API preview: Top players assemble to tame Bay Hill

The Florida swing rolls on for the PGA TOUR, with the Arnold Palmer Invitational teeing off at Bay Hill this week.

The fourth of eight signature events of the 2024 season brings a loaded field to Arnie's place, with nine of the top 10 players in the world making the start. The historic venue has been the scene of so many memorable moments over the years, with many featuring Tiger Woods in his astonishing eight victories at the course.

Woods won't be in the field this week but does seem likely to make the start next week at TPC Sawgrass. However, Rory McIlroy, Scottie Scheffler, Jordan Spieth, and Viktor Hovland bring plenty of pop to the tournament.

When: March 7-10
Where: Bay Hill Club and Lodge, Orlando, Florida

How to watch (all times ET)

Last year's result

Kurt Kitayama won for the first time on TOUR in a dramatic final round at Bay Hill. The 54-hole leader was cruising on the opening stretch Sunday before a triple-bogey on the ninth hole opened the door to make things interesting down the stretch.

McIlroy and Harris English were out in front of Kitayama and posted 8-under totals to match the leader as he stood on the 17th tee. A clutch tee shot left him with 13 feet for birdie, and he poured in the putt to grab a one-shot lead heading up the last. A clutch par on the iconic finishing hole was enough for him to claim the narrow victory and don the historic red cardigan as champion of Arnie's event.

Recent winners

2023: Kurt Kitayama
2022: Scottie Scheffler
2021: Bryson DeChambeau
2020: Tyrrell Hatton
2019: Francesco Molinari
2018: Rory McIlroy
2017: Marc Leishman
2016: Jason Day

Featured groups

Reasons to watch

The beast of Bay Hill

Bay Hill has earned its reputation as one of the toughest tests on TOUR, with thick rough and firm conditions making any under-par round a strong score. The last four years at the event have yielded an average winning score of just 7-under despite the course being a par-72 layout with four par 5s. This week's weather could see up to 20 millimeters of rain on Wednesday, so the course may not be as fiery as it's been in recent years.

Scottie looks for putting stroke

It feels like it's been almost two years of Scheffler producing historic numbers in strokes gained: tee to green, only to be let down by some very poor putting. The fact he's still the No. 1 player in the OWGR despite ranking 144th on TOUR in putting highlights just how absurd his ball-striking has been. Scheffler returns to a place of a previous triumph this week at Bay Hill - a venue he claimed the title at in 2022 ahead of his Masters win. He also appears to be making an equipment change ahead of the opening round on Thursday, with a mallet-style putter being the only one in his bag.

Will stars shine at Arnie's place?

The absence of contending stars has rendered the opening two months of the PGA TOUR season largely disappointing. Outside of Hideki Matsuyama and Wyndham Clark in a 54-hole shortened event, the winners thus far have included Chris Kirk, Grayson Murray, Nick Dunlap, Matthieu Pavon, Nick Taylor, Jake Knapp, and Austin Eckroat. Knapp and Matsuyama were the only winners with pre-tournament odds under 100-1 - further highlighting how this has been the year of the underdogs. That has to change for the PGA TOUR to grab a stronger audience share for its events, and Bay Hill offers a strong chance for the stars to shine. McIlroy, Scheffler, Spieth, Jason Day, and Hovland have all experienced past success at the venue. The TOUR needs one of its superstars to emerge this week and make Bay Hill must-see television.

Betting odds

Scottie Scheffler +650
Rory McIlroy +950
Viktor Hovland +1,400
Xander Schauffele +1,500
Patrick Cantlay +1,700
Ludvig Aberg +1,900
Jordan Spieth +2,000
Collin Morikawa +2,200
Sam Burns +2,200
Cameron Young +2,500
Max Homa +2,800
Tommy Fleetwood +2,800
Will Zalatoris +2,800
Justin Thomas +3,000
Matthew Fitzpatrick +3,000
Jason Day +3,500
Byeong Hun An +4,000
Min Woo Lee +4,000
Adam Scott +5,000
Harris English +5,000
Hideki Matsuyama +5,000
Keegan Bradley +5,000

Odds via theScore Bet