February 28, 2020
World No. 1, Past Champion Rory McIlroy and No. 3 Brooks Koepka Lead Field In the Arnold Palmer Invitational Presented by Mastercard
ORLANDO, Fla. (February 28, 2020) – World No. 1 Rory McIlroy, the 2018 winner, and No. 3 Brooks Koepka lead a list of four of the top-10 players in the Official World Golf Ranking who have committed to compete in the Arnold Palmer Invitational presented by Mastercard March 2-8 at Bay Hill Club & Lodge.
The other top-10 players to commit are No. 6 Adam Scott and No. 8 Patrick Reed as of the 5 p.m. deadline Friday.
Brooks Koepka, winner of seven PGA TOUR events, including four major championships (2017 & 2018 U.S. Open and the 2018 & 2019 PGA Championship), will play at Bay Hill for the fifth time. His best finish was a tie for 26th in 2014.
Koepka, the 2018 PGA TOUR player of the year, has made five starts this season, returning after three months away due to a left knee injury. The 29-year-old has a season best finish of a tie for 43rd at The Genesis Invitational.
Another veteran player who has enjoyed success at Bay Hill is returning. World Golf Hall of Famer Phil Mickelson, who won the 1997 Arnold Palmer Invitational presented by Mastercard, has joined the field. A 44-time PGA TOUR winner, Mickelson, 49, will be making his 16th start in the tournament, where in addition to his win he has three top-five finishes.
Additional past champions in the field include Francesco Molinari, who won the event last year, Rory McIlroy (2018) Marc Leishman (2017), Jason Day (2016), Matt Every (2014, 2015), Vijay Singh (2017) and Robert Gamez (1990) are other former winners in the field.
In all, 13 of the top 25 in the world and 20 of the top 25 in the current FedExCup Standings, populate the 120-player field.
This year marks the 42nd edition of the tournament that bears the name of golf legend Arnold Palmer. Mr. Palmer brought the former Florida Citrus Open to his Bay Hill Club in 1979 and turned it into one of the most elite events in golf. It offers a purse of $9.3 million, one of the richest on the PGA TOUR, and the winner will receive a three-year TOUR exemption instead of two years. For the second time, the tournament will be the first event in The Open Qualifying Series USA, meaning three spots for The 149th Open at Royal St. George’s are up for grabs to the leading players (not otherwise exempt) who finish in the top 10 and ties.
About the Arnold Palmer Invitational presented by Mastercard
The Arnold Palmer Invitational presented by Mastercard, March 5-8, 2020, is Central Florida’s signature sporting event and a highlight of the PGA TOUR, attracting the greatest names in golf. All proceeds from the tournament benefit the Arnold & Winnie Palmer Foundation, whose mission is to create a brighter future for our youth – through supporting children’s health, youth character development and nature-focused wellness.
