Arnold Palmer Invitational

Halfway through the Arnold Palmer Invitational, Bay Hill's dormant greens have become unusually firm and fast, challenging even top players. Scottie Scheffler described them as 'already dead' after a frustrating bogey on the 18th hole. Daniel Berger leads by five shots at 13 under par despite the tough conditions.

8 Mwezi wa tatu, 2026 Imeripotiwa na AI

Daniel Berger held a two-shot lead at 13-under par through 15 holes when the third round of the 2026 Arnold Palmer Invitational was suspended due to darkness. Akshay Bhatia trails at 11-under through 16 holes, while Cameron Young, Sepp Straka and Collin Morikawa sit at 9-under. Rory McIlroy withdrew before his tee time due to back spasms.

Joel Dahmen, a 38-year-old golfer from Clarkston, Washington, has earned a place in the $20 million Arnold Palmer Invitational at Bay Hill despite failing to retain his full PGA Tour card. His recent strong performances, including a tie for seventh at Torrey Pines and a tie for ninth at the Cognizant Classic, secured him the final spot by five FedEx Cup points over Jordan Spieth. Dahmen expressed excitement about competing in the signature event alongside top players like world No. 1 Scottie Scheffler.

5 Mwezi wa tatu, 2026 Imeripotiwa na AI

Justin Thomas returned to competitive golf after 158 days away due to back surgery, posting a 7-over 79 in the opening round of the Arnold Palmer Invitational. The two-time major winner cited rust and putting woes as key factors in his disappointing performance at Bay Hill Club & Lodge. Despite some positives in his short game, Thomas faces a challenging path to make the cut.

The 2026 Arnold Palmer Invitational presented by Mastercard, the PGA Tour's third Signature Event, begins Thursday, March 5-8, at Bay Hill Club & Lodge in Orlando, Florida. World No. 1 Scottie Scheffler is the clear betting favorite at +310 (FanDuel) to +350 across sportsbooks, headlining a 72-player field including the top 10 in the Official World Golf Ranking. Rory McIlroy (+900 to +1000) and defending champion Russell Henley (+3000) are among the top contenders at the $20 million par-72 layout.

1 Mwezi wa tatu, 2026 Imeripotiwa na AI

The field for the 2026 Arnold Palmer Invitational has been set at 72 players following the Cognizant Classic, with qualifiers from the Aon Next 10 and Aon Swing 5 categories joining sponsor invitees. Notable newcomers include Cognizant Classic winner Nico Echavarria and Texas sophomore Daniel Bennett making his PGA Tour debut. The event marks the third signature tournament of the season at Bay Hill Club and Lodge.