#59: Arnold Palmer Invitational Is Born
In 1966 Florida got a new pro golf tournament: the Florida Citrus Open Invitational, played at Rio Pinar Country Club just east of Orlando. Arnold Palmer won the 1971 event, and in 1979 saw the tournament moved to his Bay Hill Club, just across town.
In 2007 the event was renamed for Palmer himself, and with Mastercard as the presenting sponsor since 2004, today the Arnold Palmer Invitational presented by Mastercard is one of the most beloved stops on the PGA TOUR. Tiger Woods won it an astounding eight times, and with a history of champions like Rory McIlroy, Ernie Els, Jason Day, Payne Stewart and, most recently, Francesco Molinari, the world-class golf it offers is matched only by its charitable impacts and its experience, with fans getting closer to the action and closer to Arnie himself, celebrating his legacy at the place Palmer called home for so many years.
