. What do you feel like you excelled at here today?

AKSHAY BHATIA: Yeah, obviously it's playing hard, more wind. But then the greens softened, which was nice. For how poorly statistically my driving has been, to be up there around the lead is really amazing to me. So, yeah, I just got to keep doing what I'm doing and hitting the right shots. It's an uncomfortable golf course, as I've said, and it's not going to get any easier. I just got to keep doing what I'm doing.

Q. Significantly, at the end of your round as the sun was setting, birdie on 15, and you finish out 16 with a birdie. How much momentum do you feel like you established with those two birdies?

AKSHAY BHATIA: Yeah, birdieing those two holes obviously is great. 15's a bonus. 16's kind of a must, with Daniel having 25 feet there. So again, yeah, just need to keep doing what I'm doing. It's fun to be in the hunt. I told Joe, it's like just what an amazing job we have, just to be able to, I mean this is my workday, and so just very blessed to be in this position.

Q. Looking ahead to tomorrow, you got to come out early at 8 a.m. and play two holes, then you got a big gap before you come back out again. Be it physically, mentally, emotionally, what do you hope to manage most tomorrow?

AKSHAY BHATIA: Yeah, I mean, obviously it's going to be a mental challenge. It's going to be nice to come out, play a couple holes, and then go back, eat breakfast and then go through my routine. So I kind of had to do that today. Like, I woke up, worked out, came back, ate. So it's very odd when you're teeing off late, and I have only done it a handful of times. So, yeah, just happy that I got done with 16, and try and hit some good shots coming down 17 and 18.