As we find ourselves deep into the heart of the PGA Tour season, the Arnold Palmer Invitational 2025 is garnering profound attention. Already we’ve seen Hideki Matsuyama’s remarkable performance at The Sentry, where the Japanese prodigy set new records with a phenomenal 35-under par 257, outshining LIV pro Cameron Smith’s previous record. Not far behind, the Irish golf titan, Rory McIlroy, marked his victorious return to the PGA tour with a triumph at the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am. Intriguingly, both these prestigious events did not enforce a cut, thus were limited field events.
Fast forward to the Genesis Invitational held at the rugged and challenging Torrey Pines Golf Course. Ludvig Aberg emerged victorious against formidable opponents such as Scottie Scheffler, Matsuyama, and McIlroy, marking his second PGA Tour win. A significant difference in this event was the introduction of a cut after the first 36 holes, reducing the 72-man field to the top 50 and those within 10 strokes of the leaderboard. This format will be carried forward to the 2025 Arnold Palmer Invitational.
To dispel any lingering doubts, the 2025 Arnold Palmer Invitational will indeed implement a cut. The second round will only include the top 50 and any player within 10 strokes of the leader. The 2024 event concluded its second round with six players tied for the top spot with a score of -7. This meant that in addition to the top 50, anyone with a +3 or better also progressed to the next round.
A brief exploration into the event’s history reveals that the cut has been a longstanding tradition since the tournament’s inception in 1966, originally known as the Florida Citrus Open Invitational. Over the years, the format of the event has evolved. During the golden era of Nicklaus, Palmer, and Player, the tournament featured a 144-player field which continued until 2021 when Bryson DeChambeau clinched the last 144-player Arnold Palmer Invitational. The PGA Tour revised the format in 2022, reducing the field to 120. This format was short-lived and by 2024, the event featured only 69 golfers. In 2025, the tournament is set to showcase 72 of the top PGA Tour players.
The slight increase in player numbers in 2025 is dependent on the number of golfers who qualify on merit. If high-ranking players like Rickie Fowler or Jordan Spieth were to secure a solo 4th or better in the 2025 Cognizant Classic, they would likely feature in the Arnold Palmer Invitational, potentially expanding the field to 73 or 74 players.
As we head into the 2025 Arnold Palmer Invitational, speculation is rife about potential winners. Out of the top 10 golfers in the world according to the OWGR rankings, only three have managed to win the Arnold Palmer Invitational. The list of past winners also includes the name of Bryson DeChambeau, who powered his way to victory in 2021. Other potential contenders are Scottie Scheffler and Rory McIlroy. McIlroy, a four-time major champion, was the first to win this event in 2018, while Scheffler, the current world No. 1, won in 2022 and again in 2024. With these two titans vying for another victory, the anticipation for the 2025 Arnold Palmer Invitational is palpable.
Former champion Jason Day will also be competing at the Bay Hill Golf Course in Florida. Who will emerge as the victor in the 2025 Arnold Palmer Invitational? Only time will tell.