PGA Tour Brunch | Arnold Palmer Invitational
PGA Tour Brunch | Arnold Palmer Invitational
Preview of the Arnold Palmer Invitational at Bay Hill | Puerto Rico Open R-1
By TERRY LYONS
ORLANDO - The 2022 winner and reigning PGA TOUR Player of the Year Scottie Scheffler is making his second of four starts as the defending champion in a nine-week stretch, and successfully defended his title during the first opportunity (WM Phoenix Open). The last player to successfully defend multiple titles in a season was Tiger Woods, who did so four times in 2007 (Farmers Insurance Open, PGA Championship, WGC-Bridgestone Invitational, WGC-CA Championship).
2018 winner and reigning FedExCup Champion Rory McIlroy is making his ninth consecutive start at the Arnold Palmer Invitational and has finished worse than T13 just once (T27/2016). McIlroy's Scoring Average of 70.31 at the event is the second-lowest of any player on record (1983-present) with a minimum of 20 rounds played, behind only eight-time champion Tiger Woods (69.97). McIlroy has been the first-round leader/co-leader each of the last two years at the event. The last player to hold the 18-hole lead/co-lead at the same tournament three years in a row was Tiger Woods at the Deutsche Bank Championship in 2004, 2005 and 2006.
Chris Kirk won The Honda Classic Sunday, earning his fifth PGA TOUR title and first since the 2015 Charles Schwab Challenge. Kirk is one of two players with top-10s in each of the last two years at the Arnold Palmer Invitational presented by Mastercard (T-8/2021, T-5/2022), along with Matt Fitzpatrick.
Arnold Palmer's Bay Hill Club & Lodge was the most difficult course on the PGA Tour during the 2021-22 season among non-majors, playing to an average of 1.886 over par.
Most difficult courses on the PGA TOUR in 2021-22
+2.507 The Country Club U.S. Open
+2.458 Southern Hills Country Club PGA Championship
+1.951 Augusta National Golf Club Masters Tournament
+1.886 Bay Hill Club & Lodge Arnold Palmer Invitational presented by Mastercard
Arnold Palmer Invitational | Tournament Facts
COURSE: Arnold Palmer’s Bay Hill Club & Lodge, Orlando, Florida
YARDS/PAR: 7,466 yards/Par 72
ARCHITECTS: Dick Wilson\Joe Lee
PRIZE Money - Purse: $20,000,000 with Winner: $3,600,000
DEFENDING CHAMPION: Scottie Scheffler
PAST RESULTS: (link)
FEDEx CUP Points to Winner: 550
SOCIAL MEDIA: #PGATour #FedExCup @APInv and @PuertoRicoOpen
How to Watch: In case of changes, visit: (PGATourCom)
Arnold Palmer Invitational | The Basics
The Tee Times at Bay Hill will run from 7:00am (ET) to 1:35pm (ET) today.
Puerto Rico’s Tee Times from 6:10am (ET)/7:10am (local) to 12:19pm (ET)/1:19pm (local)
Weather: Today’s forecast is for a warm and near perfect 89-degrees with 48% humidity. Wind 10 mph and a 7% chance of rain. Friday forecast is calling for 19-20 mph winds, blowing heavier in the afternoon.
Tournament Web Site: (link)
FedEx Cup Info: (link)
PGA Tour Brunch will post at 6:30am (ET) Friday.
Arnold Palmer: Field, Tee Times and Leaderboard
The Field: (link)
Tee Times: (link)
Tournament Leaderboard: (link)
What They’re Saying
Designated Events to Usher In New Era (PGATourCom)
PGA Tour Revamps for Future (ESPNCom)
Eric Cole Fulfills a Dream (PGATourCom)
Draws & Fades | FRL to Thrive (PGATourCom)
How to Watch the Arnold Palmer Invitational | R-1 (PGATourCom)
How to Watch Puerto Rico (Golf Week/USA Today)
Sports Gambling and Daily Fantasy
Arnold Palmer Invitational Predictions (CBSSportsHQ)
Expert Picks for Bay Hill - (PGATourCom)
Sleeper Picks for Bay Hill - (PGATourCom)
Expert Picks Puerto Rico Open - (PGATourCom)
On This Day in Golf History
March 2, 2015- Forty-three year old Padraig Harrington won his first PGA Tour event since the 2008 PGA Championship, beating 21-year old Daniel Berger in the 2nd hole of sudden death playoff at The Honda Classic.
Parting Putt
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