Arnold Palmer Invitational 2026: Scheffler Leads Loaded Field at Bay Hill
The PGA Tour’s “Florida swing” continues this weekend with the Arnold Palmer Invitational at the legendary Bay Hill Club & Lodge. This year’s tournament boasts a particularly strong field, a contrast to last week’s Cognizant Classic which lacked top-25 ranked players. The limited-field Signature Event features all players ranked within the top 20 in the World Golf Rankings, along with 42 of the top 50.
Key Players in the Field
Leading the charge is world number one Scottie Scheffler, alongside Rory McIlroy. Too competing are defending champion Russell Henley, and all six PGA Tour winners from the 2026 season thus far: Chris Gotterup, Justin Rose, Collin Morikawa, Jacob Bridgeman, and Nico Echavarria.
Justin Thomas’s Return
One of the most anticipated players is Justin Thomas, making his first Tour appearance since undergoing back surgery in November to address a disc issue causing hip pain PGA Tour. Thomas acknowledges the challenges of returning after a six-month absence, stating he expects to be “rusty in terms of competitiveness.” He emphasized the mental aspect of the game will be his primary focus as he returns to competition.
Tournament Details: TV Schedule and Streaming Options
Here’s how to follow the action:
- Thursday, March 5: Golf Channel (2-6 p.m. ET)
- Friday, March 6: Golf Channel (2-6 p.m. ET)
- Saturday, March 7: Golf Channel (12:30-2:30 p.m. ET) | NBC (2:30-6 p.m. ET)
- Sunday, March 8: Golf Channel (12:30-2:30 p.m. ET) | NBC (2:30-6 p.m. ET)
Rounds 1 and 2 will be broadcast nationally on Golf Channel starting at 2 p.m. ET on March 5-6. Rounds 3 and 4 will commence on Golf Channel at 12:30 p.m. ET before switching to NBC at 2:30 p.m. ET on March 7-8.
Streaming Options
Fans can stream the tournament via:
- Peacock: Carries NBC and Golf Channel coverage.
- Fubo: Offers Golf Channel and a free trial for new subscribers.
- ESPN App: Featured group and hole streaming is available on PGA Tour Live on ESPN+ (with a Select plan).
Tee Times – Round 1 (Thursday)
Here are a few notable tee times for the first round (all times ET):
- 10:20 a.m.: Scottie Scheffler, Russell Henley
- 10:30 a.m.: Aldrich Potgieter, Adam Scott
- 1:20 p.m.: Jacob Bridgeman, Chris Gotterup
- 1:30 p.m.: Rory McIlroy, Viktor Hovland
- 1:20 p.m.: Justin Thomas, Hideki Matsuyama
A full list of tee times can be found here.
Scottie Scheffler’s Performance at Bay Hill
Scottie Scheffler has a strong track record at Bay Hill, winning the tournament in 2024 with a score of 15-under. He also finished tied for 11th in 2025 at 4-under PGATour.com.
Betting Odds
According to BetMGM, Scottie Scheffler is the favorite to win the tournament with odds of +333. Rory McIlroy follows at +900, with Tommy Fleetwood, Collin Morikawa, Matt Fitzpatrick, and Xander Schauffele all at +2200 Yahoo Sports.
Tournament Information
The Arnold Palmer Invitational is held at Arnold Palmer’s Bay Hill Club & Lodge in Orlando, Florida. The par-72 course measures 7,466 yards. The event features a $20 million purse, with $4 million awarded to the winner.