Last Sunday, Akshay Bhatia created history at the Arnold Palmer Invitational, winning his third PGA Tour title so far. The star golfer received the iconic red cardigan for his biggest win, which grabbed eyeballs from the fans.
On Sunday, March 9, Akshay Bhatia made a par on the extra hole to beat Daniel Berger in a thrilling playoff at Bay Hill. The ace golfer bagged an iconic trophy as well as a $4 million paycheck. Besides, he also received a traditional red alpaca cardigan made from Peruvian alpaca wool which he can keep with him permanently.
The tradition of gifting the red cardigan has been consistent since 2017 and Marc Leishman was the first player ever to receive the prestigious gift. The red sweater is inspired by Arnold Palmer’s classic cardigan, which he made popular during his playing days.
Palmer’s daughter, Amy Saunders collaborated with Full Turn Custom Apparel to carry the legend’s legacy.
“From my dad’s humble beginnings, how he presented himself was of paramount importance to him, a fact reflected in his consistently neat, clean personal look,” Amy Palmer Saunders stated in official website.
“I believe the AD Palmer collection, from our partner Full Turn, reflects my father’s own approach to style and to life, with quality craftsmanship and straightforward design. I know that he would be humbled by the commitment of the designers, artisans and many others who spend so much time attending to every detail, ensuring that his name and legacy are so fittingly honored.”
When will Akshay Bhatia tee off at the Players Championship?
Akshay Bhatia is paired with Brooks Koepka and Tony Finau for the opening two rounds of the Players Championship 2026. The trio will tee off on Thursday, March 12 from the tenth tee at 8:28 a.m. ET for the first round action.
This is Bhatia’s third appearance at TPC Sawgrass, and he had a T3 finish last year after missing the cut in his 2024 debut. Speaking of recent form, Bhatia has already claimed three top-six finishes after missing the weekend in his first two starts. This week, he is +4000 to lift the title on Sunday and will be hoping to continue his season’s success.
Here’s a look at the odds for the Players Championship 2026:
- Scottie Scheffler: +480
- Rory McIlroy: +1600
- Collin Morikawa: +1800
- Si Woo Kim: +2200
- Ludvig Åberg: +2200
- Tommy Fleetwood: +2700
- Russell Henley: +3000
- Xander Schauffele: +3000
- Matt Fitzpatrick: +3300
- Hideki Matsuyama: +3300
- Min Woo Lee: +3500
- Viktor Hovland: +3500
- Cameron Young: +3500
- Sepp Straka: +4000
- Akshay Bhatia: +4000
- Chris Gotterup: +4500
- Jake Knapp: +4500
- Rickie Fowler: +5000
- Robert MacIntyre: +5000