What we learned from the Arnold Palmer Invitational

Breaking Down the 2025 Arnold Palmer Invitational: What We Learned at Bay Hill

The 2025 Arnold Palmer Invitational wrapped up on March 9 at Bay Hill Club & Lodge in Orlando, Florida, marking the fourth signature event of the PGA Tour season. With a $20 million purse and a stacked field of golf’s biggest names, the tournament provided crucial insights into the form of top contenders heading toward the first major of the season.

Russell Henley emerged victorious, but what did we learn from this elite competition? Here’s a deep dive into the invitational, key takeaways from the top challengers, and what Bay Hill revealed about the best golfers in the world.

Winner: Russell Henley (-11)

How Henley Conquered Bay Hill

Russell Henley clinched his fifth career PGA Tour victory and his first since November 2022. He did so with rounds of 72, 68, 67, and 70, finishing at 11-under.

Henley trailed by two shots with four holes to play, but a dramatic chip-in eagle on the par-5 16th flipped the leaderboard. The eagle allowed him to overtake Collin Morikawa for a one-stroke victory.

What We Learned About Henley

• Resilience Under Pressure – Bay Hill’s firm greens and tough layout (7,555 yards) challenge even the best, but Henley stayed patient and capitalized late.

• Clutch Performance – His 16th-hole eagle was the tournament’s defining moment.

• Peaking at the Right Time – A quiet 2024 season made Henley an afterthought, but this win cements him as a contender to watch heading into the first major of the year.

Henley took home $4 million for the win, his biggest career payday.

Contenders & Takeaways

2nd Place: Collin Morikawa (-10)

• Performance: 70-68-68-70

• Key Moment: Led after 54 holes but couldn’t match Henley’s late heroics.

What We Learned About Morikawa

• Elite Iron Play Still Among the Best – His ball striking kept him in contention all week.

• Needs to Clutch Up When it Matters– Parring 16 after Henley’s eagle was costly. He lacked the extra gear needed to close the deal.

• Momentum is Building – His consistency (T3 at last year’s first major) suggests he’s trending up, but finishing in pressure moments and his putting remain his weakness.

3rd Place: Corey Conners (-9)

• Performance: 71-68-68-70

What We Learned About Conners

• Ball Striking Clinic – Ranked top-10 in Greens in Regulation this week.

• Putting Struggles Continue – His putter cooled on Sunday, preventing a late push.

• Strong Fit for Firm and Fast Conditions – If he sharpens his putting, he could be a dangerous sleeper in big events this season.

4th Place: Michael Kim (-8)

• Performance: Steady all four rounds, showing consistency and precision.

What We Learned About Kim

• Emerging Name on Tour – His ability to hang with the big names makes him one to watch in 2025.

• Lacks Power for a Course Like Bay Hill – Solid accuracy, but he struggled to capitalize on longer par-5s.

Notable Performances & Key Takeaways

Keegan Bradley & Sepp Straka (-7, T5)

• Bradley’s Length Helped, but Irons Lagged – His past API win (2014) proves he knows Bay Hill, but he wasn’t sharp enough to truly contend.

• Straka Showed Toughness – Elite scrambling, but struggled to post low scores when it mattered.

Jason Day (-7, 4th After 54 Holes)

• Flashed Brilliance – Career low 64 in Round 2 was the best round of the week.

• Faded Late – His game can still contend, but consistency remains a question mark.

Shane Lowry (-8 After 36 Holes, Finished T7)

• Strong Early Surge – Opened with back-to-back 68s and led after two rounds.

• Driving Held Him Back – Struggled off the tee as the weekend wore on.

• Short Game Remains Elite – If he can improve his long game, he could be a factor in upcoming majors. Elite short game is necessary in the first major.

Rory McIlroy (-4 After 36 Holes, Finished T15)

• Massive Drives – His power set him up for plenty of birdie looks.

• Cold Wedges & Putting Sank Him – Struggled from 100-125 yards, a recurring issue in key tournaments.

• Still a Contender – His 2025 Pebble Beach win shows he’s capable, but he needs to clean up short game mistakes.

Scottie Scheffler (Defending Champion, T11)

• Tee-to-Green Game is Still World Class – His ball striking kept him alive.

• The Putter is Still a Question Mark – This was his biggest issue in 2024, and it remains a concern heading into big events this year especially with Augusta’s greens. 

Who’s Trending Up?

• Russell Henley – Coming in strong after a big win, proving he can close.

• Collin Morikawa – Ball striking remains elite, needs a finishing touch.

• Shane Lowry – Short game is dialed in, making him a dangerous contender.

• Michael Kim – Steady performer, rising quietly on leaderboards.

• Scottie Scheffler – Ball striking is the best in the world, but the putter needs to catch up.

Final Thoughts:

The 2025 Arnold Palmer Invitational delivered a thrilling conclusion, with Russell Henley’s late heroics propelling him to victory. Collin Morikawa, Corey Conners, and others showed flashes of brilliance, but the pressure of the season’s first major will be an entirely different test.

As the season progresses, the performances at Bay Hill provide key indicators of who is trending in the right direction and who still has work to do. Henley’s win solidifies his place as a legitimate contender on one of golf’s biggest stages. Morikawa, Conners, and Lowry showed they have the game to compete at the highest level. Meanwhile, players like McIlroy and Scheffler will need to address their weaknesses, but don’t think you can count these guys out. McIlroy stated he was heading to Augusta before the Masters because Hurricane Helene cleared out some of Augusta National’s trees. I suspect he will be looking to take advantage of the course with less trees.

With just a few weeks until the first major of the year, the intensity is only going to build. The Arnold Palmer Invitational has given us a preview of what’s to come, but the real test awaits. Who will step up when the stakes are at their highest?