Joe Highsmith avoided missing his fourth cut in six starts and then shot back-to-back 64s to earn his first career PGA Tour win last week at the Cognizant Classic in The Palm Beaches. Highsmith became the first player to make the cut on the number and go on to win the event since Brandt Snedeker accomplished the feat at the 2016 Farmers Insurance Open. With the victory, the 24-year-old Highsmith clinched spots in all of the remaining signature events this season, beginning with this week's Arnold Palmer Invitational presented by Mastercard. He has also punched his tickets to the Masters and the PGA Championship, as well as the 2026 edition of The Sentry.
Highsmith heads to Arnold Palmer's Bay Hill Club and Lodge in Orlando, Florida, for the Palmer Invitational along with many of golf's biggest names, including defending event champion and world No. 1 Scottie Scheffler. The reigning three-time PGA Tour Player of the Year and 2024 FedEx Cup champion shot a 15-under 273 to finish five strokes ahead of Wyndham Clark a year ago at Bay Hill. It marked the largest win at the event since Tiger Woods won by five shots in 2012.
Scheffler, Clark, Highsmith, Rory McIlroy and several others look to grab a piece of the $20 million pot at Bay Hill. The winner takes home $4 million.
Here are key facts about the 2025 event:
When is the Arnold Palmer Invitational?
It runs Thursday to Sunday.
How can fans watch?
Fans can tune in on Disney+ and ESPN+ via the ESPN streaming hub.
What is the schedule?
*All times Eastern
Thursday: First-round coverage begins at 7:30 a.m.
Friday: Second-round coverage begins at 7:30 a.m.
Saturday: Third-round coverage begins at 8 a.m.
Sunday: Fourth-round coverage begins at 7 a.m.
Coverage includes main feed, marquee group, featured groups and featured holes.
Which top players will be in the event?
▪︎ Scottie Scheffler
▪︎ Rory McIlroy
▪︎ Ludvig Åberg
How can fans access other golf content from ESPN?
Check out the ESPN golf hub page for the latest news, scores, schedules, rankings and more.