Orlando Travel Blog

The 2009 Arnold Palmer Invitational will take place from Monday, March 23 through Sunday, March 29, 2009, at the 7,137-yard, par-70 course at Arnold Palmer’s Bay Hill Club & Lodge in Orlando, Florida. Presented by MasterCard, The Arnold Palmer Invitational draws the world’s top professional golfers on the PGA Tour.

The event traces its history back to 1966 when it began as the Florida Citrus Open Invitational. Over the years, it has also been known as the Florida Citrus Invitational, Florida Citrus Open, Bay Hill Citrus Classic, Bay Hill Classic, Hertz Bay Hill Classic, Nestle Invitational and Bay Hill Invitational. Palmer has owned Bay Hill Club & Lodge since 1976.

Tiger Woods captured the 2008 Arnold Palmer Invitational – his fifth win at the golf tournament since 2000! It was Woods’ 64th victory on the PGA Tour, tying him with Ben Hogan for third place on the career list behing Sam Snead (82 victories) and Jack Nicklaus (73 victories). Woods also became the first player in PGA Tour history to win four different tournaments at least five times each.

Other previous winners of the tournament include Vijay Singh, Phil Mickelson, Lee Trevino, Arnold Palmer, Fred Couples, Payne Stewart, Ernie Els, Paul Azinger, Fuzzy Zoeller, Tom Kite and Ben Crenshaw.

Admission is charged to the Arnold Palmer Invitational. Ticket options include the all-new King’s Club ($2,000), Bay Hill Badge ($300), Clubhouse Badge ($200), Palmer Pavilion Badge ($185), Grounds Badge ($95), Gold Patron Package ($3,500), Bay Hill Patron Package ($2,800), Practice/Pro Am Ticket ($35) and Any One Day Ticket ($45). In addition, daily parking is $20. For more information about the 2009 Arnold Palmer Invitational, visit www.arnoldpalmerinvitational.com.