Monday, March 9, 2026 Balls & Bogeys Golf News Edition
Photo: Matt Slocum / AP Photo
Akshay Bhatia has a charge that would make Arnie proud. He rallies from 5 down to win Bay Hill
– by Doug Ferguson / AP News
Per Doug: “Akshay Bhatia missed a 30-inch par putt to fall five shots behind Sunday in the Arnold Palmer Invitational, angry enough to want to do something about it. What followed was a charge on the back nine at Bay Hill that would have made the King proud…”
B&B POV: During Sunday’s broadcast, Kiz, Smylie, and the NBC broadcast team kept talking about how infrequently anyone on tour ever goes wire-to-wire to win. For 70 holes, Berger was on pace to join the W-T-W club, right up until he wasn’t after failing to get up and down on the 17th.
Question of the Day: Did Berger lose Arnie’s event Sunday or did Akshay win it? We think a little of both. Berger hit the two worst tee shots of the entire day on the 18th when the pressure was dialed up. He needed to hit that fairway and missed it three times (R3, R4, Playoff). Berger now needs to put himself back into contention and close the deal. Congrats to Akshay for putting on a broomstick clinic and hitting the purest 6-iron in recent memory on the 16th. Now, off to The Players for both guys.
Photo: Getty Images
Jon Rahm snaps winless stretch, claims LIV Golf Hong Kong title
– by Cameron Jourdan / Golfweek
Per Cameron: “Jon Rahm has been a pillar of consistency since joining LIV Golf. However, he hasn’t been able to get over the hump and hoist an individual trophy in more than a year. That drought ended Sunday…”
B&B POV: We’d love to watch Jon Rahm contend at TPC Sawgrass this week. Instead, he’ll be vacationing somewhere where he’ll be frivolously spending some of the massive $$$ he won yesterday after lifting the dark side LIV Hong Kong trophy. (Seriously – it looks like a Star Wars prop.) We miss you, Jon, and fully expect to see you on at least a couple of major championship leaderboards later this year.
Photo: Matt Slocum / AP Photo
Winners, Losers & Payouts from the 2026 Arnold Palmer Invitational
– by Thomas Hamden / Balls & Bogeys
Per Thomas: Sunday at Bay Hill delivered exactly what golf fans want from the Arnold Palmer Invitational — a stacked leaderboard, a heartbreaking golf course, and just enough chaos on the back nine to keep everyone glued to the TV.
When it was over, Akshay Bhatia was the last man standing…
Click the button to view the full payouts:
Photo: Matt Slocum / AP Photo
What’s in the Bag: Akshay Bhatia’s Winning Setup – 2026 Edition
– by Thomas Hamden / Balls & Bogeys
Per Thomas: “Winning at the Arnold Palmer Invitational is never easy. Winning it at Arnold Palmer’s Bay Hill Club & Lodge, where wind, thick rough, and brutally fast greens combine to humble even the best players in the world, is an entirely different challenge. But that’s exactly what Akshay Bhatia pulled off in 2026…”
Click to View Akshay’s Winning Bag >
2026 Players Championship odds, picks: Surprising predictions from model that’s called 16 majors
– by Daniel Lewis / CBS Sports
Per Daniel: “The PGA Florida Swing continues with the 2026 Players Championship at TPC Sawgrass in Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla., beginning on Thursday…”
B&B POV: The betting odds are posted for this week’s Players Championship. We are far from qualified sports betters, but our outright winner picks for the week are: Ludvig (+3000), Gotterup (+4000), and Adam Scott (+5000). Three long(er)shots: Justin Rose (+6000), Aaron Rai (+10000), and Ryan Fox (+10000).
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