ORLANDO, Fla. — Akshay Bhatia waited long enough to make the final turn with his putt for birdie, allowing him to cut Daniel Berger’s lead to one shot at the Arnold Palmer Invitational at Bay Hill on Sunday morning.
They had to play two full holes to complete the third round, which was postponed due to rain. Berger two-putted for birdie from 35 feet on the par-5 16th to take a three-shot lead.
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But on the 18th, Berger’s tee shot went straight into the rough, forcing a layup. He hit his wedge to 10 feet but missed the par putt and finished with an even-par 72.
Bhatia’s birdie putt rested on the edge of the cup. He stared at the ball, walked to the hole, paused, took one last look, saw the ball drop, and shot a 68.
Berger was at 13-under 203, their final match Sunday afternoon.
Cameron Young, Collin Morikawa and Sepp Straka were four shots off the lead, opening up a number of possibilities heading into the final round. Bay Hill’s greens are often some of the firmest and fastest in Florida. Five of the past six meetings at Bay Hill have been decided by one stroke.