The third signature occasion of the season is already upon us as a area of 72 gamers units a course for Bay Hill Membership & Lodge and the 2026 Arnold Palmer Invitational. Representing the second player-hosted invitational, the event will look quite a bit just like the Genesis Invitational, as there will likely be a minimize to the highest 50 gamers and ties (in addition to these inside 10 strokes of the lead) on the midway level.
Surprisingly, this was high of thoughts at Riviera as world No. 1 Scottie Scheffler was pressured to make an 8-foot par putt on his thirty sixth gap to see the weekend. Returning to a contented looking floor that’s Bay Hill, the two-time event champion will look to place a slew of gradual begins behind him because the PGA Tour continues its shift to the East Coast.
Scheffler stays atop the PGA Tour in total scoring common and complete strokes gained regardless of rating exterior the highest 100 in Spherical 1 scoring common. He appears to be like to seize his third cardigan within the final 5 years, whereas world No. 2 Rory McIlroy strikes towards his second. Doing all the things however profitable since claiming this title in 2018, McIlroy has made his presence recognized in his first two begins on the PGA Tour in 2026.
McIlroy making a visit to the winner’s circle feels inevitable at this level as he continues to function at an elite stage. The identical could be stated for the likes of Tommy Fleetwood and Jake Knapp, the latter of whom has been the second-best participant — in keeping with strokes gained and total scoring common — on the PGA Tour this younger season.
Current winners like Collin Morikawa and Justin Rose hope to proceed their momentum in Florida, whereas Jacob Bridgeman and Chris Gotterup gear up for his or her event debuts. Fan favorites Justin Thomas and Sungjae Im each return to motion after lacking the primary couple of months of the season as a result of damage.
Rickie Fowler, Jordan Spieth, Patrick Cantlay and Sam Burns are amongst these gamers eyeing their first victories in a protracted interval, whereas main champions corresponding to Xander Schauffele, Matt Fitzpatrick, Shane Lowry and Adam Scott spherical out the motion.
2026 Arnold Palmer Invitational schedule
Dates: Mar. 5-8
Location: Arnold Palmer’s Bay Hill Membership & Lodge — Orlando, Florida
Par: 72 | Yardage: 7,466 | Architect: Dick Wilson & Joe Lee
Purse: $20,000,000
2026 Arnold Palmer Invitational area, odds
Odds by way of FanDuel Sportsbook
- Scottie Scheffler (7/2): Guess it’s time to begin a brand new high 10 streak. Scheffler completed T12 in his final begin at Riviera, marking the primary time since final season’s Gamers Championship that he fell exterior the highest 10. The excellent news is he has been proper round that place in all 5 journeys to Bay Hill, notching 5 high 15 finishes, together with wins in 2022 and 2024. Scheffler is high 20 in each strokes-gained class besides on strategy, the place he checks in at No. 57 on the PGA Tour.
- Rory McIlroy (10-1): The choice to maneuver again to his blade irons appears to be like to have been the right one via eight rounds of PGA Tour play. McIlroy was magnificent from tee to inexperienced on the Genesis Invitational and will have received had his putter cooperated on Sunday. The 2018 champion has by no means completed exterior the highest 30 at Bay Hill and has six high 10 finishes in his final 9 journeys.
- Tommy Fleetwood (20-1)
- Matt Fitzpatrick (25-1): Present type and course historical past are converging for the Englishman. Fitzpatrick arrives in Florida off three straight top-25 finishes, the place his driving and strategy play had been at a stage that produces main championships. Fitzpatrick’s play at Bay Hill all year long has been equally as spectacular with 5 top-15 finishes in his final seven appearances.
- Xander Schauffele (25-1): That is the occasion the place Schauffele made his return from damage a season in the past, as he struggled via the Florida Swing whereas knocking off some rust. This 12 months may show completely different as he has strung collectively two straight high quality outings, the most recent coming within the type of a rivalry run on the Genesis Invitational. The 2-time main champion has by no means completed inside the highest 20 regardless of seemingly being a powerful match for the course.
- Collin Morikawa (25-1): It was his event to win final season till it wasn’t. Morikawa has since gotten off the schneid as he goals to parlay his momentum at Pebble Seaside and Riviera into extra of the identical at Bay Hill. His elite driving accuracy and lengthy iron proficiency give him a leg up on the competitors at this venue, however questions surrounding his brief sport will finally have to be answered if he’s to change into the second multiple-time winner on tour this week.
- Harris English (30-1)
- Si Woo Kim (33-1)
- Russell Henley (33-1)
- Hideki Matsuyama (33-1)
2026 Arnold Palmer Invitational picks
Who will win the 2026 Arnold Palmer Invitational, and which longshots will stun {the golfing} world? Go to SportsLine now to see the projected leaderboard, all from the mannequin that is nailed 16 golf majors heading into the weekend, and discover out.
