For fans and tournament observers, Akshay Bhatia Wife Presleigh Shultz’s public sharing of their December wedding shifts attention from leaderboard math to newlywed moments as he heads into the final day of the Arnold Palmer Invitational; Sunday at 11: 00 a. m. ET he begins the final round tied for second.
Presleigh Shultz’s wedding details put a spotlight on shared golf history
Shultz has framed the wedding as closely tied to Bhatia’s career, and that framing affects how fans view his tournament push. The couple married in December 2025 in the Bahamas, a location they identified as meaningful because Shultz attended Bhatia’s breakthrough victory there on the Korn Ferry Tour. Shultz said in an interview that she was “overwhelmed with emotion excitement, nerves, joy, and anticipation all at once, ” and added that when she reached the end of the aisle and stood face to face with Akshay, “everything else melted away. “
Akshay Bhatia Wife presence is visible while he narrows the gap at the Arnold Palmer Invitational
Shultz’s visible support has followed Bhatia onto the course; her public bio line reads, “Somewhere watching Akshay golf, ” a playful sign she is nearby cheering him on. For viewers and supporters, that presence highlights the convergence of a high-profile personal milestone with a tight tournament chase, shifting some attention from scoring details to the couple’s narrative as play resumed.
Daniel Berger’s lead, Bhatia’s finish and Rory McIlroy’s withdrawal reshaped Sunday’s final day
On the third-round leaderboard, Daniel Berger stood at 13 under par while Akshay Bhatia was at 12 under par, leaving Bhatia one stroke behind entering the final round. Bhatia closed his third round with a birdie on the 18th hole to post a four-under 68, while Berger completed his round in 72. Play had been suspended on Saturday because of darkness and was completed on Sunday, setting up a final-day showdown.
Rory McIlroy withdrew from the event after experiencing muscle spasms in his lower back. McIlroy said that while warming up he felt a twinge that worsened into spasms and left him unable to continue, a change that removed a top contender from the field and altered the competitive picture on Sunday.
Beyond the course, the wedding included golf-inspired moments that reinforce the couple’s connection to the sport: a late-night tee time after the ceremony and personalized fashion touches. Bhatia worked with the brand Elevee on a custom black-and-white tuxedo that concealed a collage of photos sewn into the jacket lining, a detail kept private until the wedding day. He completed the outfit with black Christian Louboutin dress shoes and wore a Daytona Rolex that he purchased after qualifying for the Tour Championship last season.
Those personal choices—mixing formal wear with golf references and a celebration on a course—have drawn attention from fans watching both the tournament and the couple’s public posts, making Shultz’s role as a supportive partner part of the story unfolding on the leaderboard.
A final round resumed Sunday at 11: 00 a. m. ET will decide the winner; if Bhatia posts a lower total than Daniel Berger in that round, he will overtake Berger for the title.
