The Arnold Palmer Invitational at Bay Hill Golf Club is commencing this week as the Florida Swing continues. With a significant prize of $20 million at stake, all eyes are on the cream of the PGA Tour as they compete for the lucrative $4 million first-place prize in this highly anticipated event.
Defending champion Kurt Kitayama is eager to secure a back-to-back victory, but he will face tough competition from some of the most impressive professionals in the game. Players such as Scottie Scheffler, Rory McIlroy, Viktor Hovland, Xander Schauffele, Patrick Cantlay, Wyndham Clark, Max Homa, Matt Fitzpatrick, Brian Harman, and Ludvig Åberg are all scheduled to tee off this week, each striving to attain top form ahead of the Players Championship.
Despite encountering a triple bogey on the par-4 ninth hole last year, Kitayama emerged victorious in 2023. His remarkable performance included an impressive lag putt from 47 feet on the final hole, followed by an easy tap-in, securing the win for the American. According to the PGA Tour, Kitayama ranked T-1 in driving accuracy, T-1 in greens in regulation, and No. 3 in Strokes Gained: Putting at last year’s Arnold Palmer Invitational.
The winner of the Arnold Palmer Invitational will receive 700 FedEx Cup points and a share of the impressive $4 million prize from the total $20 million purse.
Television Schedule
For those wishing to witness the entirety of the event, Golf Channel will provide live coverage on Thursday and Friday from 2-6 p.m. EST. As the weekend approaches, Golf Channel will kick off the coverage on Saturday and Sunday from 12:30-2:30 p.m., with NBC taking over for late afternoon coverage from 2:30-6 p.m. EST.
For those who prefer to stream the tournament, PGA Tour Live coverage will be available on ESPN+ from 7:30 a.m.-6 p.m. every day from Thursday to Sunday. This includes the main feed, marquee groups, featured groups, and a featured holes feed.
Leaderboard and Tee Times
You can stay updated with all live PGA Tour scoring data here. Additionally, the tee times for the first and second rounds of the tournament are as follows (all times are in EST):
Thursday/First Round
The first tee features several exciting matchups, beginning at 7:45 a.m. with Nick Dunlap and including other players such as Rory McIlroy, Justin Thomas, and Jordan Spieth throughout the morning.
Friday/Second Round
The second round on Friday features another set of thrilling pairings, with players like Scottie Scheffler, Viktor Hovland, and Rickie Fowler teeing off in the afternoon.
The Arnold Palmer Invitational promises to be an exciting event, showcasing the incredible skill and talent of the world’s top golfers. Therefore, prepare your snacks, find a comfortable spot, and get ready to witness some exceptional golfing action!