Arnold Palmer Invitational
| Tournament information | |
|---|---|
| Location | Bay Hill, Florida |
| Established | 1966 |
| Course(s) | Bay Hill Club and Lodge |
| Par | 72 |
| Length | 7,381 yards (6,749 m) |
| Tour(s) | PGA Tour |
| Format | Stroke play |
| Prize fund | $6.2 million |
| Month played | March |
| Tournament record score | |
| Aggregate | 264 Payne Stewart (1987) |
| To par | –23 Buddy Allin (1973) |
| Current champion | |
 Tiger Woods | |
The Arnold Palmer Invitational is a professional golf tournament on the PGA Tour. It is played each March at the Bay Hill Club and Lodge, a private golf resort owned since 1974 by Arnold Palmer in Bay Hill, Florida, a suburb of Orlando. The event was founded in 1979 as a successor to the Florida Citrus Open Invitational, which was played at Rio Pinar Country Club east of Orlando. It has had a number of different names since then, most of them including "Bay Hill", but has played under the Palmer name since 2007. On March 21, 2012, the Arnold Palmer Invitational and MasterCard Worldwide announced an extension to MasterCard's "Presented by" sponsorship until the 2016 tournament.[1][2]
As a restricted field event on the PGA Tour, only the first 70 players on the previous year's money-list are guaranteed invitations.[3]
Tiger Woods won what was then known as the Bay Hill Invitational four years in a row from 2000 to 2003. This is one of only four occasions that a golfer has won the same event four times in a row on the Tour. In 2004 he was one shot off the lead after opening with a 67, but followed up with back to back 74s on the Friday and Saturday, and ended the final round on Sunday in a tie for 46th place. Woods also won the 2008 and 2009 tournaments, both times with birdie putts on the final hole. He then won the tournament in 2012 by 5 shots, his first official PGA Tour win in 924 days and his seventh win at the Arnold Palmer Invitational. He repeated in 2013 for his eighth victory at the tournament.
Invitational status
The Arnold Palmer Invitational is one of only five tournaments given "invitational" status by the PGA Tour, and consequently it has a reduced field of only 120 players (as opposed to most full-field open tournaments with a field of 156 players). The other four tournaments with invitational status are the RBC Heritage, the Crowne Plaza Invitational at Colonial, the Memorial Tournament, and the AT&T National. Invitational tournaments have smaller fields (between 120 and 132 players), and have more freedom than full-field open tournaments in determining which players are eligible to participate in their event, as invitational tournaments are not required to fill their fields using the PGA Tour Priority Ranking System. Furthermore, unlike full-field open tournaments, invitational tournaments do not offer open qualifying (aka Monday qualifying).
Course layout
Bay Hill Club
| Hole | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | Out | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | In | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Yards | 461 | 231 | 434 | 561 | 390 | 555 | 199 | 460 | 474 | 3,765 | 400 | 438 | 574 | 370 | 215 | 429 | 511 | 221 | 458 | 3,616 | 7,381 |
| Par | 4 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 4 | 5 | 3 | 4 | 4 | 36 | 4 | 4 | 5 | 4 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 3 | 4 | 36 | 72 |
Source:[4]
Winners
| Year | Player | Country | Score | To par | 1st prize ($) | Purse ($) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Arnold Palmer Invitational presented by MasterCard | ||||||
| 2013 | Tiger Woods (8) |  United States |
275 | –13 | 1,116,000 | 6,200,000 |
| 2012 | Tiger Woods (7) | United States |
275 | –13 | 1,080,000 | 6,000,000 |
| 2011 | Martin Laird |  Scotland |
280 | –8 | 1,080,000 | 6,000,000 |
| 2010 | Ernie Els (2) |  South Africa |
277 | –11 | 1,080,000 | 6,000,000 |
| 2009 | Tiger Woods (6) | United States |
275 | –5 | 1,080,000 | 6,000,000 |
| 2008 | Tiger Woods (5) | United States |
270 | –10 | 1,044,000 | 5,800,000 |
| 2007 | Vijay Singh |  Fiji |
272 | –8 | 990,000 | 5,500,000 |
| Bay Hill Invitational presented by MasterCard | ||||||
| 2006 | Rod Pampling |  Australia |
274 | –14 | 990,000 | 5,500,000 |
| 2005 | Kenny Perry | United States |
276 | –12 | 900,000 | 5,000,000 |
| 2004 | Chad Campbell | United States |
270 | –18 | 900,000 | 5,000,000 |
| Bay Hill Invitational presented by Cooper Tires | ||||||
| 2003 | Tiger Woods (4) | United States |
269 | –19 | 810,000 | 4,500,000 |
| 2002 | Tiger Woods (3) | United States |
275 | –13 | 720,000 | 4,000,000 |
| Bay Hill Invitational | ||||||
| 2001 | Tiger Woods (2) | United States |
273 | –15 | 630,000 | 3,500,000 |
| 2000 | Tiger Woods | United States |
270 | –18 | 540,000 | 3,000,000 |
| 1999 | Tim Herron | United States |
274 | –14 | 450,000 | 2,500,000 |
| 1998 | Ernie Els | South Africa |
274 | –14 | 360,000 | 2,000,000 |
| 1997 | Phil Mickelson | United States |
272 | –16 | 270,000 | 1,500,000 |
| 1996 | Paul Goydos | United States |
275 | –13 | 216,000 | 1,200,000 |
| Nestle Invitational | ||||||
| 1995 | Loren Roberts (2) | United States |
272 | –16 | 216,000 | 1,200,000 |
| 1994 | Loren Roberts | United States |
275 | –13 | 216,000 | 1,200,000 |
| 1993 | Ben Crenshaw | United States |
280 | –8 | 180,000 | 1,000,000 |
| 1992 | Fred Couples | United States |
269 | –19 | 180,000 | 1,000,000 |
| 1991 | Andrew Magee | United States |
203* | –13 | 180,000 | 1,000,000 |
| 1990 | Robert Gamez | United States |
274 | –14 | 162,000 | 900,000 |
| 1989 | Tom Kite (2) | United States |
278 | –6 | 144,000 | 800,000 |
| Hertz Bay Hill Classic | ||||||
| 1988 | Paul Azinger | United States |
271 | –13 | 135,000 | 750,000 |
| 1987 | Payne Stewart | United States |
264 | –20 | 108,000 | 600,000 |
| 1986 | Dan Forsman | United States |
202* | –11 | 90,000 | 500,000 |
| 1985 | Fuzzy Zoeller | United States |
275 | –9 | 90,000 | 500,000 |
| Bay Hill Classic | ||||||
| 1984 | Gary Koch (2) | United States |
272 | –12 | 72,000 | 400,000 |
| 1983 | Mike Nicolette | United States |
283 | –1 | 63,000 | 350,000 |
| 1982 | Tom Kite | United States |
278 | –6 | 54,000 | 300,000 |
| 1981 | Andy Bean | United States |
266 | –18 | 54,000 | 300,000 |
| 1980 | Dave Eichelberger | United States |
279 | –5 | 54,000 | 300,000 |
| Bay Hill Citrus Classic | ||||||
| 1979 | Bob Byman | United States |
278 | –6 | 45,000 | 250,000 |
| Florida Citrus Open | ||||||
| 1978 | Mac McLendon | United States |
271 | –17 | 40,000 | 200,000 |
| 1977 | Gary Koch | United States |
274 | –14 | 40,000 | 200,000 |
| 1976 | Hale Irwin | United States |
270 | –18 | 40,000 | 200,000 |
| 1975 | Lee Trevino | United States |
276 | –12 | 40,000 | 200,000 |
| 1974 | Jerry Heard (2) | United States |
273 | –15 | 30,000 | 150,000 |
| 1973 | Buddy Allin | United States |
265 | –23 | 30,000 | 150,000 |
| 1972 | Jerry Heard | United States |
276 | –12 | 30,000 | 150,000 |
| Florida Citrus Invitational | ||||||
| 1971 | Arnold Palmer | United States |
270 | –18 | 30,000 | 150,000 |
| 1970 | Bob Lunn | United States |
271 | –17 | 30,000 | 150,000 |
| Florida Citrus Open Invitational | ||||||
| 1969 | Ken Still | United States |
278 | –10 | 23,000 | 115,000 |
| 1968 | Dan Sikes | United States |
274 | –14 | 23,000 | 115,000 |
| 1967 | Julius Boros | United States |
274 | –10 | 23,000 | 115,000 |
| 1966 | Lionel Hebert | United States |
279 | –5 | 21,000 | 110,000 |
* rain-shortened to 54 holes
Note: Green highlight indicates scoring records.
Sources[5][6]
Multiple winners
Six men have won this tournament more than once through 2013.
- 8 wins
- Tiger Woods: 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2008, 2009, 2012, 2013
- 2 wins
- Jerry Heard: 1972, 1974
- Gary Koch: 1977, 1984
- Tom Kite: 1982, 1989
- Loren Roberts: 1994, 1995
- Ernie Els: 1998, 2010
Tournament highlights
- 1966: Lionel Hebert wins the inaugural version of the tournament. He wins by two shots over Jack Nicklaus, Charles Coody, and Dick Lytle.[7]
- 1968: Dan Sikes breaks out of a 5-way logjam to win by one shot over Tom Weiskopf. At the end of 54 holes, Sikes had been tied for the lead with Jack Nicklaus, Bruce Devlin, Miller Barber, and Bob Charles. Officials said this was the first time there had ever been a five-way tie for the lead after 54 holes at a PGA event.[8]
- 1971: Arnold Palmer wins the event eight years before he becomes its host. He beats Julius Boros by one shot.[9]
- 1973: Vietnam War veteran Buddy Allin shoots a tournament record 23 under par to breeze to an eight shot victory over Charles Coody.[10]
- 1974: Jerry Heard becomes the tournament's first two-time winner. He beats Homero Blancas and Jim Jamieson by two shots.[11]
- 1976: Early on a Monday morning, Hale Irwin defeats Kermit Zarley on the sixth hole of a sudden death playoff after play was suspended due to darkness on Sunday.[12] While speaking to the press on Sunday evening, Irwin blamed NBC Sports for there not being enough time to finish the playoff.[13]
- 1979: Bob Byman wins the first edition of the tournament to be played at Bay Hill. He defeats John Schroeder on the second hole of a sudden death playoff.[14]
- 1980: Dave Eichelberger wins by three shots over Leonard Thompson.[15] The temperatures were so cold that Eichelberger wore panty hose during the final round.[16]
- 1982: Tom Kite chips in for birdie on the first hole of a sudden death playoff to defeat Jack Nicklaus and Denis Watson.[17]
- 1984: Gary Koch shoots a final round 63 before defeating George Burns on the second hole of a sudden death playoff. Koch is the only champion in the tournament's history to win both at Rio Pinar and Bay Hill.[18]
- 1985: Coming off back surgery less than six months previously, Fuzzy Zoeller wins at Bay Hill. He finishes two shots ahead of Tom Watson.[19]
- 1987: Payne Stewart, who owned a home just off Bay Hill's 12th tee, notches his third career PGA Tour title. He beats David Frost by three shots.[20]
- 1989: Tom Kite wins for a second time at Bay Hill by defeating Davis Love III on the second hole of a sudden death playoff. Before the playoff took place, both Kite and Love made double bogey on the tournament's 72nd hole.[21]
- 1990: Robert Gamez holes a 7-iron on the 72nd hole for an eagle two allowing him to win by one shot over Greg Norman.[22]
- 1992: Fred Couples wins by nine shots over Gene Sauers. With his win, Couples becomes the #1 ranked player in the world.[23]
- 1995: Loren Roberts becomes the first returning champion to successfully defend his title. He beats Brad Faxon by two shots.[24]
- 1996: Paul Goydos wins for the first time on the PGA Tour. He beats Jeff Maggert by one shot and Tom Purtzer by two.[25] During the tournament's second round, Purtzer incurred a two-shot penalty by playing the wrong ball.
- 1998: During the tournament's final round, John Daly hits six balls in the water on the sixth hole. He finishes the hole with a final score of 18.[26]
- 2000: Tiger Woods wins at Bay Hill for the first time. He beats Davis Love III by four shots.[27]
- 2003: Tiger Woods becomes the first golfer since Gene Sarazen at the 1930 Miami Open to win the same tournament in four consecutive years. He wins by 11 shots over Kirk Triplett, Stewart Cink, Kenny Perry, and Brad Faxon.[28]
- 2005: Kenny Perry wins by two shots over Vijay Singh. The two players were tied for the lead till Singh made double bogey at the 72nd hole.[29]
- 2008: Tiger Woods sinks a 25-foot birdie putt at the 72nd hole to defeat Bart Bryant by one shot.[30] It's Woods fifth Bay Hill triumph in addition to his winning the fifth consecutive tournament he had played in.
- 2009: Tiger Woods wins at Bay Hill for the 2nd straight year and sixth time overall. He birdies the 72nd hole to defeat Sean O'Hair by one shot.[31]
- 2012: Tiger Woods wins the Arnold Palmer Invitational for the seventh time, ending a winless streak on the PGA Tour dating back 27 events to September 13, 2009.[32]
- 2013: Tiger Woods wins for a record-tying eighth time at the Arnold Palmer Invitational while holing three eagles during the week, the first time a player has accomplished the feat since 2001; he ascends to the number 1 ranking since October 2010.[33]
References
- ^ "MasterCard Extends Presenting Sponsorship of Arnold Palmer Invitational". MasterCard.com (Press release). March 21, 2012. Retrieved March 26, 2012.
- ^ "MasterCard Extends Sponsorship". ArnoldPalmerInvitational.com. March 21, 2012. Retrieved March 26, 2012.
- ^ "What's at stake for 2008". PGA Tour. November 1, 2007. Retrieved March 18, 2013.
- ^ "Course: Bay Hill Club". PGA Tour. 2013. Retrieved March 27, 2013.
- ^ Arnold Palmer Invitational - Winners - at www.pgatour.com
- ^ Arnold Palmer Invitational - Winners - at www.golfobserver.com
- ^ Hebert Discards Remedy, Wins Florida Citrus Open
- ^ Dan Sikes wins Citrus Open
- ^ Palmer Cops Citrus Open
- ^ Allin Citrus Champ
- ^ Jerry Heard regains winning touch, takes Citrus Open on 273 total
- ^ Citrus Open playoff won by Hale Irwin
- ^ Irwin Raps TV For Late Start
- ^ Byman steps up in Citrus
- ^ Eichelberger wins chilly Bay Hill
- ^ Golfers required panty hose
- ^ Kite wins Bay Hill Golf in three-man playoff
- ^ Gary Koch wins Bay Hill playoff
- ^ Fuzzy Zoeller wins Bay Hill Classic
- ^ Stewart wins Bay Hill by 3
- ^ Kite catches Love and wins playoff
- ^ Spectacular eagle wins for Gamez
- ^ Sizzling Couples coasts by 9 shots in Nestle laugher
- ^ Roberts and Bay Hill Links Seem Made for Each Other
- ^ Goydos fires 67 to capture Bay Hill
- ^ Six In Lake Give Daly an 18
- ^ Woods Triumphs Again, Leaving Love in Awe
- ^ Ailing Woods wins 4th straight Bay Hill by 11 strokes
- ^ Perry Wins Bay Hill After Singh Suffers Rocky Finish
- ^ Tiger birdies 18 for title
- ^ Golf-Woods overhauls O'Hair for comeback win at Bay Hill
- ^ Donegan, Lawrence (March 26, 2012). "Tiger Woods ends PGA Tour drought with Arnold Palmer Invitational win". The Guardian. Retrieved March 28, 2013.
- ^ Schmitz, Brian (March 26, 2013). "Tiger Woods is back at No. 1 after winning Arnold Palmer Invitational". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved March 28, 2013.