Arnold Palmer Invitational

Template:Short description Template:Infobox golf tournament 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.<ref>Template:Cite press release</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

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.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

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.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

In 2019, the event was added to the Open Qualifying Series, giving up to three non-exempt players entry into The Open Championship.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

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:<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

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

File:Tyrrell Hatton.jpg

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.<ref>Hebert Discards Remedy, Wins Florida Citrus Open</ref>
• 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.<ref>Dan Sikes wins Citrus Open</ref>
• 1971: Arnold Palmer wins the event eight years before he becomes its host. He beats Julius Boros by one shot.<ref>Palmer Cops Citrus Open</ref>
• 1973: Vietnam War veteran Buddy Allin shoots a tournament record 23 under par to breeze to an eight-shot victory over Charles Coody.<ref>Allin Citrus Champ</ref>
• 1974: Jerry Heard becomes the tournament's first two-time winner. He beats Homero Blancas and Jim Jamieson by two shots.<ref>Jerry Heard regains winning touch, takes Citrus Open on 273 total</ref>
• 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.<ref>Citrus Open playoff won by Hale Irwin</ref> While speaking to the press on Sunday evening, Irwin blamed NBC Sports for there not being enough time to finish the playoff.<ref>Irwin Raps TV For Late Start</ref>
• 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.<ref>Byman, a Rookie, Wins Golf Playoff</ref>
• 1980: Dave Eichelberger wins by three shots over Leonard Thompson.<ref>Eichelberger wins chilly Bay Hill</ref> The temperatures were so cold that Eichelberger wore pantyhose during the final round.<ref>Golfers required panty hose</ref>
• 1982: Tom Kite chips in for birdie on the first hole of a sudden death playoff to defeat Jack Nicklaus and Denis Watson.<ref>Kite wins Bay Hill Golf in three-man playoff</ref>
• 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.<ref>Gary Koch wins Bay Hill playoff</ref>
• 1985: Coming off back surgery less than six months previously, Fuzzy Zoeller wins at Bay Hill. He finishes two shots ahead of Tom Watson.<ref>Fuzzy Zoeller wins Bay Hill Classic</ref>
• 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.<ref>Stewart wins Bay Hill by 3</ref>
• 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.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
• 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.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
• 1992: Fred Couples wins by nine shots over Gene Sauers. With his win, Couples becomes the #1 ranked player in the world.<ref>Sizzling Couples coasts by 9 shots in Nestle laugher</ref>
• 1995: Loren Roberts becomes the first returning champion to defend his title successfully. He beats Brad Faxon by two shots.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
• 1996: Paul Goydos wins for the first time on the PGA Tour. He beats Jeff Maggert by one shot and Tom Purtzer by two.<ref>Goydos fires 67 to capture Bay Hill</ref> 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.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
• 2000: Tiger Woods wins at Bay Hill for the first time. He beats Davis Love III by four shots.<ref>Woods Triumphs Again, Leaving Love in Awe</ref>
• 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.<ref>Ailing Woods wins 4th straight Bay Hill by 11 strokes</ref>
• 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.<ref>Perry Wins Bay Hill After Singh Suffers Rocky Finish</ref>
• 2008: Tiger Woods sinks a 25-foot birdie putt at the 72nd hole to defeat Bart Bryant by one shot.<ref>Tiger birdies 18 for title</ref> 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.<ref>Golf-Woods overhauls O'Hair for comeback win at Bay HillTemplate:Dead linkTemplate:Cbignore</ref>
• 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.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
• 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.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
• 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.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation

|CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Course layout

{{#invoke:Labelled list hatnote|labelledList|Main article|Main articles|Main page|Main pages}}

Hole	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	Out	10	11	12	13	14	15	16	17	18	In	Total
Yards	461	231	434	590	390	555	199	460	480	3,800	400	438	574	370	215	467	511	221	458	3,654	7,454
Par	4	3	4	5	4	5	3	4	4	36	4	4	5	4	3	4	5	3	4	36	72

Source:<ref name=csebh13>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Winners

Year	Winner	Score	To par	Margin of victory	Runner(s)-up	Purse ($)	Winner's share ($)
Arnold Palmer Invitational
2025	Template:Flagicon Russell Henley	277	−11	1 stroke	Template:Flagicon Collin Morikawa	20,000,000	4,000,000
2024	Template:Flagicon Scottie Scheffler (2)	273	−15	5 strokes	Template:Flagicon Wyndham Clark	20,000,000	4,000,000
2023	Template:Flagicon Kurt Kitayama	279	−9	1 stroke	Template:Flagicon Harris English Template:Flagicon Rory McIlroy	20,000,000	3,600,000
2022	Template:Flagicon Scottie Scheffler	283	−5	1 stroke	Template:Flagicon Tyrrell Hatton Template:Flagicon Billy Horschel Template:Flagicon Viktor Hovland	12,000,000	2,160,000
2021	Template:Flagicon Bryson DeChambeau	277	−11	1 stroke	Template:Flagicon Lee Westwood	9,300,000	1,674,000
2020	Template:Flagicon Tyrrell Hatton	284	−4	1 stroke	Template:Flagicon Marc Leishman	9,300,000	1,674,000
2019	Template:Flagicon Francesco Molinari	276	−12	2 strokes	Template:Flagicon Matt Fitzpatrick	9,100,000	1,638,000
2018	Template:Flagicon Rory McIlroy	270	−18	3 strokes	Template:Flagicon Bryson DeChambeau	8,900,000	1,602,000
2017	Template:Flagicon Marc Leishman	277	−11	1 stroke	Template:Flagicon Charley Hoffman Template:Flagicon Kevin Kisner	8,700,000	1,566,000
2016	Template:Flagicon Jason Day	271	−17	1 stroke	Template:Flagicon Kevin Chappell	6,300,000	1,134,000
2015	Template:Flagicon Matt Every (2)	269	−19	1 stroke	Template:Flagicon Henrik Stenson	6,300,000	1,134,000
2014	Template:Flagicon Matt Every	275	−13	1 stroke	Template:Flagicon Keegan Bradley	6,200,000	1,116,000
2013	Template:Flagicon Tiger Woods (8)	275	−13	2 strokes	Template:Flagicon Justin Rose	6,200,000	1,116,000
2012	Template:Flagicon Tiger Woods (7)	275	−13	5 strokes	Template:Flagicon Graeme McDowell	6,000,000	1,080,000
2011	Template:Flagicon Martin Laird	280	−8	1 stroke	Template:Flagicon Steve Marino	6,000,000	1,080,000
2010	Template:Flagicon Ernie Els (2)	277	−11	2 strokes	Template:Flagicon Edoardo Molinari Template:Flagicon Kevin Na	6,000,000	1,080,000
2009	Template:Flagicon Tiger Woods (6)	275	−5	1 stroke	Template:Flagicon Sean O'Hair	6,000,000	1,080,000
2008	Template:Flagicon Tiger Woods (5)	270	−10	1 stroke	Template:Flagicon Bart Bryant	5,800,000	1,044,000
2007	Template:Flagicon Vijay Singh	272	−8	2 strokes	Template:Flagicon Rocco Mediate	5,500,000	990,000
Bay Hill Invitational
2006	Template:Flagicon Rod Pampling	274	−14	1 stroke	Template:Flagicon Greg Owen	5,500,000	990,000
2005	Template:Flagicon Kenny Perry	276	−12	2 strokes	Template:Flagicon Graeme McDowell Template:Flagicon Vijay Singh	5,000,000	900,000
2004	Template:Flagicon Chad Campbell	270	−18	6 strokes	Template:Flagicon Stuart Appleby	5,000,000	900,000
2003	Template:Flagicon Tiger Woods (4)	269	−19	11 strokes	Template:Flagicon Stewart Cink Template:Flagicon Brad Faxon Template:Flagicon Kenny Perry Template:Flagicon Kirk Triplett	4,500,000	810,000
2002	Template:Flagicon Tiger Woods (3)	275	−13	4 strokes	Template:Flagicon Michael Campbell	4,000,000	720,000
2001	Template:Flagicon Tiger Woods (2)	273	−15	1 stroke	Template:Flagicon Phil Mickelson	3,500,000	630,000
2000	Template:Flagicon Tiger Woods	270	−18	4 strokes	Template:Flagicon Davis Love III	3,000,000	540,000
1999	Template:Flagicon Tim Herron	274	−14	Playoff	Template:Flagicon Tom Lehman	2,500,000	450,000
1998	Template:Flagicon Ernie Els	274	−14	4 strokes	Template:Flagicon Bob Estes Template:Flagicon Jeff Maggert	2,000,000	360,000
1997	Template:Flagicon Phil Mickelson	272	−16	3 strokes	Template:Flagicon Stuart Appleby	1,500,000	270,000
1996	Template:Flagicon Paul Goydos	275	−13	1 stroke	Template:Flagicon Jeff Maggert	1,200,000	216,000
Nestle Invitational
1995	Template:Flagicon Loren Roberts (2)	272	−16	2 strokes	Template:Flagicon Brad Faxon	1,200,000	216,000
1994	Template:Flagicon Loren Roberts	275	−13	1 stroke	Template:Flagicon Nick Price Template:Flagicon Vijay Singh Template:Flagicon Fuzzy Zoeller	1,200,000	216,000
1993	Template:Flagicon Ben Crenshaw	280	−8	2 strokes	Template:Flagicon Davis Love III Template:Flagicon Rocco Mediate Template:Flagicon Vijay Singh	1,000,000	180,000
1992	Template:Flagicon Fred Couples	269	−19	9 strokes	Template:Flagicon Gene Sauers	1,000,000	180,000
1991	Template:Flagicon Andrew Magee	203Template:Efn	−13	2 strokes	Template:Flagicon Tom Sieckmann	1,000,000	180,000
1990	Template:Flagicon Robert Gamez	274	−14	1 stroke	Template:Flagicon Greg Norman	900,000	162,000
1989	Template:Flagicon Tom Kite (2)	278	−6	Playoff	Template:Flagicon Davis Love III	800,000	144,000
Hertz Bay Hill Classic
1988	Template:Flagicon Paul Azinger	271	−13	5 strokes	Template:Flagicon Tom Kite	750,000	135,000
1987	Template:Flagicon Payne Stewart	264	−20	3 strokes	Template:Flagicon David Frost	600,000	108,000
1986	Template:Flagicon Dan Forsman	202Template:Efn	−11	1 stroke	Template:Flagicon Raymond Floyd Template:Flagicon Mike Hulbert	500,000	90,000
1985	Template:Flagicon Fuzzy Zoeller	275	−9	2 strokes	Template:Flagicon Tom Watson	500,000	90,000
Bay Hill Classic
1984	Template:Flagicon Gary Koch (2)	272	−12	Playoff	Template:Flagicon George Burns	400,000	72,000
1983	Template:Flagicon Mike Nicolette	283	−1	Playoff	Template:Flagicon Greg Norman	350,000	63,000
1982	Template:Flagicon Tom Kite	278	−6	Playoff	Template:Flagicon Jack Nicklaus Template:Flagicon Denis Watson	300,000	54,000
1981	Template:Flagicon Andy Bean	266	−18	7 strokes	Template:Flagicon Tom Watson	300,000	54,000
1980	Template:Flagicon Dave Eichelberger	279	−5	3 strokes	Template:Flagicon Leonard Thompson	300,000	54,000
Bay Hill Citrus Classic
1979	Template:Flagicon Bob Byman	278	−6	Playoff	Template:Flagicon John Schroeder	250,000	45,000
Florida Citrus Open
1978	Template:Flagicon Mac McLendon	271	−17	2 strokes	Template:Flagicon David Graham	200,000	40,000
1977	Template:Flagicon Gary Koch	274	−14	2 strokes	Template:Flagicon Dale Hayes Template:Flagicon Joe Inman	200,000	40,000
1976	Template:Flagicon Hale Irwin	270	−18	Playoff	Template:Flagicon Kermit Zarley	200,000	40,000
1975	Template:Flagicon Lee Trevino	276	−12	1 stroke	Template:Flagicon Hale Irwin	200,000	40,000
1974	Template:Flagicon Jerry Heard (2)	273	−15	3 strokes	Template:Flagicon Homero Blancas Template:Flagicon Jim Jamieson	150,000	30,000
1973	Template:Flagicon Buddy Allin	265	−23	8 strokes	Template:Flagicon Charles Coody	150,000	30,000
1972	Template:Flagicon Jerry Heard	276	−12	2 strokes	Template:Flagicon Bobby Mitchell	150,000	30,000
Florida Citrus Invitational
1971	Template:Flagicon Arnold Palmer	270	−18	1 stroke	Template:Flagicon Julius Boros	150,000	30,000
1970	Template:Flagicon Bob Lunn	271	−17	1 stroke	Template:Flagicon Arnold Palmer Template:Flagicon Bob Stanton	150,000	30,000
Florida Citrus Open Invitational
1969	Template:Flagicon Ken Still	278	−10	1 stroke	Template:Flagicon Miller Barber	115,000	23,000
1968	Template:Flagicon Dan Sikes	274	−14	1 stroke	Template:Flagicon Tom Weiskopf	115,000	23,000
1967	Template:Flagicon Julius Boros	274	−10	1 stroke	Template:Flagicon George Knudson Template:Flagicon Arnold Palmer	115,000	23,000
1966	Template:Flagicon Lionel Hebert	279	−5	2 strokes	Template:Flagicon Charles Coody Template:Flagicon Dick Lytle Template:Flagicon Jack Nicklaus	110,000	21,000

Note: Green highlight indicates scoring records.
Sources:<ref>Arnold Palmer Invitational - Winners - at www.pgatour.com</ref><ref>Arnold Palmer Invitational - Winners Template:Webarchive - at www.golfobserver.com</ref>

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

External links

• Template:Official website
• Coverage on the PGA Tour's official site
• Bay Hill Club and Lodge
• Rio Pinar Country Club