Rory McIlroy is still one of the very best golfers in the world and after looking in good form already in 2025, he’ll have eyes firmly on the Arnold Palmer Invitational as one of the big tournaments he could win.
McIlroy has won the Arnold Palmer before. The Northern Irishman triumphed back in 2018 when he held off Bryson DeChambeau to bring home the signature trophy.
Despite not winning at The Genesis, McIlroy is looking in good nick ahead of the big one at Bay Hill and he’ll be very much hoping to get himself in contention.
Indeed, when it comes to a course McIlroy has proven he can excel at, Bay Hill is right up there.
And it is that knowledge, as well as the two records McIlroy holds from the event that mean he’s a big favourite going into the 2025 edition.
Rory McIlroy’s Bay Hill records put him in contention for 2025
There are certain courses around the world where golfers get a good feeling and Rory McIlroy is no different.
We’ve all seen how well he plays at Quail Hollow and with the PGA Championship being held there this summer, McIlroy will be confident of ending his major drought.
However, another course McIlroy has excelled at is Bay Hill, which plays host to the Arnold Palmer Invitational.
In fact, McIlroy actually holds the joint-record for a lowest back nine ever shot around Bay Hill.
It was just last year that the four-time major winner produced one of the rounds of his life to come home on the back nine in just 30 shots.
As well as that stunning nine in general, McIlroy also wrote his name into the record books as he produced a remarkable tee shot on the tenth hole – a par four – to drive the green.
In doing so, McIlroy became the first player in the ShotLink data era to achieve such a feat. For reference, the drive from McIlroy was over 360 yards and landed on the green as the group in front were still on the putting surface.
What Rory McIlroy said about driving the 10th green at Bay Hill
Rory McIlroy is one of the game’s big hitters but even though he is so long, it was still a surprise to see him hit the green on the 10th.
In fact, such was the surprise, that McIlroy himself was shocked to see his ball on the green when approached the putting surface.
“I’m definitely a good few yards longer over the last couple of years than I have been in the past,” McIlroy said at the time.
“I thought if I got it in one of the two front traps that would be a good leave to hit something up the green, but, yeah, I wasn’t trying to hit it on the green, but it was nice to walk up and see it on there.”
Whether McIlroy can pull it off again in 2025, remains to be seen but you wouldn’t bet against him giving it another go and in turn, winning at Bay Hill once more.
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