The Arnold Palmer Invitational is set to feature the top 10 players in the world rankings as they take on the challenging Bay Hill Club and Lodge course in Orlando, Fla. The tournament, which tees off on Thursday, is known for its ability to separate the best from the rest, with past champions including Tiger Woods, Scottie Scheffler, Bryson DeChambeau, Rory McIlroy, and Jason Day.

The Legacy of Arnold Palmer

Bay Hill Club and Lodge has long been a proving ground for golf’s elite. Tiger Woods, who won eight times at the course, has often spoken about how the layout tests both skill and mental toughness. The tournament honors Arnold Palmer’s legacy, with the red cardigan awarded to the winner in memory of the golf legend. Scheffler won the red cardigan in 2022 and 2024, and while he placed fourth in 2023 and tied for 11th last season, he remains a strong contender this year.

“I think there’s definitely a special aspect to it,” Scheffler said of winning events that honor the greats of the game. “When you look at a tournament like this, you think about Mr. Palmer’s legacy, not only what he meant to the game, but all the things he did in his community here and in Pennsylvania as well, and also what they did for the game of golf. So there’s always some special meaning with those.”

Scheffler’s Performance and Outlook

Scheffler kicked off his season with a win at The American Express, but since then, he has struggled with slow starts, shooting 73 at the Phoenix Open, 72 at the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am, and 74 at the Genesis Invitational before recovering to finish strongly each time.

Despite these early challenges, Scheffler is not overly concerned. “Last year on tour I led the tour in first round, second round, third round and fourth round scoring,” he said. “So I’m not too concerned over a very small sample size.”

Russell Henley’s Victory and Reflection

Russell Henley, the current World No. 7, added his name to the list of Bay Hill champions last year when he edged Collin Morikawa by one stroke, thanks in part to a chip-in eagle on the 16th hole Sunday.

“Like I said last year, I watched this tournament since I was a little kid, and to see all the amazing finishes coming down 18, and to do that and to play well under pressure and win this tournament, it’s just a dream come true,” Henley said. “It’s still kind of crazy to think that I did that.”

Shane Lowry and McIlroy’s Encouragement

Last week on tour, Irishman Shane Lowry fumbled away a chance to win the Cognizant Classic when he double-bogeyed the 16th and 17th holes, handing the win to Nico Echavarria of Colombia. Lowry is in the field this week to play his fourth event in a row, and he’s heard encouraging words from one of his closest friends in golf.

“I played golf with him on Monday morning. He was fine. He was in good spirits,” McIlroy said. “I reminded him, I double-bogeyed the 16th at PGA National in 2014 to lose the tournament. And I went on to win two majors that year. So I was trying to (say), ‘Look, it’s one event, it was two bad holes, two bad swings. It doesn’t mean that the rest of the year’s going to be bad.'”

Justin Thomas Returns to Action

Finally, the player everyone will be watching is Justin Thomas, who will make his first start on tour since undergoing back surgery in November. Thomas has been cautious about his recovery, emphasizing that he feels 100% but is not engaging in rigorous training sessions.

“I do,” Thomas said when asked if he feels 100%. “Yeah, I’m not necessarily going out and doing any, you know, two-hour long driver sessions by any means — but I didn’t really want to do that before I had surgery, so I definitely don’t now.”

The Arnold Palmer Invitational continues to be a significant event in the golf calendar, drawing top talent and offering a unique challenge that tests the best in the sport. As the field is set to battle Bay Hill, fans and analysts alike are watching closely to see who will emerge as the champion.