The third anniversary event of the season is already approaching as 72 athletes set the course for Bay Hill Club & Lodge and the 2026 Arnold Palmer Invitational. The tournament, which is the second player-sponsored invitational, is very similar to the Genesis Invitational, as there is a limit to ties among the top 50 players (and players within 10 strokes of the lead) at the halfway point.
Surprisingly, this was Riviera’s biggest concern when world No. 1 Scottie Scheffler had to hit an 8-foot par putt on the 36th hole to start the weekend. Now back in his happy hunting ground of Bay Hill, he’s trying to overcome a number of slow starts as the PGA Tour continues to relocate to the East Coast.
Despite ranking outside the top 100 in first-round scoring average, Scheffler remains at the top of the PGA Tour in overall scoring average and total strokes gained. He is on the verge of winning his third cardigan in the past five years, while world No. 2 Rory McIlroy is on track for his second. McIlroy, who has done everything but win since winning the title in 2018, has made his presence felt in his first two starts on the PGA Tour in 2026.
As McIlroy continues to perform at an elite level, joining the winner’s circle feels inevitable at this point. The same goes for players like Tommy Fleetwood and Jake Knapp, the latter of whom was the second-best player on the PGA Tour this young season in strokes gained and overall scoring average.
Recent winners like Collin Morikawa and Justin Rose are hoping to continue their momentum in Florida, with Jacob Bridgman and Chris Gottapp gearing up for their tournament debuts. Fan favorites Justin Thomas and Sungjae Im will both return to action after missing the first few months of the season due to injury.
Rickie Fowler, Jordan Spieth, Patrick Cantlay and Sam Barnes are among the players looking for their first win in a long time, while major champions such as Xander Schauffele, Matt Fitzpatrick, Shane Lowry and Adam Scott round out the run.
2026 Arnold Palmer Invitational Schedule
date: March 5th to March 8th
position: Arnold Palmer’s Bay Hill Club & Lodge — Orlando, Florida
Par: 72 | Yardage: 7,466 | Architect: Dick Wilson & Joe Lee
wallet: 20 million dollars
2026 Arnold Palmer Invitational Field, Odds
Odds from FanDuel Sportsbook
- Scotty Scheffler (7/2): I think it’s time to start a new top 10. Scheffler finished 12th in his last start at Riviera, falling outside the top 10 for the first time since last season’s Players Championship. The good news is he’s been around that spot in all five trips to Bay Hill, posting five top-15 finishes, including wins in 2022 and 2024. Scheffler is in the top 20 in every stroke gained category except approach, where he checks in at 57th. PGA Tour.
- Rory McIlroy (10-1): The decision to return to blade irons appeared to be the right one through the eighth round of the PGA Tour. McIlroy was great from tee to green at the Genesis Invitational and could have won if his putter cooperated on Sunday. The 2018 champion has never finished outside the top 30 at Bay Hill and has six top-10 finishes in his past nine outings.
- Tommy Fleetwood (20-1)
- Matt Fitzpatrick (25-1): Current forms and course histories are converging for the British. Fitzpatrick arrived at Florida with three consecutive top-25 finishes, where his driving and approach play were at a level that produced major championships. Fitzpatrick’s play throughout the year at Bay Hill has been impressive as well, with five top-15 finishes in his last seven starts.
- Xander Schauffele (25-1): This was Schauffele’s return from injury a season ago, and he was struggling to shake off the rust with his Florida swing. This year could be different as he continues to have two quality matches in a row, most recently in the form of a contention at the Genesis Invitational. The two-time major champion has never finished inside the top 20, despite looking very well suited for this course.
- Collin Morikawa (25-1): It was a tournament he should have won until last season when it didn’t happen. Since then, Morikawa has moved on from Schneid, aiming to replicate his momentum at Pebble Beach and Riviera at Bay Hill. His exceptional driving accuracy and long-iron proficiency give him an edge over the competition at this venue, but questions about his short game will ultimately need to be answered if he is to become the second multiple winner on Tour this week.
- Harris English (30-1)
- Kim Si Woo (33-1)
- Russell Henry (33-1)
- Hideki Matsuyama (33-1)
2026 Arnold Palmer Invitational Player Selection
Who will win the 2026 Arnold Palmer Invitational? Who is the long shot that will shock the golf world? Visit SportsLine now to see the predicted leaderboardsfind everything from 16 golf major nailed models for the weekend.
