Blog#315AP Arnold Palmer Invitational March 5-8, 2026 Par 72

Blog#315AP Arnold Palmer Invitational March 5-8, 2026 Par 72

Bay Hill Club & Lodge Orlando FL

Purse $20M same as last yr.

HISTORY Third Signature Event and most talented field this year. It will be followed by

The Players next week, The Masters April 16th and the 4th Signature Event, The Heritage.

This tournament started in 1966 as the Florida Citrus Open, and was renamed in honor of Arnold Palmer in 2007. Bay Hill Club & Lodge was purchased by Arnold Palmer in 1974 and after his death in 2016 it was inherited by his daughter Amy and her husband, former PGA pro Roy Sanders, who continue to operate the property. Bay Hill has hosted the tournament since 1979.

FAVORITES

1 Scottie Scheffler 3.4/1 Needs to get a good 1st RD going, #89 WM, 62 PB, 71 Genesis.

2 Rory McIlroy 10/1 If he can get his putting both long and short together he could win.
3 Tommy Fleetwood 19/1 After his 1st PGA win last year, has played well since, could win.

4 Matt Fitzpatrick 25/1 Has been up and down since winning US Open in 2022.

4 Xander Schauffele 25/1 Has played better every week, may be ready to win.

4 Colin Morikawa 25/1 Won Pebble Beach with excellent putting, which had been a problem.

7 Russel Henley 27/1 Won last year-11, slow start in 2026 only 1 top 10 but made 3 of 4 cuts.

8 H. Matsuyama 30/1 Lost to Gotterup in Playoff at WM, 89th at PB, he will win soon.

9 Robert MacIntyre 33/1 Won Canadian & Scottish Open in 2024 won $800K & 4 top 40s 2026.

9 Si Woo Kim33/1 He was 2nd at Farmers, 6th AM XP & 3rd at WM, due to win.

9 Patrick Cantlay 33/1 Tied for 13th at AM XP, 14th at Pebble Beach, his game improving,

9 Cameron Young 33/1 Has made all 4 cuts this year, best 7th at Genesis, my long-shot to win.

Six of the above were picked in the top 10 last year, Scheffler 1 and McIlroy 2.

Scheffler finished 13th, McIlroy 6. Russell Henley won and was not picked in top 10.

Morikawa finished 2nd by 1 stroke. Sean Lowry who lost a heartbreaker last week was 2nd

After RD1, 1st after 2 and finished 6th.

MY WINNER Difficult to pick, but I think the cream will rise to the top and 1 of these 3 will win.

#1 Scottie Scheffler #2 Rory McIlroy #3 Colin Morikawa (he is finally putting well).

LONG-SHOTS Hard to pick anyone except from 12 above, but my wish list.

Shane Lowry 45/1 Great story if he could play like he did last week except for last 3 holes.

Jordon Spieth 55/1 & Rickie Fowler 40/1 both playing on Sponsors exemptions, denied to them last year. If either one can avoid too many bogies and DB’s they could sneak in.

Ben Griffin 40/1 Three wins last year has made 5 cuts this year, 19th at Sony then 24,28,37,41.

Chris Gotterup 40/1 Won Sony & WM this year, Scottish Open in 2025, 3 wins in 8 months.

Max Greyserman 80/1 No wins yet and made 3 of 5 cuts this year, only 1 top 25 earned $278K.

Joel Dahman 200/1 Earned his way into tournament by finishing in the top 10 last week.

18th hole at Bay Hill, 441 yard Par 4. Arguably one of the best finishing holes in golf.

Fairway seems wide but the tee shot has to be left of center to avoid water.

A lake guards the entire right side of the kidney shaped green with 3 bunkers on the left.