Arnold Palmer Invitational

The Arnold Palmer Invitational is a professional golf tournament on the PGA Tour. It is played each March at the Bay Hill Club and Lodge, a private golf resort owned since 1974 by Arnold Palmer in Bay Hill, a suburb southwest of Orlando, Florida.

Arnold Palmer Invitational
Tournament information
LocationBay Hill, Florida
Established1966
Course(s)Bay Hill Club and Lodge
Par72
Length7,466 yards (6,827 m)
Tour(s)PGA Tour
FormatStroke play
Prize fundUS$20,000,000
Month playedMarch
Tournament record score
Aggregate264 Payne Stewart (1987)
To par−23 Buddy Allin (1973)
Current champion
United States Scottie Scheffler
Location map
Bay Hill is located in the United States
Bay Hill
Bay Hill
Location in the United States
Bay Hill is located in Florida
Bay Hill
Bay Hill
Location in Florida

The event was founded in 1979 as a successor to the Florida Citrus Open Invitational, which debuted in 1966 and was played at Rio Pinar Country Club, east of Orlando, through 1978. Arnold Palmer won the Florida Citrus Open in 1971.

Since 1979, the tournament title has had several different names, most of them including "Bay Hill," but has played under the Palmer name since 2007. On March 21, 2012, the Arnold Palmer Invitational and MasterCard Worldwide announced an extension to MasterCard's "Presented by" sponsorship until the 2016 tournament.[1][2]

In June 2014, the PGA Tour approved a resolution to grant the winner a three-year exemption, one more than regular Tour events and on par with winners of the World Golf Championships, The Tour Championship, and the Memorial Tournament.[3]

The winner receives a red cardigan sweater in memory of Arnold Palmer, a tradition that began with the 2017 tournament after Palmer's death in 2016.[4]

In 2019, the event was added to the Open Qualifying Series, giving up to three non-exempt players entry into The Open Championship.[5]

Invitational status

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The Arnold Palmer Invitational is one of only five tournaments given "invitational" status by the PGA Tour. Consequently, it has a reduced field of only 69 players in 2024 (as compared to most full-field open tournaments with fields of 144 or 156 players). The other four tournaments with invitational status are the Genesis Open, RBC Heritage, the Fort Worth Invitational, and the Memorial Tournament. Invitational tournaments have smaller fields (between 69 and 132 players) and have more freedom than full-field open tournaments in determining which players are eligible to participate in their event, as invitational tournaments are not required to fill their fields using the PGA Tour Priority Ranking System. Furthermore, unlike full-field open tournaments, invitational tournaments do not offer open qualifying (aka Monday qualifying).

Field

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The field consists of 120 players invited using the following criteria:[6]

  1. Arnold Palmer Invitational winners before 2000 and in the last five years
  2. The Players Championship and major championship winners in the last five years
  3. The Tour Championship, World Golf Championships, and Memorial Tournament winners in the past three years
  4. Tournament winners in the past year
  5. Playing member of last-named U.S. Ryder Cup team; current PGA Tour members who were playing members on last named European Ryder Cup team, U.S. Presidents Cup team, and International Presidents Cup team
  6. Prior year U.S. Amateur winner (if still an amateur)
  7. Top 50 Official World Golf Ranking (as of Friday prior)
  8. PGA Tour life members
  9. 18 sponsors exemptions– two from Web.com Tour finals, eight members not otherwise exempt, and eight unrestricted
  10. Up to two foreign players designated by the commissioner
  11. Top 70 from prior year's FedEx Cup points list
  12. Members in the top 125 non-member category whose prior year non-WGC points equal or exceed the 70th position on the prior year FedEx Cup points list
  13. Top 70 from current year's FedEx Cup points list (as of Friday prior)
  14. PGA Section (North Florida) champion/player of the year
  15. Remaining positions filled from the current year's FedEx Cup points list

Arnold Palmer had a lifetime invitation.

Tournament highlights

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Tyrrell Hatton with the trophy after winning in 2020.
  • 1966: Lionel Hebert wins the inaugural version of the tournament. He wins by two shots over Jack Nicklaus, Charles Coody, and Dick Lytle.[7]
  • 1968: Dan Sikes breaks out of a 5-way logjam to win by one shot over Tom Weiskopf. At the end of 54 holes, Sikes had been tied for the lead with Jack Nicklaus, Bruce Devlin, Miller Barber, and Bob Charles. Officials said this was the first time there had ever been a five-way tie for the lead after 54 holes at a PGA event.[8]
  • 1971: Arnold Palmer wins the event eight years before he becomes its host. He beats Julius Boros by one shot.[9]
  • 1973: Vietnam War veteran Buddy Allin shoots a tournament record 23 under par to breeze to an eight-shot victory over Charles Coody.[10]
  • 1974: Jerry Heard becomes the tournament's first two-time winner. He beats Homero Blancas and Jim Jamieson by two shots.[11]
  • 1976: Early on a Monday morning, Hale Irwin defeats Kermit Zarley on the sixth hole of a sudden death playoff after play was suspended due to darkness on Sunday.[12] While speaking to the press on Sunday evening, Irwin blamed NBC Sports for there not being enough time to finish the playoff.[13]
  • 1979: Bob Byman wins the tournament's first edition to be played at Bay Hill. He defeats John Schroeder on the second hole of a sudden death playoff.[14]
  • 1980: Dave Eichelberger wins by three shots over Leonard Thompson.[15] The temperatures were so cold that Eichelberger wore pantyhose during the final round.[16]
  • 1982: Tom Kite chips in for birdie on the first hole of a sudden death playoff to defeat Jack Nicklaus and Denis Watson.[17]
  • 1984: Gary Koch shoots a final round 63 before defeating George Burns on the second hole of a sudden death playoff. Koch is the only champion in the tournament's history to win both at Rio Pinar and Bay Hill.[18]
  • 1985: Coming off back surgery less than six months previously, Fuzzy Zoeller wins at Bay Hill. He finishes two shots ahead of Tom Watson.[19]
  • 1987: Payne Stewart, who owned a home just off Bay Hill's 12th tee, notches his third career PGA Tour title. He beats David Frost by three shots.[20]
  • 1989: Tom Kite wins for a second time at Bay Hill by defeating Davis Love III on the second hole of a sudden death playoff. Before the playoff, Kite and Love made a double bogey on the tournament's 72nd hole.[21]
  • 1990: Robert Gamez holes a 7-iron on the 72nd hole for an eagle two allowing him to win by one shot over Greg Norman.[22]
  • 1992: Fred Couples wins by nine shots over Gene Sauers. With his win, Couples becomes the #1 ranked player in the world.[23]
  • 1995: Loren Roberts becomes the first returning champion to defend his title successfully. He beats Brad Faxon by two shots.[24]
  • 1996: Paul Goydos wins for the first time on the PGA Tour. He beats Jeff Maggert by one shot and Tom Purtzer by two.[25] During the tournament's second round, Purtzer incurred a two-shot penalty by playing the wrong ball.
  • 1998: During the tournament's final round, John Daly hit six balls in the water on the sixth hole. He finishes the hole with a final score of 18.[26]
  • 2000: Tiger Woods wins at Bay Hill for the first time. He beats Davis Love III by four shots.[27]
  • 2003: Tiger Woods becomes the first golfer since Gene Sarazen at the 1930 Miami Open to win the same tournament in four consecutive years. He wins by 11 shots over Kirk Triplett, Stewart Cink, Kenny Perry, and Brad Faxon.[28]
  • 2005: Kenny Perry wins by two shots over Vijay Singh and Graeme McDowell. Perry and Singh were tied for the lead until Singh made a double bogey at the 72nd hole.[29]
  • 2008: Tiger Woods sinks a 25-foot birdie putt at the 72nd hole to defeat Bart Bryant by one shot.[30] It's Wood's fifth Bay Hill triumph in addition to his winning the fifth consecutive tournament he had played in.
  • 2009: Tiger Woods wins at Bay Hill for the 2nd straight year and sixth time overall. He birdies the 72nd hole to defeat Sean O'Hair by one shot.[31]
  • 2012: Tiger Woods wins the Arnold Palmer Invitational for the seventh time, ending a winless streak on the PGA Tour dating back 27 events to September 13, 2009.[32]
  • 2013: Tiger Woods wins for a record-tying eighth time at the Arnold Palmer Invitational while holing three eagles during the week, the first time a player has accomplished the feat since 2001; he ascends to the number 1 ranking for the first time since October 2010.[33]
  • 2014: With world number one Woods out of the tournament, the focus was on world number two Adam Scott. Scott led the first three rounds, but struggled in the fourth round, finishing third behind Keegan Bradley and first-time PGA Tour winner Matt Every.
  • 2015: Matt Every holed an 18-foot birdie putt on the 72nd hole to beat Henrik Stenson by one shot and become the third golfer to defend his title at the Arnold Palmer Invitational. In the third round, Daniel Berger recorded a double eagle at the par-5 6th hole, the first since the tournament moved to Bay Hill in 1979. Zach Johnson repeated the feat in the final round on the par-5 16th.[34][35]

Course layout

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Hole123456789Out101112131415161718InTotal
Yards4612314345903905551994604803,8004004385743702154675112214583,6547,454
Par434545344364454345343672

Source:[36]

Winners

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YearWinnerScoreTo parMargin of
victory
Runner(s)-upPurse
($)
Winner's
share ($)
Arnold Palmer Invitational
2024 Scottie Scheffler (2)273−155 strokes Wyndham Clark20,000,0004,000,000
2023 Kurt Kitayama279−91 stroke Harris English
Rory McIlroy
20,000,0003,600,000
2022 Scottie Scheffler283−51 stroke Tyrrell Hatton
Billy Horschel
Viktor Hovland
12,000,0002,160,000
2021 Bryson DeChambeau277−111 stroke Lee Westwood9,300,0001,674,000
2020 Tyrrell Hatton284−41 stroke Marc Leishman9,300,0001,674,000
2019 Francesco Molinari276−122 strokes Matt Fitzpatrick9,100,0001,638,000
2018 Rory McIlroy270−183 strokes Bryson DeChambeau8,900,0001,602,000
2017 Marc Leishman277−111 stroke Charley Hoffman
Kevin Kisner
8,700,0001,566,000
2016 Jason Day271−171 stroke Kevin Chappell6,300,0001,134,000
2015 Matt Every (2)269−191 stroke Henrik Stenson6,300,0001,134,000
2014 Matt Every275−131 stroke Keegan Bradley6,200,0001,116,000
2013 Tiger Woods (8)275−132 strokes Justin Rose6,200,0001,116,000
2012 Tiger Woods (7)275−135 strokes Graeme McDowell6,000,0001,080,000
2011 Martin Laird280−81 stroke Steve Marino6,000,0001,080,000
2010 Ernie Els (2)277−112 strokes Edoardo Molinari
Kevin Na
6,000,0001,080,000
2009 Tiger Woods (6)275−51 stroke Sean O'Hair6,000,0001,080,000
2008 Tiger Woods (5)270−101 stroke Bart Bryant5,800,0001,044,000
2007 Vijay Singh272−82 strokes Rocco Mediate5,500,000990,000
Bay Hill Invitational
2006 Rod Pampling274−141 stroke Greg Owen5,500,000990,000
2005 Kenny Perry276−122 strokes Graeme McDowell
Vijay Singh
5,000,000900,000
2004 Chad Campbell270−186 strokes Stuart Appleby5,000,000900,000
2003 Tiger Woods (4)269−1911 strokes Stewart Cink
Brad Faxon
Kenny Perry
Kirk Triplett
4,500,000810,000
2002 Tiger Woods (3)275−134 strokes Michael Campbell4,000,000720,000
2001 Tiger Woods (2)273−151 stroke Phil Mickelson3,500,000630,000
2000 Tiger Woods270−184 strokes Davis Love III3,000,000540,000
1999 Tim Herron274−14Playoff Tom Lehman2,500,000450,000
1998 Ernie Els274−144 strokes Bob Estes
Jeff Maggert
2,000,000360,000
1997 Phil Mickelson272−163 strokes Stuart Appleby1,500,000270,000
1996 Paul Goydos275−131 stroke Jeff Maggert1,200,000216,000
Nestle Invitational
1995 Loren Roberts (2)272−162 strokes Brad Faxon1,200,000216,000
1994 Loren Roberts275−131 stroke Nick Price
Vijay Singh
Fuzzy Zoeller
1,200,000216,000
1993 Ben Crenshaw280−82 strokes Davis Love III
Rocco Mediate
Vijay Singh
1,000,000180,000
1992 Fred Couples269−199 strokes Gene Sauers1,000,000180,000
1991 Andrew Magee203[a]−132 strokes Tom Sieckmann1,000,000180,000
1990 Robert Gamez274−141 stroke Greg Norman900,000162,000
1989 Tom Kite (2)278−6Playoff Davis Love III800,000144,000
Hertz Bay Hill Classic
1988 Paul Azinger271−135 strokes Tom Kite750,000135,000
1987 Payne Stewart264−203 strokes David Frost600,000108,000
1986 Dan Forsman202[a]−111 stroke Raymond Floyd
Mike Hulbert
500,00090,000
1985 Fuzzy Zoeller275−92 strokes Tom Watson500,00090,000
Bay Hill Classic
1984 Gary Koch (2)272−12Playoff George Burns400,00072,000
1983 Mike Nicolette283−1Playoff Greg Norman350,00063,000
1982 Tom Kite278−6Playoff Jack Nicklaus
Denis Watson
300,00054,000
1981 Andy Bean266−187 strokes Tom Watson300,00054,000
1980 Dave Eichelberger279−53 strokes Leonard Thompson300,00054,000
Bay Hill Citrus Classic
1979 Bob Byman278−6Playoff John Schroeder250,00045,000
Florida Citrus Open
1978 Mac McLendon271−172 strokes David Graham200,00040,000
1977 Gary Koch274−142 strokes Dale Hayes
Joe Inman
200,00040,000
1976 Hale Irwin270−18Playoff Kermit Zarley200,00040,000
1975 Lee Trevino276−121 stroke Hale Irwin200,00040,000
1974 Jerry Heard (2)273−153 strokes Homero Blancas
Jim Jamieson
150,00030,000
1973 Buddy Allin265−238 strokes Charles Coody150,00030,000
1972 Jerry Heard276−122 strokes Bobby Mitchell150,00030,000
Florida Citrus Invitational
1971 Arnold Palmer270−181 stroke Julius Boros150,00030,000
1970 Bob Lunn271−171 stroke Arnold Palmer
Bob Stanton
150,00030,000
Florida Citrus Open Invitational
1969 Ken Still278−101 stroke Miller Barber115,00023,000
1968 Dan Sikes274−141 stroke Tom Weiskopf115,00023,000
1967 Julius Boros274−101 stroke George Knudson
Arnold Palmer
115,00023,000
1966 Lionel Hebert279−52 strokes Charles Coody
Dick Lytle
Jack Nicklaus
110,00021,000

Note: Green highlight indicates scoring records.
Sources:[37][38]

Multiple winners

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Eight men have won this tournament more than once through 2024.

Notes

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  1. ^ a b Shortened to 54 holes due to rain.

References

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  1. ^ "MasterCard Extends Presenting Sponsorship of Arnold Palmer Invitational". MasterCard.com (Press release). March 21, 2012. Retrieved March 26, 2012.
  2. ^ "MasterCard Extends Sponsorship". ArnoldPalmerInvitational.com. March 21, 2012. Archived from the original on April 7, 2012. Retrieved March 26, 2012.
  3. ^ "Boost to Arnie and Jack tourneys". ESPN. Associated Press. June 3, 2014.
  4. ^ Auclair, T.J. "Red cardigan sweater for Arnold Palmer Invitational winner revealed". PGA of America. Retrieved November 8, 2018.
  5. ^ "The Open Qualifying Series for 2019 launches with four new events". theopen.com. Archived from the original on January 22, 2019. Retrieved November 7, 2018.
  6. ^ "2015–16 PGA Tour Player Handbook & Tournament Regulations" (PDF). October 5, 2015. Archived from the original (PDF) on April 12, 2016.
  7. ^ Hebert Discards Remedy, Wins Florida Citrus Open
  8. ^ Dan Sikes wins Citrus Open
  9. ^ Palmer Cops Citrus Open
  10. ^ Allin Citrus Champ
  11. ^ Jerry Heard regains winning touch, takes Citrus Open on 273 total
  12. ^ Citrus Open playoff won by Hale Irwin
  13. ^ Irwin Raps TV For Late Start
  14. ^ Byman, a Rookie, Wins Golf Playoff
  15. ^ Eichelberger wins chilly Bay Hill
  16. ^ Golfers required panty hose
  17. ^ Kite wins Bay Hill Golf in three-man playoff
  18. ^ Gary Koch wins Bay Hill playoff
  19. ^ Fuzzy Zoeller wins Bay Hill Classic
  20. ^ Stewart wins Bay Hill by 3
  21. ^ White, Gordon S. Jr. (March 13, 1989). "Kite Catches Love And Wins Playoff". The New York Times. Archived from the original on 2019-08-23.
  22. ^ Anderson, Dave (March 26, 1990). "Spectacular Eagle Wins for Gamez". The New York Times. Archived from the original on 2020-10-14.
  23. ^ Sizzling Couples coasts by 9 shots in Nestle laugher
  24. ^ Dorman, Larry (March 20, 1995). "Roberts and Bay Hill Links Seem Made for Each Other (Published 1995)". The New York Times. Archived from the original on 2020-10-14.
  25. ^ Goydos fires 67 to capture Bay Hill
  26. ^ Brown, Clifton (March 23, 1998). "Six In Lake Give Daly an 18 (Published 1998)". The New York Times. Archived from the original on 2023-06-06.
  27. ^ Woods Triumphs Again, Leaving Love in Awe
  28. ^ Ailing Woods wins 4th straight Bay Hill by 11 strokes
  29. ^ Perry Wins Bay Hill After Singh Suffers Rocky Finish
  30. ^ Tiger birdies 18 for title
  31. ^ Golf-Woods overhauls O'Hair for comeback win at Bay Hill
  32. ^ Donegan, Lawrence (March 26, 2012). "Tiger Woods ends PGA Tour drought with Arnold Palmer Invitational win". The Guardian. Retrieved March 28, 2013.
  33. ^ Schmitz, Brian (March 26, 2013). "Tiger Woods is back at No. 1 after winning Arnold Palmer Invitational". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved March 28, 2013.
  34. ^ "Matt Every wins again at Bay Hill". ESPN.com. 22 March 2015. Retrieved March 22, 2015.
  35. ^ "Daniel Berger makes 2 on par 5". ESPN.com. 21 March 2015. Retrieved March 22, 2015.
  36. ^ "Course: Bay Hill Club". PGA Tour. 2013. Retrieved March 27, 2013.
  37. ^ Arnold Palmer Invitational - Winners - at www.pgatour.com
  38. ^ Arnold Palmer Invitational - Winners Archived 2011-07-16 at the Wayback Machine - at www.golfobserver.com
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