Staying in the Sunshine State, the PGA Tour heads north from Palm Beach to Orlando for the 59th edition of the Arnold Palmer Invitational at Bay Hill Club and Lodge, the second stop on its four-event Florida Swing.
As the season’s fourth “Signature Event,” and final tune up before next week’s PLAYERS Championship, the Arnold Palmer will feature a stout field, headlined by a slew of top-ranked tour players, including recent Bay Hill winners Scottie Scheffler (2022) and Rory McIlroy (2018).
Other marquee names include Viktor Hovland, Justin Thomas, Patrick Cantlay, Xander Schauffele and Will Zalatoris, among others.
As we do each week, let’s take a look at the history, field, stats and other factoids as we prepare for what should be an exciting week of PGA Tour golf in Orlando.
The Skinny
Arnold Palmer Invitational
Dates:Â Mar 7-10, 2024
PGA Tour Debut: 1966
PGA TOUR Week: 10th (of 34)
Course:Â Bay Hill
Where: Orlando, Fla.
Distance: Par 72/7466 yards
Architect: Dick Wilson, Joe Lee (1961)
Field: 120 players
Format: Stroke, 72-holes
Cut: 36 holes
Purse: $20,000,000
Winning Share: $3,600,000
2023 Champion:Â Kurt Kitayama
How to Follow the Arnold Palmer Invitational
TELEVISION: Thu-Fri: 2-6 p.m. (GOLF); Sat-Sun: 12:30-2:30 p.m. (GOLF), 2:30-6 p.m. (NBC)
PGA TOUR LIVE: Thu-Fri: 7 a.m.-6 p.m.; Sat: 7:30 a.m.-6 p.m.; Sun: 7:15 a.m.-6 p.m. (ESPN+)
RADIO: Thu-Fri: 12-6 p.m.; Sat: 1-6 p.m.; Sun: 1-6:30 p.m. (PGA TOUR Radio on SiriusXM)
All times Eastern
LINKS: Website | Instagram | Twitter | Facebook
API History
The tournament that is now the Arnold Palmer Invitational Presented by Mastercard started in 1966 as the Florida Citrus Open Invitational. The inaugural event was won by Lionel Hebert, who posted a 5-under par 279 and edged Charles Coody, Dick Lytle and a 26-year old Jack Nicklaus by two strokes.
Hebert took home a check for $21,000, exactly $18 less than what six players earned ($21,018) for finishing tied for 57th place at last year’s Arnold Palmer.
While the Arnold Palmer name has only titled the tournament since 2007, the event has been held at Bay Hill Club and Lodge, also known as “Arnie’s Place,” since 1979.
Since that time (1979), the tournament has had a number of different title sponsors and names, most of them including “Bay Hill.” The longest of those sponsors has been Mastercard, which has held the presenting slot since 2004, first as the Bay Hill Invitational (2004-2006), and then as the Arnold Palmer Invitational (2007-present).
Early tournament winners, alongside Hebert, included legends such as Julius Boros (1967), Palmer himself (1971), Lee Trevino (1975), Hale Irwin (1976), and Tom Kite (1982).
Modern-day winners have included the likes of Ernie Els, Vijay Singh, Phil Mickelson, Jason Day, Rory McIlroy, Bryson DeChambeau, Scottie Scheffler, and 8-time champ Tiger Woods.
The API is one of three invitationals attached to three PGA Tour icons: Arnold Palmer (API), Jack Nicklaus (the Memorial) and Tiger Woods (Genesis).
History: Tournament Titles
- Arnold Palmer Invitational Presented by Mastercard (2007-Present)
- Bay Hill Invitational Presented by Mastercard (2004-2006)
- Bay Hill Invitational Presented by Cooper Tires (1999-2003)
- Bay Hill Invitational Presented by Office Depot (1996-98)
- Nestle Invitational (1989-95)
- Hertz Bay Hill Classic (1985-88)
- Bay Hill Classic (1980-84)
- Bay Hill Citrus Classic (1979)
- Florida Citrus Open (1972-78)
- Florida Citrus Invitational (1970-71)
- Florida Citrus Open Invitational (1966-69)
History: Recent Winner
2022: Kurt Kitayama (-9)
2022: Scottie Scheffler (-5)
2021: Bryson DeChambeau (-11)
2020: Tyrrell Hatton (-4)
2019: Francesco Molinari (-12)
2018: Rory McIlroy (-18)
2017: Marc Leishman (-11)
2016: Jason Day (-17)
History: Records
SCORING
264 (-20) Payne Stewart, 1987
-23 (265) Buddy Allin, 1973
WINS:
8 – Tiger Woods (2000-03, 2008-09, 2012-13)
The Vault: API 2022
On Sunday at a brutal Bay Hill, Kurt Kitayama signed for an even-par 72 to claim a one-shot victory over Rory McIlroy (70) and Harris English (70) at the 2023 Arnold Palmer Invitational.
- Kitayama finished 9-under 279 and earned $3.6 million.
- It was Kitayama’s first win on the PGA Tour.
- The 30-year-old from California moved to No. 19 in the PGA Tour’s world rankings.
- Patrick Cantlay (68), Jordan Spieth (70), Tyrrell Hatton (72), Scottie Scheffler (73) finished T4 on 7 under.
“I think just a little bit of luck finally went my way,” Kitayama said. “When it’s that close at the top, that’s what you need. Anyone probably could have won it. Luckily, it just happened to be me.”
Final Top 5
Pos-Player-To Par (Final Rd)
Pos-Player-To Par (Final Rd)
1. Kurt Kitayama -9 (E)
2. Rory McIlroy -8 (-2)
2. Harris English -8 (-2)
4. Patrick Cantlay -7 (-4)
4. Jordan Spieth -7 (-2)
4. Tyrrell Hatton -7 (E)
4. Scottie Scheffler -7 (+1)
The API Field
The Arnold Palmer Invitational features most of the tour’s top-ranked players, including No. 1 Scottie Scheffler, the 2022 champion.
Rory McIlroy (2), Patrick Cantlay (6), Xander Schaffele (5), Will Zalatoris (34), Max Homa (8), Justin Thomas (23), and Collin Morikawa (14) are some of the other marquee favorites.
Additional familiar top-ranked names include Viktor Hovland (4), Tony Finau (25), Matthew Fitzpatrick (No. 9), Jordan Spieth (13) and Jason Day (19), among others.
Former API winners in the field include Scheffler (2022) McIlroy (2018), and Day (2016).
Top-5 Betting Favorites
Rank-Player-Odds
1. Scottie Scheffler (7-1)
2. Rory McIlroy (9-1)
3. Viktor Hovland (14-1)
4. Jordan Spieth (16-1)
4. Ludvig Aberg (16-1)
4. Patrick Cantlay (16-1)
Full Field: Odds To Win
Bay Hill Club & Lodge | Orlando, FL | Mar 7-10, 2024
Credits: PGA Tour Media, Getty Images
Joel Cook contributed to this preview.
