Arnold Palmer Invitational: A World-Class Field and a Whale of a Prize Payout as Professional Golf Returns to Orlando and Arnie’s Kingdom

Orlando, FL. – The PGA TOUR returns to Arnold Palmer’s Bay Hill Club and Lodge for one of its newly designated (or elevated if you prefer) 17 events – paying a prize purse of $20 million this week, up from $12 million a year ago.

No tournament has featured more top 50 players since the last year’s 150th Open Championship at St. Andrews. Fans will see the top three players in the world as Jon Rahm, Scottie Scheffler, and Rory McIlroy are here. Scheffler’s margin of victory was a single shot over Viktor Hovland, Tyrrell Hatton, and Billy Horschel.

In all, 44 of the top 50 in the Official World Golf Rankings plan to tee it up here for the Arnold Palmer Invitational Presented by Mastercard.

Timing is everything as Scottie Scheffler won in 2022, and this event is now scheduled a week before The Players and its $25 million purse, a cool $5 million more than a year ago. The Arnold Palmer will award $3,600,000 and 550 FedExCup points to Sunday’s winner here in Orlando.

“The field at this year’s Arnold Palmer Invitational presented by Mastercard is stellar,” said first-year Tournament Director Drew Donovan. “Having nine of the Top 10 players and more than 25 of the Top 30 promises a spectacular tournament.  We are thrilled to host these top players and give Central Florida fans a chance to see the best of the best at Bay Hill.”

The location is special and inviting; it prompts many golfers to make the most of the opportunity to play in Central Florida.  World number 12 Tony Finau was seen in town this past weekend giving putting lessons to his 11-year-old Son Jraice on the new 18-hole practice green at the Walt Disney World Resort before escaping to the Magic Kingdom.

While Bay Hill was indeed Arnie’s Kingdom, it’s also interesting to recall that Tiger Woods won this tournament a record eight times and helped put Isleworth Country Club on the map before moving south to Jupiter. This December will also mark the 50th anniversary of Jack Nicklaus’ PGA TOUR three-peat (1971-73) at the Disney Golf Classic as Orlando hosted a pair of TOUR events from 1971-2012.

Luke Donald, European Ryder Cup Captain for Rome 2023, won the next to last Disney Classic, and the former World No. 1 will tee it up along with his U.S. counterpart Zach Johnson. A field like this will allow both to do some in-person scouting while trying to add another tournament victory to either of their impressive resumes.

Arnold Palmer Invitational – On Television