This particular event was founded in 1979 and was the successor to the old tournament, going for a number of years under various “Bay Hill”-type names, for the most part. 2007 saw the even take on its current name, with fans lining up that first year to buy Arnold Palmer Invitational tickets at a brisk pace.
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The tournament is also a restricted field tournament, meaning only the first 70 players on the previous year’s money list receive a guarantee that they’ll be invited. Historically, there has been only one player who’s won the event 6 times, he of course being the immortal Tiger Woods, who took top place 4 times in a row. During that run, more than a few Arnold Palmer Invitational tickets were sold.
Total low score at the tournament is currently held by the late Payne Stewart, who finished with an aggregate low of 264 total strokes back in 1987. Low “to par” was carded by winner Buddy Allin, who won the title in 1973 at 23 strokes below par and in 264 total strokes. Masterful play that year ended with a ton of Arnold Palmer Invitational tickets being sold that tournament.
Other than Woods, only three other PGA Tour golfers have won the event more than once, with Jerry Heard, Gerry Koch and Loren Roberts each taking top finishes twice each. Roberts won back-to-back titles in 1994 and 1995, winning 216,000 dollars out of a 1.2 million dollar purse both years. Fans recognized the event’s great play in both seasons with large pre-tournament sales of Arnold Palmer Invitational tickets, though (of course) the event went by a different name back then.
The last two years, none other than the terror of the tees himself, Tiger Woods, has dominated play. He topped the field in 2008, winning with a 10 under par, 270 to take home nearly 1,050,000 dollars, a prize that was increased slightly in 2009 when Woods once again steamed into the 18th hole for the win at 5 under par and a 275 total score. Sales of Arnold Palmer Invitational tickets remained extremely strong all tournament week.
For 2010, Tiger Woods promises to be back to defend his title and will once again be going for a share of the more than 6 million dollars in prize money to be offered. In both ’08 and ’09, the masterful golfing legend won the event with birdie putts on the last hole, which led to high drama and provided yet another reason for fans to continue buying tickets for the Arnold Palmer Invitational.