In the wake of the first day of the Arnold Palmer Invitational, Keegan Bradley, the US Ryder Cup captain, has dubbed Bay Hill as the most challenging course on the PGA Tour. The tournament’s opening day bore witness to Bradley’s outstanding round, finishing three under, just two shots behind leader Wyndham Clark, who ended the day five under.
This year’s Arnold Palmer Invitational at Bay Hill presented a stern test for the PGA Tour’s top contenders. The course, notorious for its stiff winds and firm greens, proved to be a formidable opponent for the tournament’s early starters, despite conditions easing as the day progressed.
Previously, Bradley had believed Torrey Pines, the San Diego venue that hosted two challenging events during 2025, to be the toughest. However, his recent experience at Bay Hill has led him to reconsider. “This course has evolved significantly since my first year. I believe it’s the most difficult course we play all year,” he asserted during his post-round press conference.
Bradley went on to discuss the demanding nature of Bay Hill, emphasizing the toughness of the four par-5s, that require exceptional skill to shoot under par, even more so under the current conditions. He also referred to the challenging rough and firm, major championship-style greens of Bay Hill, noting that these conditions were unlike previous years.
Despite the challenges, Bradley, who is currently playing the best golf of his career while managing his Ryder Cup responsibilities, delivered an impressive 69, placing him in a four-way tie for second with Corey Conners, Christiaan Bezuidenhout, and Shane Lowry.
Other notable players making their mark include Rory McIlroy, Si Woo Kim, Max Greyserman, Cam Davis, and Justin Rose, all one shot further back at two under. The American quartet of Scottie Scheffler, Justin Thomas, Patrick Cantlay, and Collin Morikawa are also in the mix, standing at one under. Scheffler, the world number, faced the harshest conditions of the day.
As the course continues to harden, the Arnold Palmer Invitational may set the stage for the highest winning score of 2025. This tournament, the fourth Signature Event of the season, is shaping up to be a true test of skill and tenacity for the world’s best golfers.
