Arnold Palmer Invitational presented by MasterCard
Thursday Mar 13 – Sunday Mar 16, 2008 · Bay Hill Club & Lodge · Orlando, FL
  • Purse: $5.8 million
  • Winning Share: $1,044,000
  • FedExCup Points: 25,000

Course

Arnold Palmer Invitational presented by MasterCard
Bay Hill Club
Course Par Value: 70
Course Yardage: 7239
Hole Par Yards  
1 4 441

The first hole grabs the player's attention from the start, as Bay Hill flexes it muscles, beginning with a 441-yard par 4. The series of bunkers down the right side of the fairway creates the dogleg left, making the choice to hit it down the left side more favorable. The other option is to play in to the middle of the fairway or make a mistake to the right side.

2 3 218

The second hole is a long par 3 at 218 yards and is typical of all the par 3s on the course. This is the second-longest par 3 on the course, but plays slightly downhill. The two-tiered green is well protected by bunkers in the front for those who aren't ready for their long-irons or didn't read the wind correctly.

3 4 395

The third hole is a 395-yard par 4 that makes a dogleg left around the largest lake on the course, requiring a careful tee shot. Players must know where to place their drives in order to set up the approach to a green that sits at water's edge over a natural rock wall. Players who misread the wind at No. 2 and didn't take note will be playing into a crosswind that will force the ball left and into the lake.

4 4 460

The fourth hole is a 460-yard par 4 infested with pesky hazards from tee to green. This hole was changed from a par 5 to a par 4 for the 2007 tournament.

5 4 384

No. 5 is the shortest par 4 on the front nine at 384 yards, but the premium is on an accurate short-iron approach to a convex green. The tee shot is most tricky in order to avoid the bunkers scattered on each side of a narrow landing area. Players who hit a safe tee shot and follow with a tight iron shot are looking at 3.

6 5 558

The sixth hole is always a topic of conversation. The 558-yard par 5 curls around the lake players first saw at No. 3. This hole produces some eagles, a few birdies and some scores that resemble telephone numbers.

7 3 197

The seventh hole, the shortest par 3 on the course at 197 yards, provides some relief. Most players will take a mid-iron into the slightly uphill par 3 but the large green offers a variety of pin positions beyond the bunkers that front the green.
The final two holes on the front nine are par 4s that make a par-par finish look pretty good.

8 4 459

No. 8 is a 459-yard dogleg right with a bunker on the left side. A grove of trees forces a tee shot aimed to the left into a landing area shaped like a saddle. The approach is over a small lake to a right-to-left sloping green that requires a longer carry the farther left you aim.

9 4 467

The longest of the par 4s at Bay Hill,this subtle dogleg left requires a long-iron or fairway metal to a large, well-guarded green framed by rear mounds. Players take par here, get to the back nine and don't look back.

10 4 400

The tenth is a 400-yard par 4. The long hitters will take their tee shots over a series of bunkers in the elbow of the dogleg right to set up a short-iron shot to a two-tiered green.

11 4 438

No. 11 is similar in design to the third hole. The only difference on the 438-yard par 4 is a slightly more open target area off the tee. The diagonally situated green brings the lake into play on left pin placements and the bunkers into play on right hole locations.

12 5 580

Players can step on the gas at the 580-yard, par-5 12th hole. Even though the landing area for drives is hidden from the tee by an elevated bunker and a slight dogleg right, the lay-up shot sets up an approach with a wedge. The green is heavily protected by bunkers to thwart off any thought of running the second shot up.

13 4 364

The 13th offers a brief respite for short hitters at only 364 yards. The demand is placed on the short-iron approach to the wide, shallow green. A lake that will surely catch any misfires fronts the putting surface.

14 3 206

No. 14 is a slightly uphill par 3 of average length at 206 yards. The green is protected by two parallel bunker systems and is mounded in the back. The putting surface is large enough to allow for some challenging pin placements. Making birdie here requires an accurate tee shot.

15 4 425

The dogleg-right, 425-yard, par-4 15th hole features magnolia trees on both sides of the landing area. These heavy leaved trees help narrw the preferred driving area. The approach is to a large green that rolls softly, making long putts most treacherous.

16 4 485

The 16th Hole is the beginning of a three-hole stretch to the clubhouse that is among the best in golf. This hole was shortened to a par 4 for the 2007 Arnold Palmer Invitational.

17 3 219

The 17th hole is another good opportunity to gain ground or lose control. The elevated tee is 219 yards from a green that's surrounded by water on three sides while bunkers protect the left. A rather small green by Bay Hill standards, it is firm and fast, making birdie a premium.

18 4 441

The finishing hole looks simple on paper. At 441 yards, the par-4 18th hole is straight away to a wide fairway, but that's where simple ends. The large, kidney shaped green is fronted by rocks and water, requiring a longer carry to the right half. The bunkers left of the green await errant shorts of the hydrophobic.

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