Arnie's Tournament on Thursday

Tim Herron, the latest star for the Footjoy 'Signboy' adverts as the hot-dog munching 'Lumpy', won the playoff at last year’s Bay Hill Invitational, defeating Tom Lehman to earn his third US Tour title. This week, “Lumpy” seeks to become only the second player to win back-to-back at the Bay Hill Lodge and Club, following in the footsteps of Loren Roberts (1994-95).

A Minneapolis native, Herron either owned or shared the lead after each of the first three rounds. He and Lehman finished at 14-under-par, but a birdie-4 on the first extra hole brought Herron the win. A purse increase announced last week makes the Bay Hill Invitational one of 26 US events offering a purse of $3 million or more.

Arnold Palmer, host for this weeks Bay Hill Invitational said

“I have always felt it vital that the tournament support the PGA Tour and the players. I thought it was particularly appropriate to increase our prize money at this time in recognition of the support we, in turn, have received from my fellow tournament pros by their participation at Bay Hill.”

Bay Hill Invitational Notes

35 YEARS: This week marks the PGA TOUR’s 35th visit to Orlando for the Bay Hill Invitational and its 21st stop at the Bay Hill Club and Lodge. Prior to arriving at Bay Hill, the tournament – then known as the Florida Citrus Open – was held at Rio Pinar Country Club from 1966-78.

HIGH START
: Phil Mickelson’s opening-round 72 on his way to the 1997 Bay Hill Invitational title was the highest start by a winner in tournament history. Prior to Mickelson, Robert Gamez shot a 71 in the first round of his 1990 victory.

ERNIE’S FINISH
: Ernie Els’ finish on Sunday of the 1998 Bay Hill Invitational was a not-so-glamorous 73, but it was good enough for a victory on a day in which only 10 players shot 70 or better. The average final-round score for 1998 was 73.36.

START OF GREAT YEAR
: The winner of the Bay Hill Invitational has finished first on the PGA TOUR money list twice at the end of the year. Tom Kite finished first after his victory in 1989, as did Fred Couples in 1992. Tim Herron finished in the top 10 five more times after winning at Bay Hill in 1999 and finished 22nd overall after playing 29 events. Herron finished among the top 25 on the TOUR money list for the first time in his career.

MULTIPLE WINNERS
: Four players have won the Bay Hill Invitational more than once: Jerry Heard (1972, 1974), Gary Koch (1977, 1984), Tom Kite (1982, 1989) and Loren Roberts (1994, 1995).

TOURNAMENT RECORD
: Payne Stewart holds the 72- hole scoring record at the Bay Hill Invitational. In 1987, Stewart shot 69-67-63-65–264 (20-under-par) to defeat David Frost by three strokes.

PLAYOFFS
: Last year’s all-Minnesota playoff between Tim Herron and Tom Lehman was the seventh in the 34-year history of the Bay Hill Invitational, but the first since 1989 – when Tom Kite defeated Davis Love III with a par on the second extra hole. Kite also won the 1982 Bay Hill Invitational in a playoff over Jack Nicklaus and Denis Watson. Hale Irwin (1976), Bob Byman (1979), Mike Nicolette (1983) and Gary Koch (1984) are the other extra-holes winners.

COURSE RECORD
: Andy Bean and Greg Norman share the course record at the Bay Hill Club and Lodge. Bean shot a 9-under-par 62 in the second round of the 1981 Bay Hill Invitational, and Norman followed suit in the second round of the 1984 PGA TOUR event.

FIRST-TIME WINNERS:
Five golfers earned their first PGA TOUR titles at the Bay Hill Invitational: Ken Still (1969), Bob Byman (1979), Mike Nicolette (1983), Loren Roberts (1994) and Paul Goydos (1996).

ACES:
There has not been a hole-in-one at the Bay Hill Invitational since 1991, and there have only been six posted since 1983. The most recent hole-in-one came during the 1991 tournament, when Kenny Perry aced the 14th hole in the third round.

LOVE BAY HILL:
Davis Love III has been eligible to play in the Bay Hill Invitational in each of the last 14 years. During those years, Love has missed the cut once and has finished in the top 10 six times (including finishes of 2, T2 and 3). Davis has earned $500,701 at the Bay Hill Invitational and ranks second behind Loren Roberts ($535,741) on the tournament’s composite money list.

BAY HILL TROPHY:
One of the more distinctive prizes in golf is the Bay Hill Invitational trophy. It was handcrafted by the Wilkinson Company, which has a tradition in sword making extending back more than 200 years. The sword, Scottish in recognition of the home of golf, was based on the 16th century Highland Claymore.