Arnold Palmer Invitational Leaderboard 2026: Daniel Berger Extends Lead Over Akshay Bhatia in Round 4
Round 4 of the Arnold Palmer Invitational presented by Mastercard is underway right now at Bay Hill Club and Lodge in Orlando, and Daniel Berger is pulling away. Berger, who entered the week as a longshot, has led wire to wire and is now playing the best golf of his career on one of the PGA Tour's most demanding courses.
Live Arnold Palmer Invitational Leaderboard — Round 4 Updates
Daniel Berger is at 15 under par through nine holes in Round 4, holding a four-stroke lead over Ludvig Åberg and Cameron Young. Collin Morikawa is at 10 under after a bogey on the short par-4 10th. Akshay Bhatia sits at 12 under after a water ball on the par-5 second hole dropped him three strokes behind Berger early in the round.
Berger made a sensational birdie on the par-5 4th, recovering brilliantly after driving into the creek — advancing his second shot 100 yards and still carding a circle on the scorecard. He then converted a 7-foot birdie on No. 9 to push to 15 under and four clear.
How Daniel Berger Built This Arnold Palmer Invitational Lead
Berger opened the tournament with a stunning 63 and led by five strokes after 36 holes. A torrential downpour caused over an hour delay on Saturday, and darkness ultimately suspended Round 3 before it could be completed. Berger finished the third round Sunday morning holding a 33-foot eagle putt on the par-5 16th, which he converted to move to 14 under before Bhatia closed to within one.
Berger leads the entire field in Strokes Gained: Approach, the single most important statistical category at Bay Hill. His iron play has been the defining factor separating him from an otherwise crowded leaderboard all week.
Akshay Bhatia's Charge Falls Short — For Now
Bhatia was brilliant late Saturday, birdying holes 15 and 16 to cut Berger's lead to two strokes entering the final 18. He said after the round that birdieing 15 was a bonus, but that 16 was a must given Berger's eagle opportunity waiting there. "It's fun to be in the hunt," Bhatia said.
The momentum evaporated quickly Sunday. Bhatia hit his second shot into the water on the par-5 second hole in Round 4, dropping a stroke and falling three behind Berger almost immediately. He trails by three as of the back nine.
McIlroy Withdraws, Scheffler Struggles — Big Names Absent From Sunday Hunt
Rory McIlroy withdrew from the Arnold Palmer Invitational with back spasms on Saturday. McIlroy had been riding momentum after a back-nine 32 on Friday and had an outside chance of contending. He returned to Jupiter, Florida, for treatment. His status for THE PLAYERS Championship next week — a title he is defending — remains uncertain.
Scottie Scheffler, the two-time Arnold Palmer Invitational champion in 2022 and 2024, enters the final round at T-21 after hovering around par all week. World No. 1 Scheffler has ranked near the bottom of the field in driving accuracy and has been far below his usual standard in iron play.
Arnold Palmer Invitational Prize Money and What Is At Stake
The total purse at the 2026 Arnold Palmer Invitational presented by Mastercard is $20 million, with $4 million going to the winner.
There have been different winners at 10 consecutive signature events since Scheffler won the 2024 Travelers Championship. The Arnold Palmer Invitational winner will add his name alongside Tiger Woods, Rory McIlroy, and other legends on the Bay Hill trophy.
How to Watch Round 4 of the Arnold Palmer Invitational
Full coverage of Round 4 at Bay Hill is available across Golf Channel and NBC. Streaming is available on Peacock and the PGA Tour app. Final pairings teed off this afternoon with Berger and Bhatia in the final group.
