Daniel Berger carries five-shot lead into the weekend at Bay Hill

Edgar Thompson, Orlando Sentinel on Mar 6, 2026

Published in Golf

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ORLANDO, Fla. — The stage is set for a long-awaited triumph or a letdown this weekend at the Arnold Palmer Invitational.

Following 4-under-par 68 Friday, Daniel Berger enters the weekend at Bay Hill Club & Lodge at 13 under and with a five-shot cushion after just one bogey over 36 holes on a typically exacting layout.

Berger’s flawless play positioned the former Florida State All-American for his first PGA Tour win since the 2021 AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am and fifth overall.

But the 32-year-old is well aware he’ll have to navigate unfamiliar territory and hold off a host of capable players. The pack is led by 24-year-old Akshay Bhatia, who is at 8 under after he carded a 66, ending with up-and-downs out of greenside bunkers on the 17th and 18th holes.

“You’re playing the golf course and yourself,” Berger said. “You’re controlling what you can control. It’s not like I’ve done it a million times, so I can’t really tell you exactly how it’s going to feel.

“But I know what I have to do.”

If Berger continues his recent play at Bay Hill, he’ll be difficult to chase down.

During his past five API rounds, he is 22 under par, including 9 under during the final 54 holes in 2025 to tie for ninth.

“The recipe is pretty simple — it’s fairways and greens,” he said. “If you can do that, it’s hard for guys to catch you.”

Easier said than done for many of the world’s best through two rounds.

Berger has found 27 of 36 greens in regulation, or 75%, to rank tied for fifth, and one fewer than four players with 28 GIRs.

Some the game’s preeminent ball strikers have failed to keep pace with Berger.

World No. 1 Scottie Scheffler has hit just 21 greens and sits 3 under at a tournament he won in 2022 and 2024. World No. 3 Tommy Fleetwood hit 20 greens, but made the cut at 1 over. Hideki Matsuyama hit just half (18) of his greens but has scrambled well enough to sit at even.

Meanwhile, Justin Thomas — from November back surgery for his 2026 season — found only 16 greens to card back-to-back 79s to sit 14 over and in last place.

Bhatia’s execution on and around the greens allowed him to overcome inconsistent iron play (19 greens in regulation). His closing saves out of greenside bunkers left him 14 of 17 in scrambling. He leads the field with 45 total putts.

“I got up and down quite a bit,” the two-time PGA Tour winner said. “Tough golf course.”

Berger needed just 52 putts himself, fewer than only Bhatia and Bud Cauley, who is 4 under and tied for ninth with four players including world No. 2 Rory McIlroy.

Showing no holes in his game, Berger opened with a 63 Thursday and made his only bogey of the week on the 199-yard par-3 7th hole. His tee shot found the right bunker and he missed a par putt from inside 8 feet.

But Berger knows danger lurks throughout Bay Hill’s 7,466-yard layout, which ranked as the fifth-toughest course in 2025 among the PGA Tour’s annual stops. By the end of his round, Berger could sense what lay ahead.

“From yesterday to today you can already feel the difference,” he said. “It’s definitely not going to get easier. However many guys in the field, they all have the same challenge, so it’s fun.”

Three players trail Bhatia by a shot, including 2025 API runner-up Collin Morikawa. He followed an opening 66 with a 71 featuring three front-nine bogeys and just two overall birdies.

At 6 under and in sixth place is fan favorite Rickie Fowler, who had successive 69s to join Berger as the only golfers with two sub-70 rounds.

Defending champion Russell Henley and world No. 10 Xander Schauffele are 5 under. Eight shots would be a lot of ground to make up at most tour stops, but Bay Hill has a history of generating drama, heartbreak — if not outright chaos — on the weekend.

“You play a lot of defense,” Fowler said. “Greens are slick, firm, and it can get a little tricky with the wind. I was out of position a few times, did a good job of just managing and staying away from making any, too many bogeys or big numbers, which can happen pretty quickly out here.”