"I told my sister I've been thinking about her for a long time after she passed and dedicated this one for her," Bhatia, 24, said while speaking with reporters
Credit: Orlando Ramirez/Getty; Akshay Bhatia/instagram
NEED TO KNOW
- Akshay Bhatia secured his third PGA Tour win at the Arnold Palmer Invitational
- Bhatia dedicated the victory to his late niece Mia, who passed away in December 2025 at just 5 years old
- He noticed a rainbow during the final hole, which he said reminded him of Mia
Akshay Bhatia had a guardian angel looking over him on Sunday.
The 24-year-old golfer won the Arnold Palmer Invitational in a dramatic playoff over Daniel Berger, securing his third career win on the PGA Tour.
But Bhatia wasn't alone as he capped off another career milestone: He had his late niece Mia by his side.
Credit: Orlando Ramirez/Getty
While speaking with reporters following the event, the athlete recalled noticing a rainbow during the event at Bay Hill Club in Orlando, Fla.
“I had my niece definitely watching over me, who passed away in December, and I thought when I saw that rainbow on 18, it reminded me of her,” Bhatia said.
"So, it was really cool, just a special moment for us," he continued. "Can’t wait to celebrate."
According to the Gold Channel, five-year-old Mia died in December 2025, after her journey with pyruvate dehydrogenase complex deficiency (PDCD).
The National Organization for Rare Disorders describes it as a "rare disorder of carbohydrate metabolism caused by a deficiency of one of the three enzymes in the pyruvate dehydrogenase complex (PDC)."
The organization explains that "individuals with PDCD symptom onset in the prenatal period or in infancy usually die in early childhood."
"She was a fighter for a long time," said Bhatia. "She wasn’t supposed to make it past a year old."
The athlete candidly recalled Mia traveling for his and wife Presleigh's nuptials in December 2025.
"It was the day of our wedding, she passed away," he said. "She didn't make it."
“We tried everything and had a great support system, but there are so many cool things about that week," said Bhatia. "She stayed in the house where we got married. It was called Heaven on Earth."
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"She loved the sand, she got to see everyone,” continued Bhatia. "I told my sister I've been thinking about her for a long time after she passed and dedicated this one for her.”
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