The Arnold Palmer Invitational is set to take place in Orlando, Florida, at the Arnold Palmer Bay Hill Club and Lodge from March 5 to March 8. This prestigious event is the third signature event of the PGA Tour season and boasts a hefty purse of $20 million with 700 FedEx Cup points up for grabs.
The field for the Arnold Palmer Invitational is star-studded, with 18 of the top 20 ranked players and 41 of the top 50 players in the world set to tee it up. Notable names like Scottie Scheffler, Rory McIlroy, Tommy Fleetwood, and Justin Rose are all set to compete.
One of the most anticipated storylines of the event is the return of Justin Thomas, who will be making his first start of the season after undergoing a microdiscectomy during the offseason. The two-time major champion has been on a rigorous rehab program and is eager to make his comeback at Bay Hill.
Defending champion Russell Henley will be aiming to become the first player since Matt Every in 2015 to successfully defend his title at Bay Hill. Henley clinched victory last year by a narrow margin, edging out Collin Morikawa for his first win in three years.
The field for the Arnold Palmer Invitational was finalized after the conclusion of the Cognizant Classic, with fifteen players qualifying via the Aon Next 10 and Aon Next 5 categories.
As for the updated field for the 2026 Arnold Palmer Invitational, here is a breakdown:
– Top 50 on the prior year’s FedExCup points list, including players like Tommy Fleetwood, Russell Henley, and Rory McIlroy.
– Aon Next 10 category, featuring players like Jake Knapp and Nico Echavarria.
– Aon Swing 5 category, with names like Nicolai Højgaard and Patrick Rodgers.
– Sponsor Exemptions, including Billy Horschel and Jordan Spieth.
– Unrestricted exemption for the Palmer Cup Award winner.
– Top 30 in the Official World Golf Ranking who are PGA Tour members.
– Current FedExCup points list qualifiers like Michael Thorbjornsen and Joel Dahman.
With such a strong field assembled for the Arnold Palmer Invitational, golf fans are in for a treat as they witness some of the best players in the world compete for glory at Bay Hill. Stay tuned for what promises to be an exciting and action-packed tournament.
[Edited by Shobhit Kukreti]
