Whether there should be more to winning the PGA Tour’s flagship event – whether or not they are playing in a “major” championship – has been revived as a topic of debate, initiated by the tour and its tournament promotional campaign proclaiming “March is going to be Major”.
Akshay Bhatia produced a stunning back-nine comeback at Bay Hill, erasing a five-shot deficit before defeating Daniel Berger in a playoff to win the Arnold Palmer Invitational and claim his third PGA Tour title.
Akshay Bhatia held his nerve in the first playoff at the Arnold Palmer Invitational since 1999, defeating Daniel Berger on the first extra hole. His stellar putting, iron play, and clutch shots defined a memorable victory at Bay Hill.
The Belgian authored a brilliant front-running tour de force, a second straight 65 that left the rest of the field in the dust, and, as he put it, a true “statement” victory.
Straka, who birdied three of the final five holes in shooting four-under 66 to beat Lowry by one, may have been the beneficiary of the meteorological whims, but nobody can say he didn’t seize the moment.
Defending champion Daniel Berger and Jordan Spieth will be back at Pebble Beach next week to bolster a field that thus far features 13 of the top 50 in the Official World Golf Ranking, led by No.3 Patrick Cantlay.
Stricker acknowledged that the uncertainty over Reed’s health and the resulting lack of tournament play became too much of a liability to pick him for the American team.
Australian Golf Digest
