By TERRY LYONS, Editor of Digital Sports Desk
ORLANDO – The Arnold Palmer Invitational presented by Mastercard is the eighth event of the 2026 PGA TOUR Season and the third of eight Signature Events. Like all Signature Events, the limited-field event offers increased FedExCup points (700) and a heightened purse ($20 million), however, additional elements set the three player-hosted events apart (The Genesis Invitational, Arnold Palmer Invitational presented by Mastercard and the Memorial Tournament presented by Workday):
- Only Signature Events to feature a cut: 36-hole cut, low 50 players and ties and any additional players within 10 strokes of the 36-hole lead
- Twenty percent prize allocation to winner ($4 million), up from 18 percent
- One tournament host exemption, not restricted to PGA TOUR members: The Genesis Invitational (Sahith Theegala, Charlie Sifford Memorial Exemption/finished T22), Arnold Palmer Invitational presented by Mastercard (Daniel Bennett, Arnold Palmer Cup Exemption), the Memorial Tournament presented by Workday (TBD/Jack Nicklaus Award)
The Arnold Palmer Invitational presented by Mastercard is the first of four PGA TOUR events (the Memorial Tournament presented by Workday, RBC Canadian Open, Genesis Scottish Open) that is part of The Open Qualifying Series (OQS).
One spot will be available this week into the 154th Open at Royal Birkdale. The top player, not otherwise exempt, that makes the cut at the Arnold Palmer Invitational presented by Mastercard will earn an exemption. In the event of a tie for a qualifying place, the player with the higher ranking in the OWGR at the beginning of the week will earn the spot.
There has not been a playoff at the Arnold Palmer Invitational presented by Mastercard since 1999; in the 26 events since then, 14 have been decided by one stroke.
The 2025 FedEx Cup champion, Tommy Fleetwood, will make his 10th start at this event, with three top-10 finishes (T10/2017, T3/2019, T10/2021); most recently finished T11 in 2025.
Arnold Palmer Invitational | Tournament Facts
COURSE: Arnold Palmer’s Bay Hill Club & Lodge, Orlando, Florida
YARDS/PAR: 7,466 yards/Par 72
ARCHITECTS: Dick Wilson/Joe Lee
PRIZE Money – Purse: $20,000,000 with Winner: $4,000,000
DEFENDING CHAMPION: Russell Henley
PAST RESULTS: (link)
OVERVIEW: (link)
FEDEx CUP Points to Winner: 700
SOCIAL MEDIA: #PGATour #FedExCup @APInv and @PuertoRicoOpen