Daniel Berger criticized for ‘crazy’ decision on Sunday at Bay Hill as Akshay Bhatia takes the title
Akshay Bhatia pipped Daniel Berger to the Arnold Palmer Invitational title on Sunday after a dramatic finish at Bay Hill.
Berger held a five-shot lead over Bhatia with just nine holes remaining on Sunday at Bay Hill.
However, it was the 24-year-old left-hander who emerged victorious at the Arnold Palmer Invitational in the end.
Bhatia made up five strokes on Berger on the back nine at Bay Hill after shooting a sensational 31 coming home.
With his win at the Arnold Palmer Invitational , he is now up to a career-high of 19th in the world rankings.
Bhatia broke a PGA Tour record on his way to winning at Bay Hill by gaining 16.3 strokes around the greens and putting throughout the week.
However, as delighted as the 24-year-old was with his performance on Sunday, Berger will wake on Monday morning feeling seriously disappointed.
Daniel Berger made ‘crazy’ decision at Bay Hill as Akshay Bhatia takes the title
Things began to come undone for Berger on the 13th hole at Bay Hill on Sunday afternoon.
He made a bogey after finding the green-side bunker with his second shot, as Bhatia rolled in a 10-foot putt for birdie and the Floridian’s lead was cut to just one shot all-of-a-sudden.
It was actually a decent bogey from Berger in the end after his second shot ended up in a plugged lie in the sand left of the green.
However, the 32-year-old was criticized heavily by Sky Sports commentary duo Wayne Riley and Laura Davies for the way he went about playing his bunker shot on 13.
“ If he’s going to go there (right), that’s a tight little angle, “ Riley said.
“ That’s a difficult bunker shot, he could overcook this and hit it into the rough.
“ I’m going left and given myself a 65-footer. At least I’m on the green. “
Then Davies explained the shot Berger should have attempted, in her opinion.
“ As good as he is out of bunkers, it takes all of the risk of the big number out of play, “ she claimed.
“ He’d make a five at worst if he just shoved it a foot forward. “
Riley then chimed back into the conversation.
“ What he’s trying to do here is just land it out, like a real finesse shot, “ he said
“ This amazes me. That is unbelievable, eh? “
Before Dame Laura responded by saying: “ That’s a crazy shot Radar, I’m with you. “
Daniel Berger criticized for lay-up on 18 at Bay Hill as well
Wayne Riley was genuinely stunned when he realized that Berger was laying up from the right rough on 18 in regulation play.
“ Why did I just hear 125 yards? Is he just laying this up? “ Riley asked.
“ I think there is plenty of room where Arnold Palmer hit it back in the day, with the driver off the deck, and leave himself a 70-foot putt.
“ I’m not getting that lay-up, no, not one bit.
“ I think this goes to show what happens when you’re front-running when you play somewhat conservatively, they can just hunt you down.
“ You give them an incentive. “
Perhaps Berger did play too conservatively on Sunday at Bay Hill, rather than just put his foot down on the accelerator and pull away from Bhatia.
He didn’t play badly at all but once he ended up in the play-off, it was obvious that Bhatia would go on and win.
Hopefully Berger manages to view the week at Bay Hill as a positive one, despite the disappointing finish.
