The Arnold Palmer Invitational is one of the biggest non-major tournaments of the PGA Tour schedule, and that is down to one man.
Arnold Palmer owned Bay Hill Club and Lodge from 1974 until he died in 2016. There are several amenities at this venue like tennis courts and a spa, but above all, there is the Arnold Palmer Golf Academy which helps to prolong his undeniable legacy in the game.
It was often the honour for the tournament winner to be greeted by Palmer on the 18th green. The event has been held at Bay Hill since 1979 and the seven-time major-winning icon’s presence will always be felt at this prestigious venue.
Tiger Woods is an eight-time winner of the API, including four successive wins from 2000 to 2003. Tom Kite, Loren Roberts and Ernie Els are among those to have also won the tournament on multiple occasions.
Big names including Jason Day, Rory McIlroy, Tyrrell Hatton, Bryson DeChambeau and World No.1 Scottie Scheffler have all been victorious at Bay Hill in the last decade.
The winner also has the privilege of wearing a red cardigan, made famous by the King himself throughout his career which saw him win 95 professional titles.
For a while now, this tournament has been played in March and is seen as a significant benchmark in the Masters run-in to April. If you play well or win at Arnie’s place, you’re looking good for Augusta.
The winner will receive $4 million from the $20 million purse. This is one of the PGA Tour’s eight Signature Events and one of three of them which is a player-hosted invitational with a 36-hole cut.
Let’s dive into the Arnold Palmer Invitational Preview 2025, go through some details and answer some commonly asked questions.
ALSO: PGA Tour Schedule 2025
ALSO: What is a Signature Event?
Advertisement
ALSO: Arnold Palmer Invitational prize money 2025
Arnold Palmer Invitational Preview 2025
- Dates: March 6-9, 2025
- Course: Bay Hill Lodge and Club
- Par: 72
- Length: 7,381 yards
- Prize purse: $20 million
- Defending champion: Scottie Scheffler (-15)
TV coverage: How to watch Arnold Palmer Invitational 2025
Thursday: Sky Sports Golf from 7 pm
Friday: Sky Sports Golf from 7 pm
Saturday: Sky Sports Golf from 5.30 pm and Sky Sports Main Event from 8.30 pm
Sunday: Sky Sports Golf from 4.30 pm and Sky Sports Main Event from 7.30 pm
Where is the Arnold Palmer Invitational?
The Arnold Palmer Invitational is held at Bay Hill Club and Lodge in Florida, in a suburb southwest of Orlando. It has been played at this venue since 1979. The event was the successor of the Florida Citrus Open Invitational which was held at Rio Pinar Country Club.
Who won the Arnold Palmer Invitational 2024?
To the shock of absolutely no one, Scottie Scheffler won the Arnold Palmer Invitational in 2024. He beat Wyndham Clark by five shots, typically dominant fashion, and cashed the $4 million winner’s cheque.
A week later, Scheffler and Clark were involved in another finish, this time more exhilarating at the Players Championship. Scheffler was in the clubhouse, one shot ahead of Clark on Sunday and the 2023 US Open champion horse-shoed a putt around the hole to force a playoff.
How to qualify for Arnold Palmer Invitational
With the event being one of the eight Signature Events on the 2025 PGA Tour schedule, there is a smaller field at Bay Hill. A minimum of 72 players will take the course on the first morning.
There are several ways of getting into the field, with players in the following categories qualifying:
- Top 50 players in the previous season’s FedEx Cup standings
- Aon Next 10 (the 10 highest-ranked players in the current FedEx Cup Standings, not already exempt, through the events leading up to the next Signature Event)
- Aon Swing 5 (the top five points earners, not exempt from a higher category, from the tournaments between Signature Events)
- Sponsors Invite (Each event will offer four sponsor exemptions and a tournament host exemption)
- Current-year tournament winners (Players who win a PGA Tour event in the current year not exempt via a higher category)
- PGA Tour members in the top 30 of the Official World Golf Rankings through the event preceding the API
- If you are Tiger Woods, you have a spot in every Signature Event
Is the Arnold Palmer Invitational on TV?
The Arnold Palmer Invitational will be shown on Sky Sports in tournament week. We will have an updated TV schedule for US viewers nearer the time.
Is there a cut at the Arnold Palmer Invitational?
There are eight Signature Events on the PGA Tour. Five of them don’t have 36-hole cuts, but this one does as it is one of three player-hosted invitationals (the other two being the Genesis Invitational and the Memorial).
NOW READ: ‘I’m not cheating’: Wyndham Clark caught in rules controversy at Bay Hill
NOW READ: Quiz: Winners at Bay Hill
Done with the Arnold Palmer Invitational Preview? Who do you think will take the title? Let us know with a post on X, formerly Twitter!
Advertisement
