The PGA Tour heads to Orlando for the 2025 Arnold Palmer Invitational (API), marking the second stop of the Florida Swing. Held annually at the Bay Hill Club and Lodge, this prestigious tournament, which began in 1967, is one of the Tour’s marquee events. Since 2007, the tournament has proudly borne the name of legendary golfer Arnold Palmer, also known as “The King.”
The Field and Prize Purse
This year’s Arnold Palmer Invitational will feature a 72-player field, with the world’s top eight players and 45 of the top 50 golfers in the standings set to compete. The tournament is known for its star-studded field, and this year is no different. Scottie Scheffler, the defending champion, will be looking to secure a third victory at Bay Hill, while past winners like Rory McIlroy (2018) and Jason Day (2016) will also be in action.
New to the API is Jackson Koivun, an Auburn University sophomore who earned an exemption through the 2024 Arnold Palmer Cup. Additionally, four sponsor exemptions will be given to Rafael Campos, Mackenzie Hughes, Min Woo Lee, and Justin Rose. Surprising many, Rickie Fowler, Jordan Spieth, and Gary Woodland did not qualify and were not granted exemptions.
As one of three legacy tournaments-along with the Genesis Invitational and Jack Nicklaus’s Memorial Tournament-there will be a cut: the low 50 players and ties plus anyone within 10 shots of the lead will move on to the weekend.
The tournament also offers a significant $20 million purse, with the winner set to earn a hefty $4 million. Additionally, the API serves as the first of four The Open Qualifying Series events. The top player who makes the cut but is not already exempt will earn a spot in the 2025 British Open.
The Course
Bay Hill, designed by Arnold Palmer in 2009, is one of the most challenging courses on the PGA Tour. The par-72 layout stretches 7,466 yards and is notoriously tough, ranking as the 10th hardest course on Tour in 2024. With water on nine holes and 84 sand traps, the course offers a true test of skill. The hardest hole is the 480-yard par-4 9th, which was ranked as the 26th toughest hole last year. The par-4 15th and par-4 8th are also known for their difficulty.
Changes to the layout this year include adjustments to the par-3 17th, where the traditional beach bunker in front of the green has been replaced with rough, though the hole will still be guarded by several bunkers.
How to Watch the Arnold Palmer Invitational 2025?
The 2025 Arnold Palmer Invitational will be broadcast across multiple channels, providing fans with comprehensive coverage of all four rounds.
Thursday and Friday: 2-6 p.m. ET on Golf Channel
Saturday: 12:30-2:30 p.m. ET on Golf Channel, 2:30-6 p.m. ET on NBC
Sunday: 12:30-2:30 p.m. ET on Golf Channel, 2:30-6 p.m. ET on NBC
In addition, ESPN+ will offer featured coverage each day, starting at 7:30 a.m. ET on Thursday and Friday, and 8:00 a.m. ET on the weekend. ESPN+ coverage will run until 6:00 p.m. ET each day.
Round 1 Tee Times
7:40 a.m. – Brian Campbell, Jacob Bridgeman
7:50 a.m. – Tom Kim, Min Woo Lee
8:00 a.m. – J.J. Spaun, Aldrich Potgieter
8:10 a.m. – Aaron Rai, Sungjae Im
8:20 a.m. – Max Homa, Adam Hadwin
8:30 a.m. – Taylor Pendrith, Sahith Theegala
8:40 a.m. – Billy Horschel, Jason Day
8:50 a.m. – Tommy Fleetwood, Cameron Young
9:05 a.m. – Akshay Bhatia, Matthieu Pavon
9:15 a.m. – Davis Thompson, Eric Cole
9:25 a.m. – Austin Eckroat, Byeong Hun An
9:35 a.m. – Cam Davis, Si Woo Kim
9:45 a.m. – Ludvig Åberg, Scottie Scheffler
9:55 a.m. – Hideki Matsuyama, Viktor Hovland
10:05 a.m. – Keegan Bradley, Collin Morikawa
10:20 a.m. – Andrew Novak, Max McGreevy
10:30 a.m. – Daniel Berger, Ben Griffin
10:40 a.m. – Lucas Glover, Michael Kim
10:50 a.m. – Isaiah Salinda, Jackson Koivun (a)
11:00 a.m. – Maverick McNealy, Mackenzie Hughes
11:10 a.m. – Nick Taylor, Sam Stevens
11:20 a.m. – J.T. Poston, Brian Harman
11:35 a.m. – Thomas Detry, Adam Scott
11:45 a.m. – Robert MacIntyre, Matt Fitzpatrick
11:55 a.m. – Denny McCarthy, Max Greyserman
12:05 p.m. – Stephan Jaeger, Corey Conners
12:15 p.m. – Nick Dunlap, Will Zalatoris
12:25 p.m. – Chris Kirk, Christiaan Bezuidenhout
12:35 p.m. – Sepp Straka, Tony Finau
12:50 p.m. – Russell Henley, Tom Hoge
1:00 p.m. – Rory McIlroy, Shane Lowry
1:10 p.m. – Xander Schauffele, Justin Thomas
1:20 p.m. – Wyndham Clark, Sam Burns
1:30 p.m. – Joe Highsmith, Patrick Cantlay
1:40 p.m. – Justin Rose, Patrick Rodgers
1:50 p.m. – Harris English, Rafael Campos
Read the full article here
