A star-studded field featuring former champions Scottie Scheffler and Rory McIlroy will descend on Orlando’s Bay Hill Club & Lodge for the 48th annual Arnold Palmer Invitational.
Scheffler, the 2022 and 2024 API winner, and 2018 winner McIroy headline the 72-player field vying for a $20 million purse, including $4 million to winner.
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The world No. 1 for 140 consecutive weeks dating to May of 2023, Scheffler is among 28 of the top 30 players in the world schedule to tee it up Thursday through Sunday on Palmer’s daunting par-72, 7,466-yard layout. World No. 18 Patrick Reed is seeking PGA reinstatement after leaving for LIV Golf in 2022, while 2020 winner Tyrell Hatton (No. 25) remains a member of the rival tour.
One of eight PGA Tour signature events, the limited-field tournament welcomes winners from the 2025 season, along with the top 50 players from the FedEx Cup standings through the Tour Championship.
Spots also are available through the Aon Next 10 and Aon Swing 5. This past weekend’s Cognizant Classic in Palm Beach Gardens created significant movement for several golfers.
Winner Nico Echavarria moved from No. 15 to No. 2 in the Aon Next 10 standings, which ranks golfers in the top 10 in FedEx Cup points in 2026 who had not qualified for signature events. Austin Smotherman, who tied for second, moved 23 spots to No. 8 to earn his first career signature event.
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Jake Knapp, Min Woo Lee, Pierceson Coody, Ryo Hisatsune, Adam Scott, Aldrich Potgieter, Matt McCarty and Sahith Theegala round out the Next 10.
The Swing 5 is a pathway for players with the most points earned during five non-signature events in 2026. Taylor Moore and Keith Mitchell moved into the mix based on strong showings at the Cognizant Classic. Nicolai Højgaard, Patrick Rodgers and Andrew Putnam also will be at Bay Hill.
Three-time major champion Jordan Spieth, former UF standout Billy Horschel, Max Greyersman and University of Texas sophomore Daniel Bennett received sponsor invitations.
Edgar Thompson can be reached at egthompson@orlandosentinel.com
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