ARNOLD PALMER INVITATIONAL

March 8, 2026

Akshay Bhatia

Bay Hill Club and Lodge

Quick Quotes

Q. It took one extra hole, but you have won not only your third PGA TOUR event, your first Signature Event, and it came in electric fashion on the back nine. What did you find with your putter?

AKSHAY BHATIA: Yeah, I told Joe, I was like, We shot 4-under yesterday on this side, and I was like, Let's just try and do it. I missed that putt on 9, that was just a lack of focus. And then I just had, I played with some anger for those couple holes.

That putt on 11 was a huge bonus for me. That really switched my momentum.

Up-and-down on 12.

And then, yeah, I just hit it great -- and the shot on 16, Joe said, Try to hit the best 6-iron of your life, and I did. So, yeah, it was really cool. Daniel played amazing. This game is so crazy, it's been crazy for these last couple weeks, watching Bridgeman win and then watching Nico win, and so you just never know what can happen in this game.

Q. Speaking of that shot on 16, we're looking at it now. You said it's one of the best of your life, how did you pull it off?

AKSHAY BHATIA: Yeah, perfect number, the wind died, and so, again, like, it was one of those professional pushes. I wasn't trying to hit it at the flag, obviously, but for it to land soft and then make a, have a kick-in eagle is really nice.

Q. Not only is this your third PGA TOUR win, and I mentioned your first Signature Event, but it's the Arnold Palmer Invitational. What does this mean to win at Arnie's place?

AKSHAY BHATIA: Yeah, it's amazing. Obviously being a part of Mastercard is really cool. So to win this event, to win for Mr. Palmer, for what he's done for this community, for this tournament. Everyone knows when you show up to Bay Hill it's going to be a test and to play one of the hardest golf courses. And to succeed is really cool, and I can't thank the tournament enough, can't thank Callaway enough. And my niece passed away in December, and so I knew she was looking over me this year and I made this win for her, for sure.