Updated March 7, 2026, 8:29 p.m. ET
Three days are in the books 2026 Arnold Palmer Invitational as players vie for the 700 FedEx Cup points and the $4 million check awarded to this week’s winner.
This is the third signature event of the season, which means there’s a smaller field and more money up for grabs. There was a 36-hole cut, however, and 20 players were sent home after Friday’s second round. Saturday morning started with some unexpected news as Rory McIlroy withdrew for just the second time in his career. Read more on McIlroy’s decision from Golfweek’s Adam Schupak.
The weather did not cooperate fully on Saturday at Bay Hill, with heavy rain and thunderstorms forcing a 67-minute delay in the action. Because of that, there were two groups who were not able to finish the third round and will have to do so Sunday morning.
Keep scrolling to see scores, highlights, round recaps and more from Saturday’s third round of the 2026 Arnold Palmer Invitational.
Check tee times and keep tabs on every score carded at Bay Hill this week with the 2026 Arnold Palmer Invitational live leaderboard. Here’s what it looked like at the top when play was suspended due to darkness Saturday evening:
Need a news break? Check out the all new PLAY hub with puzzles, games and more!PositionPlayerScoreThru1Daniel Berger-13152Akshay Bhatia-1116T3Sepp Straka-9FT3Cameron Young-9FT3Collin Morikawa-9F6Min Woo Lee-8FT7Chris Gotterup-7FT7Ludvig Åberg-716 Third round of Arnold Palmer Invitational suspended due to darkness
The third round of the 2026 Arnold Palmer Invitational was suspended due to darkness at 6:30 p.m. ET on Saturday. It comes as no surprise given the 1 hour and 7 minute weather delay earlier in the afternoon caused by a brief round of heavy thunderstorms. The third round will resume at 8 a.m. ET Sunday, with four players still needing to finish up: Daniel Berger, Akshay Bhatia, Shaith Theegala and Ludvig Aberg.
Daniel Berger maintains lead at Arnold Palmer Inviational
Daniel Berger still leads the Arnold Palmer Invitational after Saturday’s action, albeit by less than he did when the day started. Berger sits at 13 under for the tournament and even par through 15 holes. Read more on Berger’s round Saturday from the Palm Beach Post’s Tom D’Angelo.
Cameron Young charges Saturday at Bay Hill
Bay Hill is a special place to Cameron Young. “Mystical,” even. He fed off that energy Saturday when he shot 5-under 67 to put himself firmly in contention entering Sunday. Read more on Young’s impressive round and his heartfelt connection to Arnie’s Place from Golfweek’s Adam Schupak.
Akshay Bhatia moves within three
Akshay Bhatia made birdie at the 15th to get to 10 under for the tournament and within three shots of Daniel Berger’s lead.
Cameron Young moves to solo second with fourth straight birdie
Cameron Young is working on a masterful scorecard Saturday at Bay Hill. He’s bogey-free through 13 holes and has made four straight birdies to start the back nine, moving into solo second at 9 under as of 5 p.m. ET.
Scottie Scheffler climbs leaderboard with birdie binge
Don’t let this guy get hot… Scottie Scheffler made his fourth consecutive birdie with a chip-in from off the green at the par-3 14th. After shooting 3-over 39 on the front nine, he’s now under par for the day and has moved into a tie for 16th at 4 under as of 4:45 p.m. ET.
Akshay Bhatia moves into solo second
Akshay Bhatia separated himself from the logjam at 7 under with a pair of birdies at Nos. 5 and 6.
Play resumes after weather delay at Arnold Palmer Invitational
Players resumed in the third round of the Arnold Palmer Invitational at 4 p.m. ET Saturday, marking a 1 hour and 7 minute weather delay. Thunderstorms carrying heavy rain quickly blew through the Orlando area, forcing members of the grounds crew to use squeegees to remove standing water from the greens and fairways. The final group was on No. 5 green at the restart.
Third round of Arnold Palmer Invitational to resume at 4 p.m. ET
The third round of the Arnold Palmer Invitational is set to restart at 4 p.m. ET after play was suspended at 2:53 p.m. due to a quick burst of thunderstorms that moved through Orlando. Grounds crew could be seen using squeegees to move standing water off the fairways and greens.
Play suspended as storm blows through Orlando
A small system of heavy rain and wind hit Bay Hill just before 3 p.m. ET on Saturday, forcing a suspension in play. Officials do not expect this to be a long delay as the storm is moving quickly.
Six players tied for second at Arnold Palmer Invitational
As of 2:40 p.m. ET on Saturday, there were six (6!) players in a tie for second at 7 under: Akshay Bhatia, Collin Morikawa, Sepp Straka, Shith Theegala, Chris Gotterup and Ludvig Aberg. They’re all still chasing Daniel Berger, who maintains a five-shot lead.
Leaderboard bunches up behind Daniel Berger
Daniel Berger made bogey at the par-3 second hole to drop back to 12 under shortly after 2 p.m. ET on Saturday as he gets his third round started. He still holds a five-shot lead, but there is a host of players sitting behind him ready to pounce if he continues making bogeys.
As of 2:15 p.m. ET, there’s a four-way tie for second at 7 under and another four-way tie one shot behind at 6 under. Included in that bunch is Sepp Straka, who’s working on the best round of the day thus far. Straka is 4 under through 7 holes and has yet to make a bogey Saturday at Bay Hill, which is playing extra tough due to crispy greens and considerable winds.
Rory McIlroy withdraws from Arnold Palmer Invitational
Rory McIlroy withdrew from the 2026 Arnold Palmer Invitational on Saturday citing a bad back. McIlroy warmed up on the range ahead of his 12:55 p.m. ET tee time alongside Ryan Fox, but pulled out about a half hour before he was set to tee off.
Jordan Spieth on Bay Hill greens: ‘There’s no friction’
At 1 under heading into Saturday’s play, Jordan Spieth is a long way from leader Daniel Berger, but he’s only three shots out of the top 10. And considering he’s playing on a sponsor’s exemption, Spieth could desperately use a high finish.
Spieth has been hitting the ball well, but his putter has let him down a bit at Bay Hill as he’s failed to adjust to the way the course plays.
“There’s no friction on the greens, yet they’re not wicked fast. Now I just have not adjusted. I’ve left 15 putts short in 36 holes,” Spieth said after Friday’s round. “The one on 18, it’s like there’s no friction on the ground, I have to play a cup of break, but I don’t want to hit it that hard because I’ve hit enough of them where there’s zero friction and it means it’s not going to break. They’re just tough. The wind plays a big role.”
When asked what other courses follow suit, Spieth couldn’t think of any.
“I think this is the only place. Occasionally, U.S. Opens can get like this.” he said. “Then it could get like this at The Players in May. But no one else really leaves it dormant and let’s it die anymore, dormant Bermuda. Everybody overseeds. This is pretty much it that’s left I think.”
Amateur Bennett makes cut at API
University of Texas sophomore Daniel Bennett is making his first PGA Tour start this week at the 2026 Arnold Palmer Invitational, the only amateur in the field.
How is the reigning Phil Mickelson Award winner, given to the top freshman in college golf, in the field? Thanks to a vote by his peers from the 2025 Arnold Palmer Cup.
The Palmer Cup is an annual competition between the top men’s and women’s collegiate players from the United States against their counterparts from around the world. Bennett, a member of the International team, received the exemption after a vote last year, and his Tour debut is coming on one of the biggest stages in the world this week.
Bennett proved worthy of the invite, as he posted a pair of 1-under rounds and the native of Pretoria, South Africa, sits in prime position for a solid finish.
Bennett said before the week started that he was hoping to draw on his few experiences in pro tournaments, but he expected the signature event to be another step up.
“Obviously, a couple big DP World Tour events, I played four in the last couple years that have been good experience obviously. But it’s nothing like a PGA Tour event, I don’t think. This is another level,” Bennett said. “Those guys out there are really good and, yeah, it will be good to kind of see where my game’s at against some of the best in the world. Yeah, just obviously grateful to be here.”
Morikawa not surprised by Berger’s lead
Collin Morikawa was thrilled with his 71 on Friday at Bay Hill, considering the conditions.
Entering the day in a tie for third but six off the pace set by Daniel Berger, Morikawa said he wasn’t surprised by the Florida native’s great play, but he also hopes Berger will cool as the weekend progresses.
“I mean, not surprised. I think you can score … you can still score. That’s why this golf course is great, because you get rewarded on great shots,” Morikawa said. “But that’s like, that’s some great golf. I hope he doesn’t keep it up for the sake of my score. Because, beginning of the week, 13-under, like you probably would take that.”
Where to watch Saturday’s third round of the Arnold Palmer
NBC is back this weekend for the second week of its portion of the 2026 PGA Tour television schedule. Peacock, Golf Channel and ESPN+ are also in on the fun.
Third round, Saturday, March 7
Watch Golf Channel for free on Fubo Watch PGA Tour Live on ESPN+ Watch NBC’s PGA Tour coverage live on Peacock Saturday’s weather looks dicey at Bay Hill
There are some showers in the forecast for Orlando on Saturday.
What happened in the second round at Bay Hill?
Daniel Berger has opened a big lead with steady play. He’s been hitting lots of fairways and greens and knows he needs to do more of the same over the final two rounds.
2026 Arnold Palmer Invitational money, first-place prize
The API is a signature event with a $20 million total prize fund and a $4 million first-place check to the winner.
