There’s something different in the air at Bay Hill this week. It’s not just another PGA Tour stop. It’s a homecoming, a pilgrimage, a chance to honor one of golf’s greatest legends on the course he loved most.
Tournament Director Drew Donovan and event ambassador Sam Saunders sat down with media Tuesday to discuss what makes the Arnold Palmer Invitational unlike any other event on the tour calendar. Their message was clear: this tournament is about more than birdies and bogeys. It’s about preserving a legacy.
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More Than Just a Trophy
“The difference here is it’s Mr. Palmer’s home,” Donovan explained. “We’re trying to shine a light on the legacy of Arnold Palmer this week. What makes that unique is he was one of the greatest PGA Tour players to be in the game.”
That legacy manifests in tangible ways. Players don’t just compete for prize money and FedExCup points. They’re chasing the chance to wear Arnold Palmer’s iconic red cardigan on Sunday, a tradition that carries weight far beyond its wool fabric.
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“I keep hearing over and over again that these guys want to win Mr. Palmer’s tournament and wear that red cardigan on Sunday,” Donovan said.
A Grandson’s Pride
Arnold Palmer’s grandson, Sam Sounders, at the Arnold Palmer Invitational at Bay Hill Club & Lodge. Photo Credit: Marty Jean-Louis/Alamy Live News
For Sam Saunders, Arnold Palmer’s grandson, the tournament represents something deeply personal. Watching the world’s best golfers descend on his grandfather’s beloved Bay Hill Club and Lodge fills him with a pride that’s both professional and familial.
“There’s so much that goes into a tournament week in week out on the PGA Tour, and to have everyone come here to my grandfather’s home, a place that he loved, it’s really special,” Saunders said. “It’s something I know he really got a kick out of when everybody was here. And they wanted to be here.”
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The feedback from players has been overwhelmingly positive, something Saunders attributes to the tireless work of the Bay Hill staff throughout the year. When tournament week arrives and the world’s attention turns to central Florida, that dedication shines through.
Connecting Past and Future
Daniel Bennett speaks to the media ahead of the Arnold Palmer Invitational presented by Mastercard at Bay Hill Club & Lodge. March 3, 2026. Credit Image: Debby Wong/ZUMA Press Wire
One of the tournament’s most meaningful traditions is its connection to the Arnold Palmer Cup, a premier amateur team event featuring both men and women golfers. This year, 24 to 25 players in the API field are Arnold Palmer Cup alumni, including exemptions Chris Kirk and Billy Horschel.
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Daniel Bennett serves as this year’s Arnold Palmer Cup exemption, continuing a tradition that has launched numerous professional careers. Saunders recalled playing alongside Maverick McNealy when McNealy held that exemption as an amateur.
“That event is still a little bit of an unknown to a lot of people in the world of golf, and I’m so excited for people to be able to start following and really becoming fans of what the Arnold Palmer Cup is,” Saunders said.
The Arnold Palmer Cup will head to Tralee, Ireland, next year – Palmer’s first overseas golf course design – before moving to Cherry Hills in 2027, ensuring the event continues to honor Palmer’s global impact on the game.
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Constant Evolution
Now, a decade since Arnold Palmer last presided over his tournament, Saunders and his team remain committed to asking themselves a crucial question: What would he want?
“That’s our obligation here to carry on his legacy,” Saunders said. “This is, at the end of the day, this is still his place.”
That commitment to excellence means constant refinement. This year’s course modifications include bunker adjustments on holes 10, 11 and 14, plus the return of hand-mowed short game areas around the greens – a detail that disappeared during COVID due to manpower constraints but has now been restored.
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“If you don’t identify something that could be better the next year, then you’re not really paying attention,” Saunders noted.
Beyond the Ropes
The tournament’s impact extends far beyond the fairways. Proceeds support the Arnold and Winnie Palmer Foundation, which continues Palmer’s mission of using his platform to help others. Local initiatives include supporting junior golf access through U.S. Kids tournaments and ongoing contributions to children’s health in the Orlando community.
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“My granddad used his platform to help others,” Saunders said. “That’s what the Arnold and Winnie Palmer Foundation does.”
As players tee off this week at Bay Hill, they’re not just competing in another tournament. They’re stepping into Arnold Palmer’s living room, honoring a man who paved the way for everything they enjoy today. And if Saunders has anything to say about it, that feeling will never fade.
“There’s a feeling at Bay Hill that people get when they come here,” he said. “That feeling is still here today even 10 years after.”
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PGA of America Golf Professional Brendon Elliott is an award-winning coach and golf writer, who serves as Athlon Sports Senior Golf Writer. Read his recent “The Starter” on R.org where he is their Lead Golf Writer. To stay updated on all of his latest work, sign up for his newsletter or visit his MuckRack Profile.
Related: Volunteers: The Heartbeat of The PGA Tour
Related: Behind the Scenes at Bay Hill: Where Palmer’s Legacy Lives in Every Blade of Grass
Related: Arnold Palmer: The King Who Made Golf Human
This story was originally published by Athlon Sports on Mar 4, 2026, where it first appeared in the Golf section. Add Athlon Sports as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
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