Sunday at 8: 00 a. m. ET Daniel Berger held a two-shot lead over Akshay Bhatia with three holes remaining in his third round at the Arnold Palmer Invitational presented by Mastercard at Bay Hill. Play was pushed into an early-morning restart after heavy rain suspended action for over an hour Saturday, forcing leaders back onto the course.
Arnold Palmer Invitational: Berger in control after rain delay
Daniel Berger, at 13 under, was leading as play stopped Saturday following more than an hour-long rain suspension. He stood two shots clear of Akshay Bhatia with three holes left to finish his third round, and was slated to start Sunday with a long eagle attempt on the par-5 16th.
Akshay Bhatia’s late surge set up an early Sunday return
Akshay Bhatia reached 11 under after sinking a 34-foot birdie putt on No. 9 and then elected to attempt an up-and-down after the horn to shrink Berger’s lead to two. Bhatia will be back on the course at 8: 00 a. m. ET to complete his third round while other chasers who completed 54 holes will have a later, less taxing start.
Daniel Berger’s recent setbacks and return to form
Berger has missed significant time over the last four seasons because of injuries, including a broken right ring finger at last year’s BMW Championship and lower back problems that sidelined him for the whole of 2023; he had been 19th in the world and part of a record-setting U. S. Ryder Cup Team months earlier. Now a four-time PGA TOUR winner, Berger has made only three bogeys all week at Bay Hill and is seeking his biggest victory to date.
Scottie Scheffler, Collin Morikawa and others factored into the shifting leaderboard: Morikawa, along with Cam Young and Sepp Straka, reached nine under and completed 54 holes, meaning they avoid the early Sunday restart that awaits Berger and Bhatia. That split in finishing times sets up what commentators called a marathon Sunday for those returning at dawn.
When play resumed Saturday afternoon after the rain delay, some groups raced against dwindling light while others finished in darkness; one late group finished its work around dusk and left competitors to return early the next morning. Berger, who has been steady at one of the TOUR’s tougher venues, will resume with momentum but three holes still to play in his third round.
Sunday at 8: 00 a. m. ET is the confirmed restart for leaders at the Arnold Palmer Invitational; if morning conditions allow play to proceed uninterrupted, the final round will follow that early resumption and determine the champion at Bay Hill.
