Amateurs Compete in Arnold Palmer Invitational Pro-Am

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The author was invited to play in the Pro-Am event at the 2026 Arnold Palmer Invitational golf tournament at Bay Hill in Florida. The Pro-Am teams were selected through a draft, and the author ended up playing alongside PGA Tour player Viktor Hovland. The author describes Hovland as a fantastic pro-am partner who brought good vibes and smooth golf swings. After the round, the Pro-Am winners were announced at a gala event with a private performance by country artist Darius Rucker.

Why it matters

The Arnold Palmer Invitational is one of the most prestigious events on the PGA Tour, and the Pro-Am gives amateur golfers a rare chance to play alongside the tour's top professionals. This provides valuable experience and exposure for the amateurs, while also generating excitement and interest in the tournament.

The details

For the 2026 edition of the Arnold Palmer Invitational, the author was invited to play in the Pro-Am event on the Wednesday before the tournament. The Pro-Am teams were selected through a draft, where each group of amateurs had 30 seconds to choose their PGA Tour pro partner. The author's group was selected 16th and chose to play with Viktor Hovland, who the author describes as a fantastic pro-am partner.

• The Pro-Am event took place on Wednesday, the day before the start of the 2026 Arnold Palmer Invitational tournament.
• The Pro-Am Gala where the winners were announced occurred on the evening after the Pro-Am round.

What they’re saying

What’s next

The author plans to share more details about his experience playing in the Pro-Am and the results of his group in an upcoming episode of his show.