Bay Hill Invitational
Encyclopedia
The Arnold Palmer Invitational is a PGA Tour
golf
tournament. It is played each March at the Bay Hill Club and Lodge
, a private golf resort in Bay Hill, Florida
a suburb of Orlando
which has been owned by Arnold Palmer
since 1974 and where he has his winter home. The event was founded in 1979 as a successor to the Florida Citrus Open Invitational, which was played at Rio Pinar Golf Club on the East side of Orlando. It has had a number of different names since then, most of them including "Bay Hill". The tournament was played for the first time under the Palmer name in 2007.
As a restricted field event on the PGA Tour
, only the first 70 players on the previous year's money-list are guaranteed invitations.
Tiger Woods
won what was then known as the Bay Hill Invitational four years in a row from 2000 to 2003. This is one of only four occasions that a golfer has won the same event four times in a row on the Tour. In 2004 he was one shot off the lead after opening with a 67, but followed up with back to back 74s on the Friday and Saturday, and ended the final round on Sunday in a tie for 46th place. Woods then won the 2008 and 2009 tournaments, both times with birdie putts on the final hole.
, and consequently it has a reduced field of only 120 players (as opposed to most full-field open tournaments with a field of 156 players). The other four tournaments with invitational status are The Heritage, the Crowne Plaza Invitational at Colonial
, the Memorial Tournament
, and the AT&T National
. Invitational tournaments have smaller fields (between 120 and 132 players), and have more freedom than full-field open tournaments in determining which players are eligible to participate in their event, as invitational tournaments are not required to fill their fields using the PGA Tour Priority Ranking System. Furthermore, unlike full-field open tournaments, invitational tournaments do not offer open qualifying (aka Monday qualifying).
* rain-shortened to 54 holes
Note: Green highlight indicates scoring records.
Sources
PGA Tour
The PGA Tour is the organizer of the main men's professional golf tours in the United States and North America...
golf
Golf
Golf is a precision club and ball sport, in which competing players use many types of clubs to hit balls into a series of holes on a golf course using the fewest number of strokes....
tournament. It is played each March at the Bay Hill Club and Lodge
Bay Hill Club and Lodge
The Bay Hill Club and Lodge is a private golf resort located in Bay Hill, near Orlando, Florida. It has been owned by Arnold Palmer since 1974. The club is the host to the annual Arnold Palmer Invitational on the PGA Tour.- External links :**...
, a private golf resort in Bay Hill, Florida
Bay Hill, Florida
Bay Hill is a census-designated place and an unincorporated area in Orange County, Florida, United States. The population was 5,177 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Orlando–Kissimmee Metropolitan Statistical Area...
a suburb of Orlando
Orlando, Florida
Orlando is a city in the central region of the U.S. state of Florida. It is the county seat of Orange County, and the center of the Greater Orlando metropolitan area. According to the 2010 US Census, the city had a population of 238,300, making Orlando the 79th largest city in the United States...
which has been owned by Arnold Palmer
Arnold Palmer
Arnold Daniel Palmer is an American professional golfer, who is generally regarded as one of the greatest players in the history of men's professional golf. He has won numerous events on both the PGA Tour and Champions Tour, dating back to 1955...
since 1974 and where he has his winter home. The event was founded in 1979 as a successor to the Florida Citrus Open Invitational, which was played at Rio Pinar Golf Club on the East side of Orlando. It has had a number of different names since then, most of them including "Bay Hill". The tournament was played for the first time under the Palmer name in 2007.
As a restricted field event on the PGA Tour
PGA Tour
The PGA Tour is the organizer of the main men's professional golf tours in the United States and North America...
, only the first 70 players on the previous year's money-list are guaranteed invitations.
Tiger Woods
Tiger Woods
Eldrick Tont "Tiger" Woods is an American professional golfer whose achievements to date rank him among the most successful golfers of all time. Formerly the World No...
won what was then known as the Bay Hill Invitational four years in a row from 2000 to 2003. This is one of only four occasions that a golfer has won the same event four times in a row on the Tour. In 2004 he was one shot off the lead after opening with a 67, but followed up with back to back 74s on the Friday and Saturday, and ended the final round on Sunday in a tie for 46th place. Woods then won the 2008 and 2009 tournaments, both times with birdie putts on the final hole.
Invitational status
The Arnold Palmer Invitational is one of only five tournaments given "invitational" status by the PGA TourPGA Tour
The PGA Tour is the organizer of the main men's professional golf tours in the United States and North America...
, and consequently it has a reduced field of only 120 players (as opposed to most full-field open tournaments with a field of 156 players). The other four tournaments with invitational status are The Heritage, the Crowne Plaza Invitational at Colonial
Crowne Plaza Invitational at Colonial
The Crowne Plaza Invitational at Colonial is a regular golf tournament on the PGA Tour. It has been played annually in May in Fort Worth, Texas on the course at the Colonial Country Club. It is one of five invitational tournaments held on the PGA Tour...
, the Memorial Tournament
Memorial Tournament
The Memorial Tournament is a PGA Tour golf tournament founded by Jack Nicklaus. It is played on a Nicklaus-designed course at Muirfield Village Golf Club in Dublin, Ohio, a suburb of Nicklaus' home town of Columbus. The golf course passes through a large neighborhood called Muirfield Village...
, and the AT&T National
AT&T National
The AT&T National is a professional golf tournament held in the Washington D.C. area during the Fourth of July weekend. The PGA Tour event is hosted by Tiger Woods and benefits the Tiger Woods Foundation. The first AT&T National was held July 5–8, 2007, at the Blue Course of the Congressional...
. Invitational tournaments have smaller fields (between 120 and 132 players), and have more freedom than full-field open tournaments in determining which players are eligible to participate in their event, as invitational tournaments are not required to fill their fields using the PGA Tour Priority Ranking System. Furthermore, unlike full-field open tournaments, invitational tournaments do not offer open qualifying (aka Monday qualifying).
Winners
| Year | Player | Country | Score | To Par | 1st Prize ($ United States dollar The United States dollar , also referred to as the American dollar, is the official currency of the United States of America. It is divided into 100 smaller units called cents or pennies.... ) | Purse ($) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Arnold Palmer Invitational presented by MasterCard | ||||||
| 2011 | Martin Laird Martin Laird Martin Laird is a Scottish professional golfer, playing on the PGA Tour. He has won two PGA Tour events in his career, most notably the Arnold Palmer Invitational in 2011... |
280 | -8 | 1,080,000 | 6,000,000 | |
| 2010 | Ernie Els Ernie Els Theodore Ernest "Ernie" Els is a South African professional golfer, who has been one of the top professional players in the world since the mid-1990s. A former World No. 1, he is known as "The Big Easy" due to his imposing physical stature along with his fluid, seemingly effortless golf swing... |
277 | -11 | 1,080,000 | 6,000,000 | |
| 2009 | Tiger Woods Tiger Woods Eldrick Tont "Tiger" Woods is an American professional golfer whose achievements to date rank him among the most successful golfers of all time. Formerly the World No... |
275 | -5 | 1,080,000 | 6,000,000 | |
| 2008 | Tiger Woods Tiger Woods Eldrick Tont "Tiger" Woods is an American professional golfer whose achievements to date rank him among the most successful golfers of all time. Formerly the World No... |
270 | -10 | 1,044,000 | 5,800,000 | |
| 2007 | Vijay Singh Vijay Singh Vijay Singh, CF , nicknamed "The Big Fijian", is a Fijian professional golfer who was Number 1 in the Official World Golf Rankings for 32 weeks in 2004 and 2005. He has won three major championships and was the leading PGA Tour money winner in 2003, 2004 and 2008... |
272 | -8 | 990,000 | 5,500,000 | |
| Bay Hill Invitational presented by MasterCard | ||||||
| 2006 | Rod Pampling Rod Pampling -Golf career:Pampling was born in Redcliffe in Queensland. He turned professional in 1994. He began tournament golf career on the PGA Tour of Australasia, where he won the 1999 Canon Challenge, and also spent time on the NGA Hooters Tour, a developmental tour in the United States... |
274 | -14 | 990,000 | 5,500,000 | |
| 2005 | Kenny Perry Kenny Perry James Kenneth Perry is an American professional golfer who currently plays on both the PGA Tour and the Champions Tour, for which he became eligible following his 50th birthday.-Early years:... |
276 | -12 | 900,000 | 5,000,000 | |
| 2004 | Chad Campbell Chad Campbell David Chad Campbell is an American professional golfer.-Early years and amateur career:Campbell was born in Andrews, Texas and grew up in west Texas. He was a member of a strong junior college men's golf squad during the years he played at Midland College... |
270 | -18 | 900,000 | 5,000,000 | |
| Bay Hill Invitational presented by Cooper Tires | ||||||
| 2003 | Tiger Woods Tiger Woods Eldrick Tont "Tiger" Woods is an American professional golfer whose achievements to date rank him among the most successful golfers of all time. Formerly the World No... |
269 | -19 | 810,000 | 4,500,000 | |
| 2002 | Tiger Woods Tiger Woods Eldrick Tont "Tiger" Woods is an American professional golfer whose achievements to date rank him among the most successful golfers of all time. Formerly the World No... |
275 | -13 | 720,000 | 4,000,000 | |
| Bay Hill Invitational | ||||||
| 2001 | Tiger Woods Tiger Woods Eldrick Tont "Tiger" Woods is an American professional golfer whose achievements to date rank him among the most successful golfers of all time. Formerly the World No... |
273 | -15 | 630,000 | 3,500,000 | |
| 2000 | Tiger Woods Tiger Woods Eldrick Tont "Tiger" Woods is an American professional golfer whose achievements to date rank him among the most successful golfers of all time. Formerly the World No... |
270 | -18 | 540,000 | 3,000,000 | |
| 1999 | Tim Herron Tim Herron Timothy Daniel Herron is an American professional golfer.Herron was born in Minneapolis, Minnesota. His father and grandfather, both named Carson Herron, were professional golfers who played the U.S. Open. Tim Herron attended the University of New Mexico and played on the 1993 United States Walker... |
274 | -14 | 450,000 | 2,500,000 | |
| 1998 | Ernie Els Ernie Els Theodore Ernest "Ernie" Els is a South African professional golfer, who has been one of the top professional players in the world since the mid-1990s. A former World No. 1, he is known as "The Big Easy" due to his imposing physical stature along with his fluid, seemingly effortless golf swing... |
274 | -14 | 360,000 | 2,000,000 | |
| 1997 | Phil Mickelson Phil Mickelson Philip Alfred Mickelson is an American professional golfer. He has won four major championships and a total of 39 events on the PGA Tour. He has reached a career high world ranking of 2nd in multiple years. He is nicknamed "Lefty" for his left-handed swing, even though he is otherwise right-handed... |
272 | -16 | 270,000 | 1,500,000 | |
| 1996 | Paul Goydos Paul Goydos Paul David Goydos is an American professional golfer who has played on the PGA Tour and the Nationwide Tour.-Early life:... |
275 | -13 | 216,000 | 1,200,000 | |
| Nestle Invitational | ||||||
| 1995 | Loren Roberts Loren Roberts Loren Lloyd Roberts is an American professional golfer.-Early life:Roberts was born in San Luis Obispo, California. He competed for San Luis Obispo Senior High School and Cal Poly-SLO... |
272 | -16 | 216,000 | 1,200,000 | |
| 1994 | Loren Roberts Loren Roberts Loren Lloyd Roberts is an American professional golfer.-Early life:Roberts was born in San Luis Obispo, California. He competed for San Luis Obispo Senior High School and Cal Poly-SLO... |
275 | -13 | 216,000 | 1,200,000 | |
| 1993 | Ben Crenshaw Ben Crenshaw Ben Daniel Crenshaw is an American professional golfer.Crenshaw was born in Austin, Texas. He attended and played golf at Austin High School and the University of Texas, where he won three NCAA Championships from 1971 to 1973... |
280 | -8 | 180,000 | 1,000,000 | |
| 1992 | Fred Couples Fred Couples Frederick Steven Couples is an American professional golfer who competes on the PGA Tour and the Champions Tour. A former World No. 1, he has won numerous events, most notably the 1992 Masters Tournament. In August 2011 he won his maiden senior major at the Senior Players Championship... |
269 | -19 | 180,000 | 1,000,000 | |
| 1991 | Andrew Magee Andrew Magee Andrew Donald Magee is an American professional golfer who played for more than 20 years on the PGA Tour.Magee was born in Paris, France, where his father, a Texas oil man, was working at the time. He grew up in Dallas, Texas. Magee attended the University of Oklahoma from 1981–1984... |
203* | -13 | 180,000 | 1,000,000 | |
| 1990 | Robert Gamez | 274 | -14 | 162,000 | 900,000 | |
| 1989 | Tom Kite Tom Kite Thomas Oliver Kite, Jr. is an American professional golfer and golf course architect. He spent 175 weeks in the top-10 of the Official World Golf Rankings between 1989 and 1994.... |
278 | -6 | 144,000 | 800,000 | |
| Hertz Bay Hill Classic | ||||||
| 1988 | Paul Azinger Paul Azinger Paul William Azinger is an American professional golfer and occasional on air golf analyst. He spent almost 300 weeks in the top-10 of the Official World Golf Rankings between 1988 and 1994.-Early years:... |
271 | -13 | 135,000 | 750,000 | |
| 1987 | Payne Stewart Payne Stewart William Payne Stewart was an American professional golfer who won three majors in his career, the last of which occurred only months before he died in an airplane accident at the age of 42.... |
264 | -20 | 108,000 | 600,000 | |
| 1986 | Dan Forsman Dan Forsman Daniel Bruce Forsman is an American professional golfer.-Early years:Forsman was born in Rhinelander, Wisconsin. He grew up in northern California, where he learned to play golf at Los Altos Golf and Country Club. He attended Arizona State University.-Professional career:Forsman turned... |
202* | -11 | 90,000 | 500,000 | |
| 1985 | Fuzzy Zoeller Fuzzy Zoeller Frank Urban "Fuzzy" Zoeller, Jr. is an American professional golfer. He is one of three golfers to have won The Masters in his first appearance in the event. He also won the 1984 U.S. Open, which earned him the 1985 Bob Jones Award.... |
275 | -9 | 90,000 | 500,000 | |
| Bay Hill Classic | ||||||
| 1984 | Gary Koch Gary Koch Gary D. Koch is an American professional golfer, sportscaster and golf course designer, who formerly played on the PGA Tour, Nationwide Tour and Champions Tour.- Early years :... |
272 | -12 | 72,000 | 400,000 | |
| 1983 | Mike Nicolette Mike Nicolette Michael Rexford Nicolette is an American professional golfer who played on the PGA Tour in the 1970s and 1980s.Nicolette was born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. He attended Rollins College in Winter Park, Florida and was a member of the golf team. While a student at Rollins, he won the 1976 NCAA... |
283 | -1 | 63,000 | 350,000 | |
| 1982 | Tom Kite Tom Kite Thomas Oliver Kite, Jr. is an American professional golfer and golf course architect. He spent 175 weeks in the top-10 of the Official World Golf Rankings between 1989 and 1994.... |
278 | -6 | 54,000 | 300,000 | |
| 1981 | Andy Bean Andy Bean Thomas Andrew Bean is an American professional golfer who previously played on the PGA Tour and currently plays on the Champions Tour... |
266 | -18 | 54,000 | 300,000 | |
| 1980 | Dave Eichelberger Dave Eichelberger Martin Davis Eichelberger, Jr. is an American professional golfer who has won several tournaments at both the PGA Tour and Champions Tour levels.... |
279 | -5 | 54,000 | 300,000 | |
| Bay Hill Citrus Classic | ||||||
| 1979 | Bob Byman Bob Byman Robert T. Byman is an American professional golfer who played on the PGA Tour.Byman was born in Poughkeepsie, New York. He attended Wake Forest University in Winston-Salem, North Carolina and was a member of the golf team. He played with Jay Haas and Curtis Strange on the 1974 and 1975 teams,... |
278 | -6 | 45,000 | 250,000 | |
| Florida Citrus Open | ||||||
| 1978 | Mac McLendon Mac McLendon Benson Rayfield "Mac" McLendon, Jr. is an American professional golfer who played on the PGA Tour in the 1960s and 1970s.... |
271 | -17 | 40,000 | 200,000 | |
| 1977 | Gary Koch Gary Koch Gary D. Koch is an American professional golfer, sportscaster and golf course designer, who formerly played on the PGA Tour, Nationwide Tour and Champions Tour.- Early years :... |
274 | -14 | 40,000 | 200,000 | |
| 1976 | Hale Irwin Hale Irwin Hale S. Irwin is an American professional golfer. He is one of the few players in history to have won three U.S. Opens and was one of the world's leading golfers for much of the 1970s and 1980s. He has also developed a career as a golf course architect.Irwin was born in Joplin, Missouri, but was... |
270 | -18 | 40,000 | 200,000 | |
| 1975 | Lee Trevino Lee Trevino Lee Buck Trevino is an American professional golfer. He is an icon for Mexican Americans, and is often referred to as "The Merry Mex" and "Supermex". He won six major championships over the course of his career.-Early life:... |
276 | -12 | 40,000 | 200,000 | |
| 1974 | Jerry Heard Jerry Heard Jerry M. Heard is an American professional golfer who won several PGA Tour events in the 1970s.Heard was born in Visalia, California. He became a professional golfer in 1968 and joined the PGA Tour in 1969. His first professional win came in the American Golf Classic at the Firestone Country Club... |
273 | -15 | 30,000 | 150,000 | |
| 1973 | Buddy Allin | 265 | -23 | 30,000 | 150,000 | |
| 1972 | Jerry Heard Jerry Heard Jerry M. Heard is an American professional golfer who won several PGA Tour events in the 1970s.Heard was born in Visalia, California. He became a professional golfer in 1968 and joined the PGA Tour in 1969. His first professional win came in the American Golf Classic at the Firestone Country Club... |
276 | -12 | 30,000 | 150,000 | |
| Florida Citrus Invitational | ||||||
| 1971 | Arnold Palmer Arnold Palmer Arnold Daniel Palmer is an American professional golfer, who is generally regarded as one of the greatest players in the history of men's professional golf. He has won numerous events on both the PGA Tour and Champions Tour, dating back to 1955... |
270 | -18 | 30,000 | 150,000 | |
| 1970 | Bob Lunn Bob Lunn Robert J. Lunn is an American professional golfer who played on the PGA Tour in the 1960s and 1970s.Lunn was born in San Francisco, California. He was the 1963 U.S. Amateur Public Links champion. He turned pro in 1965 and won six times on the PGA Tour. In 1968, he was named Most Improved Golfer of... |
271 | -17 | 30,000 | 150,000 | |
| Florida Citrus Open Invitational | ||||||
| 1969 | Ken Still Ken Still Kenneth Allan Still is an American professional golfer who has played on both the PGA Tour and the Senior PGA Tour.Still was born in Tacoma, Washington. During his early twenties, he developed a friendship with Los Angeles Dodgers pitchers Sandy Koufax and Don Drysdale. He turned professional in... |
278 | -10 | 23,000 | 115,000 | |
| 1968 | Dan Sikes Dan Sikes Daniel David Sikes, Jr. was an American professional golfer who played on the PGA Tour and Champions Tour. Sikes won nine tournaments as a pro, including six PGA Tour events.- Early years :... |
274 | -14 | 23,000 | 115,000 | |
| 1967 | Julius Boros Julius Boros Julius Nicholas Boros was a Hungarian-American professional golfer.-Early years:Boros was born in Bridgeport, Connecticut... |
274 | -10 | 23,000 | 115,000 | |
| 1966 | Lionel Hebert Lionel Hebert Lionel P. Hebert was an American golfer. He won five times on the PGA Tour including the 1957 PGA Championship, the last to be held at match play. His older brother Jay won the same event at stroke play in 1960. Lionel also played on the 1957 Ryder Cup team... |
279 | -5 | 21,000 | 110,000 | |
Note: Green highlight indicates scoring records.
Sources
Multiple winners
Six men have won this tournament more than once through 2011.- 6 wins
- Tiger WoodsTiger WoodsEldrick Tont "Tiger" Woods is an American professional golfer whose achievements to date rank him among the most successful golfers of all time. Formerly the World No...
: 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2008, 2009
- Tiger Woods
- 2 wins
- Jerry HeardJerry HeardJerry M. Heard is an American professional golfer who won several PGA Tour events in the 1970s.Heard was born in Visalia, California. He became a professional golfer in 1968 and joined the PGA Tour in 1969. His first professional win came in the American Golf Classic at the Firestone Country Club...
: 1972, 1974 - Gary KochGary KochGary D. Koch is an American professional golfer, sportscaster and golf course designer, who formerly played on the PGA Tour, Nationwide Tour and Champions Tour.- Early years :...
: 1977, 1984 - Tom KiteTom KiteThomas Oliver Kite, Jr. is an American professional golfer and golf course architect. He spent 175 weeks in the top-10 of the Official World Golf Rankings between 1989 and 1994....
: 1982, 1989 - Loren RobertsLoren RobertsLoren Lloyd Roberts is an American professional golfer.-Early life:Roberts was born in San Luis Obispo, California. He competed for San Luis Obispo Senior High School and Cal Poly-SLO...
: 1994, 1995 - Ernie ElsErnie ElsTheodore Ernest "Ernie" Els is a South African professional golfer, who has been one of the top professional players in the world since the mid-1990s. A former World No. 1, he is known as "The Big Easy" due to his imposing physical stature along with his fluid, seemingly effortless golf swing...
: 1998, 2010
- Jerry Heard
Tournament highlights
- 1966: Lionel HebertLionel HebertLionel P. Hebert was an American golfer. He won five times on the PGA Tour including the 1957 PGA Championship, the last to be held at match play. His older brother Jay won the same event at stroke play in 1960. Lionel also played on the 1957 Ryder Cup team...
wins the inaugural version of the tournament. He wins by two shots over Jack NicklausJack NicklausJack William Nicklaus , nicknamed "The Golden Bear", is an American professional golfer. He won 18 career major championships on the PGA Tour over a span of 25 years and is widely regarded as one of the greatest professional golfers of all time. In addition to his 18 Majors, he was runner-up a...
, Charles CoodyCharles CoodyBilly Charles Coody is an American professional golfer, best known for winning the 1971 Masters Tournament.Coody was born in Stamford, Texas and raised in Abilene, Texas...
, and Dick Lytle. - 1968: Dan SikesDan SikesDaniel David Sikes, Jr. was an American professional golfer who played on the PGA Tour and Champions Tour. Sikes won nine tournaments as a pro, including six PGA Tour events.- Early years :...
breaks out of a 5-way logjam to win by one shot over Tom WeiskopfTom WeiskopfThomas Daniel Weiskopf is an American professional golfer who played on the PGA Tour and the Champions Tour. His most successful decade was the 1970s, and he won 16 PGA Tour titles between 1968 and 1982. After winding down his tournament career, Weiskopf has become a noted golf course...
. At the end of 54 holes, Sikes had been tied for the lead with Jack Nicklaus, Bruce DevlinBruce DevlinBruce William Devlin is an Australian professional golfer, sportscaster and golf course designer.Devlin was born in Armidale, Australia. He turned pro in 1961 and joined the PGA Tour in 1962 after an amateur career in Australia which included a win at the Australian Amateur in 1959...
, Miller BarberMiller BarberMiller Barber is an American professional golfer who enjoyed significant success on the PGA Tour in the 1960s and 1970s, and a greater degree of success on the Senior PGA Tour in the 1980s.-Career:...
, and Bob CharlesBob Charles (golfer)Sir Robert James Charles, ONZ, KNZM, CBE is a New Zealand professional golfer whose achievements over five decades rank him among the most successful left-handed golfers of all time, being the first lefty to win a golf major, winning more than 70 titles, and beating his age twice during a...
. Officials said this was the first time there had ever been a five-way tie for the lead after 54 holes at a PGA event. - 1971: Arnold PalmerArnold PalmerArnold Daniel Palmer is an American professional golfer, who is generally regarded as one of the greatest players in the history of men's professional golf. He has won numerous events on both the PGA Tour and Champions Tour, dating back to 1955...
wins the event eight years before he becomes its host. He beats Julius BorosJulius BorosJulius Nicholas Boros was a Hungarian-American professional golfer.-Early years:Boros was born in Bridgeport, Connecticut...
by one shot. - 1973: Vietnam WarVietnam WarThe Vietnam War was a Cold War-era military conflict that occurred in Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia from 1 November 1955 to the fall of Saigon on 30 April 1975. This war followed the First Indochina War and was fought between North Vietnam, supported by its communist allies, and the government of...
veteran Buddy Allin shoots a tournament record 23 under par to breeze to an eight shot victory over Charles Coody. - 1974: Jerry HeardJerry HeardJerry M. Heard is an American professional golfer who won several PGA Tour events in the 1970s.Heard was born in Visalia, California. He became a professional golfer in 1968 and joined the PGA Tour in 1969. His first professional win came in the American Golf Classic at the Firestone Country Club...
becomes the tournament's first two-time winner. He beats Homero BlancasHomero BlancasHomero Blancas, Jr. is an American professional golfer who has played on both the PGA Tour and the Senior PGA Tour ....
and Jim JamiesonJim JamiesonJames A. Jamieson is an American professional golfer who played on the PGA Tour in the 1970s.Jamieson was born in Kalamazoo, Michigan and raised in Moline, Illinois. He started playing golf at age 7 at Oakwood Country Club in Moline. He attended Oklahoma State University, where he was an...
by two shots. - 1976: Early on a Monday morning, Hale IrwinHale IrwinHale S. Irwin is an American professional golfer. He is one of the few players in history to have won three U.S. Opens and was one of the world's leading golfers for much of the 1970s and 1980s. He has also developed a career as a golf course architect.Irwin was born in Joplin, Missouri, but was...
defeats Kermit ZarleyKermit ZarleyKermit Millard Zarley, Jr. is an American professional golfer who played on the PGA Tour and the Champions Tour. He is also an author of several books.-Biography:...
on the sixth hole of a sudden death playoff after play was suspended due to darkness on Sunday. While speaking to the press on Sunday evening, Irwin blamed NBC Sports for their not being enough time to finish the playoff. - 1979: Bob BymanBob BymanRobert T. Byman is an American professional golfer who played on the PGA Tour.Byman was born in Poughkeepsie, New York. He attended Wake Forest University in Winston-Salem, North Carolina and was a member of the golf team. He played with Jay Haas and Curtis Strange on the 1974 and 1975 teams,...
wins the first edition of the tournament to be played at Bay Hill. He defeats John Schroeder on the second hole of a sudden death playoff. - 1980: Dave EichelbergerDave EichelbergerMartin Davis Eichelberger, Jr. is an American professional golfer who has won several tournaments at both the PGA Tour and Champions Tour levels....
wins by three shots over Leonard ThompsonLeonard Thompson (golfer)Leonard Stephen Thompson is an American professional golfer who has played on the PGA Tour, Nationwide Tour and Champions Tour....
. The temperatures were so cold that Eichelberger wore panty hose during the final round. - 1982: Tom KiteTom KiteThomas Oliver Kite, Jr. is an American professional golfer and golf course architect. He spent 175 weeks in the top-10 of the Official World Golf Rankings between 1989 and 1994....
chips in for birdie on the first hole of a sudden death playoff to defeat Jack Nicklaus and Denis WatsonDenis WatsonDenis Leslie Watson is a professional golfer from Zimbabwe.Watson was born in Salisbury, Rhodesia and educated at Oriel Boys High School, Chisipite...
. - 1984: Gary KochGary KochGary D. Koch is an American professional golfer, sportscaster and golf course designer, who formerly played on the PGA Tour, Nationwide Tour and Champions Tour.- Early years :...
shoots a final round 63 before defeating George BurnsGeorge Burns (golfer)George Francis Burns III is an American professional golfer who has won several tournaments at both the amateur and professional levels....
on the second hole of a sudden death playoff. Koch is the only champion in the tournament's history to win both at Rio Pinar and Bay Hill. - 1985: Coming off back surgery less than six months previously, Fuzzy ZoellerFuzzy ZoellerFrank Urban "Fuzzy" Zoeller, Jr. is an American professional golfer. He is one of three golfers to have won The Masters in his first appearance in the event. He also won the 1984 U.S. Open, which earned him the 1985 Bob Jones Award....
wins at Bay Hill. He finishes two shots ahead of Tom WatsonTom Watson (golfer)Thomas Sturges Watson is an American professional golfer who has played on the PGA Tour and now mostly on the Champions Tour....
. - 1987: Payne StewartPayne StewartWilliam Payne Stewart was an American professional golfer who won three majors in his career, the last of which occurred only months before he died in an airplane accident at the age of 42....
, who owned a home just off Bay Hill's 12th tee, notches his third career PGA Tour title. He beats David FrostDavid Frost (golfer)David Laurence Frost is a South African professional golfer who has more than twenty professional tournament wins to his name, spread across four continents....
by three shots. - 1989: Tom Kite wins for a second time at Bay Hill by defeating Davis Love IIIDavis Love IIIDavis Milton Love III is an American professional golfer.Love was born in Charlotte, North Carolina. He attended the University of North Carolina before turning professional in 1985. He earned his PGA Tour card in the fall of 1985, on his first attempt. He quickly established himself on the PGA...
on the second hole of a sudden death playoff. Before the playoff took place, both Kite and Love made double bogey on the tournament's 72nd hole. - 1990: Robert Gamez holes a 7-iron on the 72nd hole for an eagle two allowing him to win by one shot over Greg NormanGreg NormanGregory John Norman AO is an Australian professional golfer and entrepreneur who spent 331 weeks as the world's Number 1 ranked golfer in the 1980s and 1990s...
. - 1992: Fred CouplesFred CouplesFrederick Steven Couples is an American professional golfer who competes on the PGA Tour and the Champions Tour. A former World No. 1, he has won numerous events, most notably the 1992 Masters Tournament. In August 2011 he won his maiden senior major at the Senior Players Championship...
wins by nine shots over Gene SauersGene SauersGene Craig Sauers is an American professional golfer who has played on the PGA Tour and the Nationwide Tour.Sauers was born in Savannah, Georgia. His father started him playing golf at the age of 9. He attended Georgia Southern University in Statesboro, Georgia...
. With his win, Couples becomes the #1 ranked player in the world. - 1995: Loren RobertsLoren RobertsLoren Lloyd Roberts is an American professional golfer.-Early life:Roberts was born in San Luis Obispo, California. He competed for San Luis Obispo Senior High School and Cal Poly-SLO...
becomes the first returning champion to successfully defend his title. He beats Brad FaxonBrad FaxonBradford John Faxon, Jr. is an American professional golfer. He has won eight times on the PGA Tour.-Early years and amateur career:Faxon was born in Oceanport, New Jersey and raised in Barrington, Rhode Island...
by two shots. - 1996: Paul GoydosPaul GoydosPaul David Goydos is an American professional golfer who has played on the PGA Tour and the Nationwide Tour.-Early life:...
wins for the first time on the PGA Tour. He beats Jeff MaggertJeff MaggertJeffrey Allan Maggert is an American professional golfer.Maggert was born in Columbia, Missouri and was raised on a golf course in The Woodlands, Texas, where he attended McCullough High School. He attended Texas A&M University, where he was an All-American member of the golf team.Maggert turned...
by one shot and Tom PurtzerTom PurtzerThomas Warren Purtzer is an American professional golfer who has won tournaments on both the PGA Tour and the Champions Tour....
by two. During the tournament's second round, Purtzer incurred a two-shot penalty by playing the wrong ball. - 1998: During the tournament's final round, John DalyJohn Daly (golfer)John Patrick Daly is an American professional golfer on the PGA Tour.Daly is known primarily for his driving distance off the tee , his non-country club appearance and attitude, and his rough-and-tumble personal life. Daly remains one of the most popular and intriguing figures on the PGA Tour...
hits six balls in the water on the sixth hole. He finishes the hole with a final score of 18. - 2000: Tiger WoodsTiger WoodsEldrick Tont "Tiger" Woods is an American professional golfer whose achievements to date rank him among the most successful golfers of all time. Formerly the World No...
wins at Bay Hill for the first time. He beats Davis Love III by four shots. - 2003: Tiger Woods becomes the first golfer since Gene Sarazen at the 1930 Miami OpenMiami OpenThe Miami Open was a golf tournament on the PGA Tour from 1924 to 1955. It was played at what is now the Miami Springs Golf and Country Club in Miami, Florida. The event was played in December from 1924 to 1926 and from 1937 to 1955...
to win the same tournament in four consecutive years. He wins by 11 shots over Kirk TriplettKirk TriplettKirk Alan Triplett is an American professional golfer, currently playing on the PGA Tour and the Nationwide Tour.Triplett was born in Moses Lake, Washington, and grew up in Pullman. He graduated from Pullman High School in 1980 and accepted a golf scholarship to the University of Nevada in Reno,...
, Stewart CinkStewart CinkStewart Ernest Cink is an American professional golfer who won the 2009 Open Championship. He has spent over 40 weeks in the top 10 of the Official World Golf Rankings from 2004 to 2009.-Early years and education:...
, Kenny PerryKenny PerryJames Kenneth Perry is an American professional golfer who currently plays on both the PGA Tour and the Champions Tour, for which he became eligible following his 50th birthday.-Early years:...
, and Brad Faxon. - 2005: Kenny Perry wins by two shots over Vijay SinghVijay SinghVijay Singh, CF , nicknamed "The Big Fijian", is a Fijian professional golfer who was Number 1 in the Official World Golf Rankings for 32 weeks in 2004 and 2005. He has won three major championships and was the leading PGA Tour money winner in 2003, 2004 and 2008...
. The two players were tied for the lead till Singh made double bogey at the 72nd hole. - 2008: Tiger Woods sinks a 25-foot birdie putt at the 72nd hole to defeat Bart BryantBart BryantBarton Holan Bryant is an American professional golfer.Bryant was born in Gatesville, Texas, the son of a Baptist pastor. He attended New Mexico State University, where he was a two-time All-American as a member of the golf team...
by one shot. It's Woods fifth Bay Hill triumph in addition to his winning the fifth consecutive tournament he had played in. - 2009: Tiger Woods wins at Bay Hill for the 2nd straight year and sixth time overall. He birdies the 72nd hole to defeat Sean O'HairSean O'HairSean M. O'Hair is an American professional golfer who plays on the PGA Tour.-Early life:O'Hair was born in Lubbock, Texas...
by one shot.