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Golf fans may argue for decades about who the best player in history was between Jack Nicklaus and Tiger Woods. Both have an argument. However, there is no argument who the most popular golfer ever was and that’s the late Arnold Palmer. The PGA Tour is what it is today because of “The King.”
Palmer died in September 2016, but one of the more popular Tour stops annually among players is the Arnold Palmer Invitational so they can honor Palmer. Because this is an invitational, the field is a bit smaller (no Monday qualifying, either), and the winner gets some perks a bit better than he would at a regular Tour event.
The champion also gets a red cardigan sweater in memory of Palmer, who is from the Pittsburgh area (where he died) but wintered for decades in Orlando. He also owned the course where this tournament is held, Bay Hill Club & Lodge, a par 72 at about 7,500 yards. Palmer did win this tournament in 1971 but at a different course and when it was called the Florida Citrus Invitational. It moved to Bay Hill in 1979.