An emotional Akshay Bhatia fought back tears as he revealed the tragic death of his niece Mia inspired him to a PGA Tour victory at the Arnold Palmer Invitational. Bhatia had not won on tour for nearly two years when he sealed the $4 million first prize in a playoff with Daniel Berger at Bay Hill, Florida on Sunday night.
Emotional Victory on the Green
He was joined on the 18th green by his wife Presleigh, where the pair shared a heartfelt embrace before he revealed his emotional news in an interview with NBC. Speaking to reporter Cara Banks, he said: 'My niece passed away in December, and so I knew she was looking over me this year. You know, I made this win for her, for sure.'
Family Support and Personal Tragedy
Bhatia's parents were also at the side of the green watching their son, whose victory also marked his first in a PGA Tour signature event, just days out from one of the season's biggest tournaments - the Players Championship. Bhatia's reference to his niece appears to be Mia, whom he posted about on his Instagram page back in December.
In December, Bhatia posted to Instagram to reveal the tragic news of his niece Mia's death. It is unclear how Mia died and Bhatia's family have not spoken publicly about the heartbreak. Alongside two photos of them together, he wrote: 'Miss Mia had the best hair, the best smile, and was one of the strongest kids I know.'
He continued: 'I will cherish her and play for her every single day. She meant the world to us and showed so much resilience each and every day. Fly high. I love you.' He then added an angel and love heart emoji, and the date of her death: December 13. No further details are known about how she died.
Family Background and Golf Beginnings
It is also unclear which side of the family Mia is from, though Akshay only has one sibling, his elder sister Rhea. In an interview with the Raleigh News and Observer, Akshay's father Sonny revealed that his love of golf began with Rhea, who is four years older than him.
'He wanted to play really badly at first but was too young,' he revealed. 'I said, "Watch your sister and your time will come." They’ve both been playing golf ever since. Both love golf.'
Historic Win and Future Prospects
On Sunday, in his interview with NBC, Bhatia added: 'This event, to win for Mr Palmer, for what he's done for this community, for this tournament. Everyone knows that when you show up to Bay Hill it's going to be a test, to play one of the hardest golf courses and succeed is really cool, and I can't thank the tournament enough, can't thank Calloway enough.'
Bhatia's big win also earned him a huge $4 million prize as he heads into next week's Players Championship. Bhatia beat fellow American Daniel Berger on the first playoff hole at Bay Hill in Orlando, Florida.
Career Milestones and Playoff Success
Bhatia's first two tournament wins on the PGA Tour came at the Barracuda Championship in July 2023 and the Valero Texas Open in April 2024. All three of his victories have been narrow and via a playoff, and Sunday's win came after a Sunday comeback from two shots back.
This victory not only marks a significant personal achievement for Bhatia but also highlights his resilience and dedication to honoring his niece's memory through his sport. The emotional dedication adds a profound layer to what is already a remarkable athletic accomplishment.
