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Arnold Palmer Invitational

Golf tournament held in Bay Hill, Florida, US

Arnold Palmer Invitational

Golf tournament held in Bay Hill, Florida, US

FieldValue
nameArnold Palmer Invitational
imageArnold Palmer Invitational Logo.svg
locationBay Hill, Florida
establishment1966
courseBay Hill Club and Lodge
par72
yardage7466 yd
tourPGA Tour
formatStroke play
purse
month_playedMarch
aggregate264 Payne Stewart (1987)
to-par−23 Buddy Allin (1973)
current_championUSA Russell Henley
mapUSA#USA Florida
map_reliefyes
map_labelBay Hill
map_captionLocation in the United States##Location in Florida
coordinates

| to-par = −23 Buddy Allin (1973) 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.

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.

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.

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.

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

Invitational status

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 Invitational, RBC Heritage, the Charles Schwab Challenge, 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

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

  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

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.
  • 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.
  • 1971: Arnold Palmer wins the event eight years before he becomes its host. He beats Julius Boros by one shot.
  • 1973: Vietnam War veteran Buddy Allin shoots a tournament record 23 under par to breeze to an eight-shot victory over Charles Coody.
  • 1974: Jerry Heard becomes the tournament's first two-time winner. He beats Homero Blancas and Jim Jamieson by two shots.
  • 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. While speaking to the press on Sunday evening, Irwin blamed NBC Sports for there not being enough time to finish the playoff.
  • 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.
  • 1980: Dave Eichelberger wins by three shots over Leonard Thompson. The temperatures were so cold that Eichelberger wore pantyhose during the final round.
  • 1982: Tom Kite chips in for birdie on the first hole of a sudden death playoff to defeat Jack Nicklaus and Denis Watson.
  • 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.
  • 1985: Coming off back surgery less than six months previously, Fuzzy Zoeller wins at Bay Hill. He finishes two shots ahead of Tom Watson.
  • 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.
  • 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.
  • 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.
  • 1992: Fred Couples wins by nine shots over Gene Sauers. With his win, Couples becomes the #1 ranked player in the world.
  • 1995: Loren Roberts becomes the first returning champion to defend his title successfully. He beats Brad Faxon by two shots.
  • 1996: Paul Goydos wins for the first time on the PGA Tour. He beats Jeff Maggert by one shot and Tom Purtzer by two. 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.
  • 2000: Tiger Woods wins at Bay Hill for the first time. He beats Davis Love III by four shots.
  • 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.
  • 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.
  • 2008: Tiger Woods sinks a 25-foot birdie putt at the 72nd hole to defeat Bart Bryant by one shot. 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.
  • 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.
  • 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.
  • 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.

Course layout

Main article: Bay Hill Club and Lodge

Hole123456789Out101112131415161718InTotal
Yards4612314345903905551994604803,8004004385743702154675112214583,6547,454
Par434545344364454345343672

Source:

Winners

YearWinnerScoreTo parMargin of
victoryRunner(s)-upPurse
($)Winner's
share ($)Arnold Palmer InvitationalBay Hill InvitationalNestle InvitationalHertz Bay Hill ClassicBay Hill ClassicBay Hill Citrus ClassicFlorida Citrus OpenFlorida Citrus InvitationalFlorida Citrus Open Invitational
2025USA Russell Henley277−111 strokeUSA Collin Morikawa20,000,0004,000,000
2024USA Scottie Scheffler (2)273−155 strokesUSA Wyndham Clark20,000,0004,000,000
2023USA Kurt Kitayama279−91 strokeUSA Harris English
NIR Rory McIlroy20,000,0003,600,000
2022USA Scottie Scheffler283−51 strokeENG Tyrrell Hatton
USA Billy Horschel
NOR Viktor Hovland12,000,0002,160,000
2021USA Bryson DeChambeau277−111 strokeENG Lee Westwood9,300,0001,674,000
2020ENG Tyrrell Hatton284−41 strokeAUS Marc Leishman9,300,0001,674,000
2019ITA Francesco Molinari276−122 strokesENG Matt Fitzpatrick9,100,0001,638,000
2018NIR Rory McIlroy270−183 strokesUSA Bryson DeChambeau8,900,0001,602,000
2017AUS Marc Leishman277−111 strokeUSA Charley Hoffman
USA Kevin Kisner8,700,0001,566,000
2016AUS Jason Day271−171 strokeUSA Kevin Chappell6,300,0001,134,000
2015USA Matt Every (2)269−191 strokeSWE Henrik Stenson6,300,0001,134,000
2014USA Matt Every275−131 strokeUSA Keegan Bradley6,200,0001,116,000
2013USA Tiger Woods (8)275−132 strokesENG Justin Rose6,200,0001,116,000
2012USA Tiger Woods (7)275−135 strokesNIR Graeme McDowell6,000,0001,080,000
2011SCO Martin Laird280−81 strokeUSA Steve Marino6,000,0001,080,000
2010ZAF Ernie Els (2)277−112 strokesITA Edoardo Molinari
USA Kevin Na6,000,0001,080,000
2009USA Tiger Woods (6)275−51 strokeUSA Sean O'Hair6,000,0001,080,000
2008USA Tiger Woods (5)270−101 strokeUSA Bart Bryant5,800,0001,044,000
2007FIJ Vijay Singh272−82 strokesUSA Rocco Mediate5,500,000990,000
2006AUS Rod Pampling274−141 strokeENG Greg Owen5,500,000990,000
2005USA Kenny Perry276−122 strokesNIR Graeme McDowell
FJI Vijay Singh5,000,000900,000
2004USA Chad Campbell270−186 strokesAUS Stuart Appleby5,000,000900,000
2003USA Tiger Woods (4)269−1911 strokesUSA Stewart Cink
USA Brad Faxon
USA Kenny Perry
USA Kirk Triplett4,500,000810,000
2002USA Tiger Woods (3)275−134 strokesNZL Michael Campbell4,000,000720,000
2001USA Tiger Woods (2)273−151 strokeUSA Phil Mickelson3,500,000630,000
2000USA Tiger Woods270−184 strokesUSA Davis Love III3,000,000540,000
1999USA Tim Herron274−14PlayoffUSA Tom Lehman2,500,000450,000
1998ZAF Ernie Els274−144 strokesUSA Bob Estes
USA Jeff Maggert2,000,000360,000
1997USA Phil Mickelson272−163 strokesAUS Stuart Appleby1,500,000270,000
1996USA Paul Goydos275−131 strokeUSA Jeff Maggert1,200,000216,000
1995USA Loren Roberts (2)272−162 strokesUSA Brad Faxon1,200,000216,000
1994USA Loren Roberts275−131 strokeZWE Nick Price
FJI Vijay Singh
USA Fuzzy Zoeller1,200,000216,000
1993USA Ben Crenshaw280−82 strokesUSA Davis Love III
USA Rocco Mediate
FJI Vijay Singh1,000,000180,000
1992USA Fred Couples269−199 strokesUSA Gene Sauers1,000,000180,000
1991USA Andrew Magee203−132 strokesUSA Tom Sieckmann1,000,000180,000
1990USA Robert Gamez274−141 strokeAUS Greg Norman900,000162,000
1989USA Tom Kite (2)278−6PlayoffUSA Davis Love III800,000144,000
1988USA Paul Azinger271−135 strokesUSA Tom Kite750,000135,000
1987USA Payne Stewart264−203 strokesZAF David Frost600,000108,000
1986USA Dan Forsman202−111 strokeUSA Raymond Floyd
USA Mike Hulbert500,00090,000
1985USA Fuzzy Zoeller275−92 strokesUSA Tom Watson500,00090,000
1984USA Gary Koch (2)272−12PlayoffUSA George Burns400,00072,000
1983USA Mike Nicolette283−1PlayoffAUS Greg Norman350,00063,000
1982USA Tom Kite278−6PlayoffUSA Jack Nicklaus
ZWE Denis Watson300,00054,000
1981USA Andy Bean266−187 strokesUSA Tom Watson300,00054,000
1980USA Dave Eichelberger279−53 strokesUSA Leonard Thompson300,00054,000
1979USA Bob Byman278−6PlayoffUSA John Schroeder250,00045,000
1978USA Mac McLendon271−172 strokesAUS David Graham200,00040,000
1977USA Gary Koch274−142 strokesZAF Dale Hayes
USA Joe Inman200,00040,000
1976USA Hale Irwin270−18PlayoffUSA Kermit Zarley200,00040,000
1975USA Lee Trevino276−121 strokeUSA Hale Irwin200,00040,000
1974USA Jerry Heard (2)273−153 strokesUSA Homero Blancas
USA Jim Jamieson150,00030,000
1973USA Buddy Allin265−238 strokesUSA Charles Coody150,00030,000
1972USA Jerry Heard276−122 strokesUSA Bobby Mitchell150,00030,000
1971USA Arnold Palmer270−181 strokeUSA Julius Boros150,00030,000
1970USA Bob Lunn271−171 strokeUSA Arnold Palmer
AUS Bob Stanton150,00030,000
1969USA Ken Still278−101 strokeUSA Miller Barber115,00023,000
1968USA Dan Sikes274−141 strokeUSA Tom Weiskopf115,00023,000
1967USA Julius Boros274−101 strokeCAN George Knudson
USA Arnold Palmer115,00023,000
1966USA Lionel Hebert279−52 strokesUSA Charles Coody
USA Dick Lytle
USA Jack Nicklaus110,00021,000

Note: Green highlight indicates scoring records.

Sources:

Multiple winners

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

  • 8 wins
    • Tiger Woods: 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2008, 2009, 2012, 2013
  • 2 wins
    • Jerry Heard: 1972, 1974
    • Gary Koch: 1977, 1984
    • Tom Kite: 1982, 1989
    • Loren Roberts: 1994, 1995
    • Ernie Els: 1998, 2010
    • Matt Every: 2014, 2015
    • Scottie Scheffler: 2022, 2024

Notes

References

References

  1. (March 21, 2012). "MasterCard Extends Presenting Sponsorship of Arnold Palmer Invitational". MasterCard.com.
  2. (March 21, 2012). "MasterCard Extends Sponsorship". ArnoldPalmerInvitational.com.
  3. (June 3, 2014). "Boost to Arnie and Jack tourneys". ESPN.
  4. Auclair, T.J.. "Red cardigan sweater for Arnold Palmer Invitational winner revealed". PGA of America.
  5. "The Open Qualifying Series for 2019 launches with four new events".
  6. (October 5, 2015). "2015–16 PGA Tour Player Handbook & Tournament Regulations".
  7. [https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=Em5VAAAAIBAJ&sjid=_D4NAAAAIBAJ&pg=5528,1927222&dq=lionel+hebert+citrus+open&hl=en Hebert Discards Remedy, Wins Florida Citrus Open]
  8. [https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=nDBgAAAAIBAJ&sjid=pW8NAAAAIBAJ&pg=1662,2626212&dq=dan+sikes+citrus+open&hl=en Dan Sikes wins Citrus Open]
  9. [https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=ihpQAAAAIBAJ&sjid=U1UDAAAAIBAJ&pg=5781,3199681&dq=arnold+palmer+citrus+open&hl=en Palmer Cops Citrus Open]
  10. [https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=4wpgAAAAIBAJ&sjid=828NAAAAIBAJ&pg=6211,1077094&dq=buddy+allin+citrus+open&hl=en Allin Citrus Champ]
  11. [https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=QexIAAAAIBAJ&sjid=sIIMAAAAIBAJ&pg=1080,1600301&dq=jerry+heard+citrus+open&hl=en Jerry Heard regains winning touch, takes Citrus Open on 273 total]
  12. [https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=R-FNAAAAIBAJ&sjid=MosDAAAAIBAJ&pg=6734,870388&dq=hale+irwin+citrus+open&hl=en Citrus Open playoff won by Hale Irwin]
  13. [https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=LodPAAAAIBAJ&sjid=mgUEAAAAIBAJ&pg=5306,1854906&dq=hale+irwin+citrus+open&hl=en Irwin Raps TV For Late Start]
  14. [https://www.nytimes.com/1979/03/05/archives/byman-a-rookie-wins-golf-playoff-irwin-rogers-bean-just-miss.html Byman, a Rookie, Wins Golf Playoff]
  15. [https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=74AsAAAAIBAJ&sjid=1foDAAAAIBAJ&pg=1991,1178184&dq=dave+eichelberger+bay+hill&hl=en Eichelberger wins chilly Bay Hill]
  16. [https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=2BQ0AAAAIBAJ&sjid=WDIHAAAAIBAJ&pg=3972,313885&dq=dave+eichelberger+panty+hose&hl=en Golfers required panty hose]
  17. [https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=dW8dAAAAIBAJ&sjid=2CQEAAAAIBAJ&pg=5250,924569&dq=tom+kite+bay+hill&hl=en Kite wins Bay Hill Golf in three-man playoff]
  18. [https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=LNwtAAAAIBAJ&sjid=uDQDAAAAIBAJ&pg=5025,3312119&dq=gary+koch+bay+hill&hl=en Gary Koch wins Bay Hill playoff]
  19. [https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=rc4fAAAAIBAJ&sjid=_dgEAAAAIBAJ&pg=6656,4402497&dq=fuzzy+zoeller+bay+hill&hl=en Fuzzy Zoeller wins Bay Hill Classic]
  20. [https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=2Bc0AAAAIBAJ&sjid=qDIHAAAAIBAJ&pg=7031,1863483&dq=payne+stewart+bay+hill&hl=en Stewart wins Bay Hill by 3]
  21. White, Gordon S. Jr.. (March 13, 1989). "Kite Catches Love And Wins Playoff". [[The New York Times]].
  22. Anderson, Dave. (March 26, 1990). "Spectacular Eagle Wins for Gamez". [[The New York Times]].
  23. [https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=0ttRAAAAIBAJ&sjid=yW4DAAAAIBAJ&pg=3277,5882144&dq=fred+couples+bay+hill&hl=en 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]].
  25. [https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=5apNAAAAIBAJ&sjid=pfwDAAAAIBAJ&pg=4267,5185172&dq=paul+goydos+bay+hill&hl=en 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]].
  27. [https://www.nytimes.com/2000/03/20/sports/golf-woods-triumphs-again-leaving-love-in-awe.html Woods Triumphs Again, Leaving Love in Awe]
  28. [https://www.usatoday.com/sports/golf/pga/2003-03-23-bay-hill_x.htm Ailing Woods wins 4th straight Bay Hill by 11 strokes]
  29. [https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A52315-2005Mar20.html Perry Wins Bay Hill After Singh Suffers Rocky Finish]
  30. [http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/sports/glf/5624555.html Tiger birdies 18 for title]
  31. [http://uk.reuters.com/article/golf-pga-winner-idUKN2828454820090330 Golf-Woods overhauls O'Hair for comeback win at Bay Hill]{{dead link. (September 2024)
  32. Donegan, Lawrence. (March 26, 2012). "Tiger Woods ends PGA Tour drought with Arnold Palmer Invitational win". [[The Guardian]].
  33. Schmitz, Brian. (March 26, 2013). "Tiger Woods is back at No. 1 after winning Arnold Palmer Invitational". [[Los Angeles Times]].
  34. (22 March 2015). "Matt Every wins again at Bay Hill". ESPN.com.
  35. (21 March 2015). "Daniel Berger makes 2 on par 5". ESPN.com.
  36. (2013). "Course: Bay Hill Club". PGA Tour.
  37. [http://www.pgatour.com/tournaments/arnold-palmer-invitational-presented-by-mastercard/past-winners.html Arnold Palmer Invitational - Winners] - at www.pgatour.com
  38. link. (2011-07-16 - at www.golfobserver.com)
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