In this week’s “The Starter,” PGA professional Brendon Elliott, a three-decade industry veteran, gives his thoughts on the week that was in golf for R.org. Akshay Bhatia mounts an Arnold Palmer-worthy comeback to win at Bay Hill in a playoff. Ricky Castillo captures his first PGA TOUR title in Puerto Rico. Zach Johnson wins in his PGA TOUR Champions debut. And Mi Hyang Lee ends a lengthy drought at the Blue Bay LPGA.

PGA TOUR: Bhatia Charges to Victory at Bay Hill

The Winning Moment

Akshay Bhatia started the back nine five shots behind Daniel Berger at the Arnold Palmer Invitational presented by Mastercard. The 24-year-old closed with 3-under 69 to finish at 15-under 273, matching Berger and winning with a par on the first playoff hole. It marked his third PGA TOUR victory and moved him into the top 20 in the world.

The Back Nine Charge

Bhatia ran off four straight birdies starting at the 10th, including one from just inside 60 feet on the 11th. At the 13th, Bhatia holed a 10-foot birdie while Berger had a plugged bunker lie and made bogey, cutting the lead to one.

The par-5 16th turned electric. Bhatia’s 6-iron nearly went in, setting up a 3-foot eagle. “Joe said, Just try to hit the best 6-iron of your life,” Bhatia said of caddie Joe Greiner. Berger made birdie to stay one ahead.

Berger lost the lead, missing a 7-foot par putt on the 17th, but got into the playoff with an up-and-down from 70 yards on 18.

The Playoff

They finished at 15-under 273, the first Bay Hill playoff since 1999.

Berger pulled his drive and hit a 6-iron to the front edge, 106 feet away. He rolled that to 7 feet but missed the par putt.

Bhatia two-putted from just inside 30 feet for the win and the $4 million prize.

A Personal Dedication

Bhatia dedicated the win to his niece Mia, who passed away in December at age five. She was diagnosed with a rare disease and wasn’t supposed to make it past a year old.

“It was the day of our wedding she passed away,” Bhatia said. “She stayed in a house where we got married, it was called Heaven on Earth.”

When a rainbow appeared on the 18th green during the trophy ceremony, Bhatia saw it as a sign. “I saw that rainbow on 18, it reminded me of her.”

Other Notable Performances

Berger earned a spot in The Open Championship and moved into the top 40 in the world. His consolation prize included $2.2 million. Cameron Young played bogey-free for a 69 and tied for third with Ludvig Åberg (67). Scottie Scheffler took another double bogey on 18 for a 73 and tied for 24th, the first time since the U.S. Open last year that he failed to break 70 at a tournament.

PGA TOUR: Castillo Wins First Title in Puerto Rico

A Breakthrough Victory

Ricky Castillo made back-to-back birdies after 18-year-old Blades Brown came undone, closing with 5-under 67 to win the Puerto Rico Open for his first PGA TOUR title.

Brown, trying to become the youngest PGA TOUR winner in 95 years, had a one-shot lead with six holes to play when he made triple bogey on the 13th.

Castillo holed a 12-foot birdie on the 13th and pitched to 5 feet for birdie on the 14th.

The Deciding Moment

Brown drove into a fairway bunker on the 13th, and his approach drifted into the water. He took his drop, got too aggressive with a wedge, and the ball trickled over the green. He chipped to 7 feet and missed, taking triple bogey.

Castillo finished at 17-under 271, one shot ahead of Chandler Blanchet (67). Brown birdied his last hole for a 69 to finish third, his first top 10 on the PGA TOUR.

A Silver Lining

Castillo narrowly missed getting into Bay Hill by 11 FedExCup points. He headed to Puerto Rico, played bogey-free in the final round at Grand Reserve, and earned his way into his first major as a pro.

“It’s really cool to be able to win my first event,” Castillo said. “I felt like I wanted to be in Bay Hill and I decided to just come out here and play this and ended up winning, so it all works out in the end.”

The victory gets him into the PGA Championship. He already was eligible for THE PLAYERS Championship next week.

The 25-year-old University of Florida product turned professional in 2023 and owns one Korn Ferry Tour victory. He becomes the second first-time winner on TOUR this season and the 12th player to earn their first win at the Puerto Rico Open.

Other Notable Performances

John Daly II, the 22-year-old son of two-time major champion John Daly, started three shots behind but fell back with five bogeys in seven holes on the back nine and shot 74. Brown earned his spot in the Valspar Championship at Innisbrook with his first top 10.

PGA TOUR Champions: Johnson Wins Champions Debut

Historic Start

Zach Johnson cruised to a four-stroke victory at the James Hardie Pro Football Hall of Fame Invitational to become the 22nd player to win his PGA TOUR Champions debut.

The 50-year-old closed with 69 to finish at 11-under 205. He becomes the fourth-youngest winner in PGA TOUR Champions history at 50 years, 12 days.

Johnson snapped a winless streak of 10 years, 7 months, 16 days dating to the 2015 Open Championship. He becomes the 24th player to win on the PGA TOUR, PGA TOUR Champions, and Korn Ferry Tour.

Converting the Lead

Johnson entered the final round with a one-stroke lead over George McNeill and Steve Allan.

“I’m in somewhat in awe, certainly honored and humbled,” Johnson said. “Just grateful that I’ve got an ensemble of individuals that allow me to do what I do.”

This is the largest margin of victory on PGA TOUR Champions since the 2025 Simmons Bank Championship when Steven Alker won by seven strokes.

Other Notable Performances

Stewart Cink, seeking his third consecutive win, closed with 70 to finish tied for second at 7-under. The reigning Charles Schwab Cup winner remains atop the 2026 standings. George McNeill closed with 72 to finish tied for second. He has finished top 5 in both starts on PGA TOUR Champions. Padraig Harrington carded the low round with a bogey-free 65 to finish at 6-under after opening with 7-over 79.

LPGA Tour: Lee Ends Drought at Blue Bay

A Dramatic Finish

Mi Hyang Lee earned her third LPGA Tour victory at the Blue Bay LPGA, ending a drought of 3,143 days since her 2017 ISPS HANDA Women’s Scottish Open win.

Lee shot 1-over 73 in the final round to finish at 11-under 277, one shot clear of Weiwei Zhang. She birdied the 18th to win after a roller-coaster final round with two double bogeys on the front nine.

“Was first hole make birdie, but like two double front nine and then finish 4-over so was almost give up, but my caddie just kept telling me keep fighting, fighting,” Lee said.

The Comeback

Lee made five birdies, two bogeys and two double bogeys in the final round. She hit 7 of 14 fairways, 11 of 18 greens and had 27 putts. She shot a bogey-free 33 on the back nine.

This is her second time converting a 54-hole lead into a win. The last time was at the 2014 TOTO Japan Classic.

Lee’s approach on 18 from 75 yards proved decisive. She used a 58-degree wedge, landing it at 65 yards and spinning it to within a few feet.

Playing Through Injury

Lee revealed she has been dealing with a shoulder injury and only started playing golf on February 1. This was her third week back.

“My doctor told me yesterday just keep doing it and because he said he can fix it,” Lee said. “I just started golf February first, so this is my only one month to play golf. But that’s why just I cannot believe I’m winning this trophy.”

Other Notable Performances

Weiwei Zhang finished at 278 after carding 3-under 69. She moved to No. 8 in the Race to CME Globe. Auston Kim and Aditi Ashok tied for third at 280. Kim shot 1-under 71 and moves to No. 3 in the Race to CME Globe, her second top 3 result in two weeks. Amateur Yujie Liu from the People’s Republic of China finished 3-under, the only amateur to make the cut, earning a LEAP point with her tied for 12th finish.