A straightforward conclusion to the Arnold Palmer Invitational is apparently impossible. Palmer himself would approve, even if events at the tournament still played in tribute to a golfing icon can feel grisly at times. This, the Florida swing, is the PGA Tour’s most testing spell. Glory came to Akshay Bhatia after one sudden death hole in competition with Daniel Berger. The 24-year-old Bhatia, a charismatic left-hander, will bounce towards Sawgrass and Thursday’s Players Championship.

A year after Collin Morikawa stumbled in painful fashion at Bay Hill, Berger was dragged into the most unlikely of scraps by Bhatia. Berger had led by four at the Sunday turn. Bhatia jabbed back, courtesy of four birdies in a row. Berger secured leeway again at the 15th, where Bhatia’s missed attempt at par came after officials had told the pair to pick up the pace. Game over? Not at all. Bhatia flew a wonderful approach to the par five 16th, setting up the eagle that reduced Berger’s advantage to one. Shot of the day? It was shot of the tournament. The duo were all square on the 18th tee after Berger three-putted the penultimate hole.

What happened next involved great theatre. Berger found thick rough at the last, from where he could only chip to short of the green. Bhatia was in prime position on the fairway but flirted with greenside rocks and the water hazard. Bhatia chipped the ball stone dead. Berger, who earlier had the tournament in the palm of his hand, had 14ft to force a playoff. He did just that with 15 under par, the joint-best 72-hole score.

Berger again drove into trouble. He reached the green but had 99ft to go. It was three-putt territory; as it proved. Bhatia’s two putts from 25ft secured the biggest win of his career. For Berger, who was looking to become the first wire-to-wire winner of the Arnold Palmer in a decade, this will sting.

Ludvig Åberg’s 67 meant he shared third with Cameron Young at 12 under. Morikawa was part of the discussion again, this time closing in fifth. He dropped a shot at the last, conjuring a rueful smile and memories of 2025.

Rickie Fowler showed glimpses of a return to better times with a top-10 finish. The Englishman Harry Hall joined Fowler at eight under. A low key week for the world No 1 Scottie Scheffler concluded with a 73 for a two under aggregate. Robert MacIntyre’s 70 meant he matched Scheffler’s total.