PGA Tour star slammed with cheating allegations at | Golf News
Akshay Bhatia was victorious at Bay Hill, but not without criticism (Image: Orlando Ramirez, Getty Images)
Akshay Bhatia’s latest win at the Arnold Palmer Invitational has been marred by accusations of cheating from spectators.
Bhatia clinched victory at Bay Hill in Orlando, Florida, by outplaying fellow American Daniel Berger on the first sudden-death playoff gap. Berger, who had led since the opening spherical, missed a essential seven-foot par putt on the 18th, while Bhatia remained composed with an eagle to secure his third PGA Tour title.
Despite tallying 4 bogeys on Sunday, Bhatia claimed the $4 million prize, channeling his frustration after the third bogey into a highly effective comeback. However, the victory has been tainted after the 24-year-old was accused of anchoring, following Bhatia’s revelation about a household tragedy.
Social media customers had been incensed over the alleged cheating. One consumer acknowledged: “Bhatia is anchoring and no one cares because he’s a very likable guy. The rule sucks, and he’s taking advantage of a loophole (saying he’s just touching his shirt, not his chest). The putter should be the shortest club in the bag.”
Another consumer chimed in: “Every week I watch him anchor and putt lights out and every week the PGA Tour does jack s— about it.”
ORLANDO, FLORIDA – MARCH 08: Akshay Bhatia of the United States putts on the eighteenth inexperienced during the first playoff gap at the Arnold Palmer Invitational introduced by Mastercard 2026 at Arnold Palmer Bay Hill Golf Course on March 08, 2026 in Orlando, Florida. (Photo by Orlando Ramirez/Getty Images) (Image: Orlando Ramirez, Getty Images)
This is not the first time this season that Bhatia has confronted cheating allegations. During the second spherical of the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am, a standard golf social media account posted a photograph of Bhatia on the inexperienced with a long putter.
“Is Akshay anchoring here?” questioned WaysToGolf on its digital platform. “I am not accusing. But there is a point to the question. The USGA and R&A screwed up royally when they banned anchoring but didn’t ban putter length. Because touching clothing is legal, it’s impossible to detect now.”
Bhatia addressed the hypothesis immediately in the Instagram post’s remark part. “Not anchoring,” wrote Bhatia.
“Literally 2 inches short of my chest haha.”
The golfer disclosed that he performed the back 9 of the Arnold Palmer Invitational’s ultimate spherical channeling his frustration, using it to elevate his recreation.
“Yeah, I told Joe, I was like, we shot 4-under yesterday on this side, and I was like, let’s just try and do it,” said Bhatia after the ultimate spherical.
“I missed that putt on 9, that was just a lack of focus. And then I just had, I played with some anger for those couple holes.
“That putt on 11 was a enormous bonus for me. That actually switched my momentum. Up-and-down on 12. And then, yeah, I just hit it great – and the shot on 16, Joe said, ‘Try to hit the best 6-iron of your life,’ and I did. So, yeah, it was actually cool.
“Daniel played amazing. This game is so crazy, it’s been crazy for these last couple weeks, watching Bridgeman win and then watching Nico win, and so you just never know what can happen in this game.”
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