Arnold Palmer Invitational: Stellar field line up at Bay Hill as Masters momentum gathers pace

Arnold Palmer Invitational 2024 Preview

18 of the world’s top 20 make up the limited Signature field in Orlando for one of the biggest events of the PGA Tour season.

Arnold Palmer’s legacy lives on at the fourth of eight Signature Events on the PGA Tour’s reimagined 2024 calendar, where the best in the business aim for a statement win with Augusta looming.

The 46th renewal of the API at Bay Hill marks the second week of the Florida swing, straddling the delayed finish to the Cognizant Classic in The Palm Beaches, and the upcoming PLAYERS Championship.

This year’s edition once again attracts a stellar field and promises to wrestle eyeballs back to the PGA Tour after the returning Anthony Kim at LIV Golf Jeddah stole the headlines last week.

The breakaway tour runs concurrently in Hong Kong, as will the PGA Tour’s supporting act – The Puerto Rico Open, however, the quality of Arnie’s field should justifiably pull rank for golf fans.

Kurt Kitayama denied Rory McIlroy a second Arnold Palmer title last time around at Bay Hill, edging the current World No.2 by a shot on nine-under-par to claim a maiden PGA Tour victory.

Bryson DeChambaeu, is the only winner in the last four editions to manage double figures under par, cutting the Bay Hill challenge down to size in recent years, most famously by driving the water on No.6.

Where is The Arnold Palmer Invitational being played?

Orlando’s Signature Event has been hosted at Bay Hill Club and Lodge since 1979, four years after being purchased by the 7-time Major winning legend. Arnie described the venue as somewhere “you must play boldly to win.”

The par 72, 7,466-yard track consistently ranks in the top 10 hardest courses on the PGA Tour, topping the table in the 2019/20 season with a stroke average of 74.1. Tyrrell Hatton, the winner in 2020 took the win on four-under par.

See if Bay Hill makes it into our Top 100 Golf courses in the USA.

Who is in the field for The Arnold Palmer Invitational?

With 18 of the top 20 in the OWGRs teeing it up in Orlando, it’s more a case of who’s not in the field for the Signature Event. Defending champion Kitayama lines up among 69 of the biggest names in golf, including other former winners in the shape of Scottie Scheffler, Rory McIlroy, and Jason Day.

Tyrrell Hatton and Bryson DeChambeau, champions from 2020 and 2021 are the two absentees, instead donning their respective colors of Legion XIII and Crushers GC, as they head east to line up at LIV Golf Hong Kong.

Tony Finau is the only player of the 55 eligible who does not line up at Bay Hill. The full field for the Signature Event can be found here.

Who will win The Arnold Palmer Invitational?

The standout statistic is that six of the last seven winners have ranked inside the top 10 for greens in regulation, and no one thrives in this department more than Scottie. The American strokes-gained supremo is therefore unlikely to be far away, particularly if he gets his flat stick working on the lightning-fast Bermuda greens.

Interestingly, the three highest-ranked players in the field, also lead the strokes gained stats in Florida, which bodes well for them despite McIlroy and Hovland currently languishing at 133rd and 144th position on the SG: Approach leaderboard.

Bay Hill punishes inaccuracy off the tee with rough less forgiving than some recent tracks on tour. Combined with some of the fastest greens of the year and the need to hit a high percentage of greens, you can see why an all-round performance is required to win here.

How much will The Arnold Palmer Invitational winner receive?

Along with The Genesis and Memorial Tournaments, The Arnold Palmer features a 36-hole cut for the top 50 players with a redistribution of prize money that sees the winner take an increased 20% of the purse.

The tournament already enjoyed an elevated status on the PGA Tour before being branded as a Signature Event. The purse in 2024 therefore remains at $20 million purse with the champion taking home $3.6 million and 700 FedExCup points.

How to watch The Arnold Palmer Invitational

UK viewers can catch all the action on Sky Sports Golf.

All times GMT

Saturday, March 09: Sky Sports Golf, 11.30

Sunday, March 10: Sky Sports Golf, 11.30

US viewers can catch all the action on Golf Channel.

All times EDT

Saturday, March 09: The Golf Channel, 13.00

Sunday, March 10: The Golf Channel, 14.30

The Arnold Palmer Invitational: Tee Times

Tee times and groupings for rounds 3 & 4 can be found here.

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About the author

Ross Tugwood

Golf Equipment Writer

Ross Tugwood is a golf equipment writer for todays-golfer.com, specializing in data, analytics, science, and innovation.

Ross is passionate about optimizing sports performance and has a decade of experience working with professional athletes and coaches for British Athletics, the UK Sports Institute, and Team GB.

He has post-graduate degrees in Performance Analysis and Sports Journalism, enabling him to critically analyze and review the latest golf equipment and technology to help you make better-informed buying decisions.