The 2025 Arnold Palmer Invitational: 5 crazy facts you didn't know about the prestigious Bay Hill event
03/06/2025 10:00 AM
The PGA Tour’s Arnold Palmer Invitational in Florida is one of the most hotly-contested events of the season with the Tour’s elite competing at prestigious Bay Hill.
The Bay Hill Club and Lodge, to give it its full name, had been privately owned by seven-time Major champion Arnold Palmer since 1974 and is one of the best courses in Orlando.
It’ll be the second consecutive event in the Sunshine State after the Cognizant Classic was won by maiden Tour champion, Joe Highsmith, last weekend.
Meanwhile, in the Caribbean, the Puerto Rico Open will unfold simultaneously with the Arnold Palmer Invitational with a field of emerging stars vying for PGA Tour glory.
A mix of sunshine and good vibes as well as anticipation and tradition awaits the coveted tournament in Florida with defending champion Scottie Scheffler looking for a first tournament win of 2025.
Here are five facts you may not have known about the Arnie’s iconic event…
It could come down to the wire
The Bay Hill Golf Club’s signature 18th hole is renowned for its unpredictability and role in creating dramatic tournament finishes.
A 458-yard par four, it has one of the most intriguing banana-shaped greens that is sandwiched between three bunkers.
Since 2000 the tournament has seen 12 one-stroke victories, highlighting the potential for final hole drama.
The putting surface is lined with jagged rocks and a pond – just in case it needed any more jeopardy.
Red cardigan tradition
In line with other golfing traditions, the iconic red cardigan was first awarded at the Arnold Palmer Invitational in 2017.
In tournaments such as the Masters, a green jacket is awarded to the champion to reflect the historical nature of the event.
The red cardigan was introduced in respect of Arnold Palmer’s iconic style following his passing in 2016.
A prestigious event that’s worth its weight in gold
While the top-ranked players will be fighting for victory in a star-studded field, the prospect of a three-year PGA Tour exemption for the champion is a serious incentive for the slightly lesser lights on the circuit.
A two-year exemption is standard for PGA Tour events but the extra year on offer and reduced field of 72 highlights the prestigious nature of the ‘invitational’ event.
Home to Floridian wildlife
The course’s natural environment has historically been home to various wildlife and there was once a famous family of bobcats near the 17th green.
You may also see otters inhabiting the lakes in a diverse, tropical ecosystem that only adds to the beauty of the Florida gold course.
The first Bermuda grass of its kind
Bay Hill was the first course to be planted with Tifway Bermuda grass, a tough and resilient grass that has become commonplace on golf courses around the world.
The heavy foot traffic through 72 holes of tournament golf can have damaging effects on the course but the Tifway Bermuda grass holds up well, maintaining the picturesque fairways and tee boxes.
READ MORE: Fantastic Florida: The three best golf resorts anyone can play in the Sunshine State
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