Arnold Palmer Invitational | First Round Preview

ORLANDO - The Arnold Palmer Invitational, presented by Mastercard, is one of three PGA Tour events with elevated status, along with The Genesis Invitational and the Memorial Tournament presented by Workday. Those three events offer a larger purse ($12 million; up from $9.3 million in 2021), an increased allotment of FedEx Cup points (550 to the winner) and a three-year PGA Tour exemption for the winner.

The 2022 field features 10 of the Top 25 in the Official World Golf Ranking, led by World No. 1 Jon Rahm who will make his Arnold Palmer debut. Defending champion Bryson DeChambeau withdrew Monday from the tournament due to injury.

Jason Day also withdrew.

In 2021 the collective Palmer field hit only 56.84% of greens in regulation at Bay Hill Club & Lodge, making it the fifth-toughest to play as measured by Green in Regulation percentage overall on TOUR last season. It was second toughest among non-majors.

While the “A” team is playing Bay Hill, the Puerto Rico Open will be taking place in the Islands. Since the tournament’s 2008 inception, the Puerto Rico Open has helped elevate the careers of future PGA Tour stars, including Daniel Berger (T-2/2019) and past sponsor exemptions Jordan Spieth (T-2/2013) and Brooks Koepka (T-19/2014). Bryson DeChambeau lost in a playoff at the 2017 Puerto Rico Open but went on to win his first PGA Tour title later that season, while Tony Finau (2016) and Viktor Hovland (2020) each won their first Tour titles at the Puerto Rico Open. Branden Grace, who won the 2021 Puerto Rico Open, is in the field at Bay Hill Club & Lodge.

The tournament is held at the Rio Grande Grand Reserve Country Club, almost a full hour away from San Juan.

Note: Most of the PGA Tour Brunch coverage this week will focus on the main Arnold Palmer Invitational, with some news or a newsworthy clip on the Puerto Rico Open to be included, as appropriate.

Arnold Palmer Invitational

COURSE: Bay Hill Club & Lodge, Orlando, Florida

ARCHITECTS: Dick Wilson\Joe Lee

YARDS/PAR: 7,462 yards/Par 72

PRIZE Money/First Place Winnings: $12,000,000/$2,160,000

DEFENDING CHAMPION: Bryson DeChambeau

PAST RESULTS: (link)

PAST CHAMPIONS: (link)

FEDEx CUP Points to Winner: 550

SOCIAL MEDIA: #PGATour #FedExCup @APInv @PuertoRicoOpen

TV COVERAGE: The first two rounds of the Arnold Palmer Invitational (Today and March 4) are scheduled for coverage from 2:00pm to 6:00pm (ET) on Golf Channel. Saturday and Sunday, coverage is set for 12:30pm to 2:30pm (ET) on Golf Channel and 2:30 to 6:00pm (ET) on NBC.

PGA TOUR LIVE STREAMING on ESPN+: Streaming coverage from Bay Hill will be featured on ESPN-Plus today and Friday with Main Feed, Featured Hole and Featured Groups from 7:00am to 6:00pm (ET). Weekend streaming on ESPN+ from 7:30am to 6:00pm (ET).

PGA TOUR RADIO COVERAGE: SiriusXM Radio will have live radio coverage today and Friday as broadcasts originate from Bay Hill from 12:00pm to 6:00pm (ET). Saturday coverage on Sirius XM Radio runs from 1:00pm to 6:00pm and Sunday from 1:00 to 6:30pm (ET). PGA Tour Radio is available on Sirius 208/XM 92 or online via PGATourCom.

How to Watch the Arnold Palmer Invitational: (ESPNCom)

How to Watch the Puerto Rico Open: (link)

How to Watch: In case of changes, visit: (PGATourCom)

Puerto Rico Open:

Past Results: (link)

Past Champions: (link)

Tournament Home Page: (link)

How to Watch the Puerto Rico Open: (link)

The Basics:

Arnold Palmer Invitational  Tee Times start today at 7:10am (ET) and go to 1:19pm (ET).

Weather: Today’s opening round of the Arnold Palmer will see mostly sunny skies with temperature 72-degrees with a 105 chance of rain. Winds 8 mph. Similar forecast for the weekend but with increasing winds (12-15 mph).

PGA Tour Brunch will post at 7:00AM (ET) on Thursday.

Next Week: THE PLAYERS

Arnold Palmer Invitational - Field and Tee Times:

The Field: (link)

Update:

B. DeChambeau (out)/S. Piercy (in)

J. Day (out)/D. Lipsky (in)

Tee Times: (link)

Puerto Rico Open - Field and Tee Times:

The Field (link)

Tee Times (link)

What They’re Saying:

McIlroy Proud to Follow in Arnie’s Footsteps (PGATourCom)

How to Watch Arnold Palmer Invitational (PGATourCom)

How to Watch the Puerto Rico Open: (link)

FedExCup Standings (PGATourCom)

Sports Gambling and Daily Fantasy News

Expert Picks at Bay Hill - (PGATourCom)

Sleeper Picks at Bay Hill - (PGATourCom)

Seven Picks for Bay Hill (Action Net)

On This Day in Golf History:

March 3, 2012- Rory McIlroy won the Honda Classic by two strokes over Tiger Woods and Tom Gillis to clinch the No. 1 World Ranking for the first time. McIlroy held steady and shot a final round (69) to win his fifth career title despite Woods charging late with his final round (62). Courtesy of Randy Walker, Author of On This Day in Golf History, available via Amazon.com and by clicking HERE

Parting Putt:

PGA TOUR @PGATOUR

Arnold Palmer + iced tea and lemonade. A legendary @espn commercial.

March 2nd 2022

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