The 2025 PGA Tour season is finally gathering momentum with the Arnold Palmer Invitational scheduled to start this Thursday. The event, which is happening one week before the Players Championship, will see all top players participate and clinch the $4 million prize money. Scottie

Scheffler is all set to defend his crown and claim a third victory at Bay Hill. With storied winners like Tiger Woods, Phil Mickelson, Vijay Singh, and many others, the Invitational has a colorful past. But not all memories are sweet and all thoughts pure. The Bay Hill has also been the stage for some intense controversies. Let’s take a look at some of the most daunting ones from the years gone by.

5. Patrick Reed’s disagreement with rule official in 2018 

One instance at the Arnold Palmer Invitational that is rooted in infamy involves Patrick Reed, a rule official, and to a small extent, Jordan Spieth, who was not playing that year.  At the green on the 11th hole, Patrick Reed believed that he was warranted a drop because he was being obstructed by cables from a TV tower. The official did not think so

The resulting argument turned out to be a very long and tedious one, which saw even Justine Reed, Patrick Reed’s wife, involved. As a hail mary, Patrick brought forth a previous incident involving Jordan Spieth, who was given a drop by the officials at the 2017 British Open.  “I guess my name needs to be Jordan Spieth, guys,” stated Reed. The fact that they are really close friends was the only reason why people perceived this as a quip rather than an attack.

4. Rory McIlroy disses the setup in 2022

At the 2022 Arnold Palmer Invitational Rory McIlroy was fuming. He had started his campaign in the first round with a brilliant 7 under par, which vaulted him to the top position. However, the Northern Irish golfer found himself struggling over the next three days, finishing with a woeful score of 1 above par at T13. Why did this happen? Well, according to McIlroy, the way the course is set up is not ideal.

According to the four-time major winner, the course is too unrewarding of effort. Despite making good shots, you will still end up struggling on the course. “I think it’s just a golf course setup issue and maybe just trying to make it a little less penal when you miss, I guess. Or not even less penal when you miss.” I don’t mind golf courses being penal when you miss, but it’s not rewarding good shots. I think that’s where it starts to get across the line.” Do you think this is genuine or is it a case of sour grapes that he missed his shot at a signature event?

3. Jon Rahm’s 2023 swearing incident

A year later, it was Jon Rahm’s turn to bring forth controversy to Bay Hill. On the 14 hole, Rahm was readying his approach. His shot did fall on the green, but unfortunately, it fell nearly 35 feet away from the green, making way for a difficult putt.

As soon as the shot left his club, Rahm was heard shouting, “F*** off, you piece of s***! Stay on the green!” The frustration Rahm was feeling, was there for all to see and hear in this case as well! Nick Dougherty, who was part of the broadcast team of Sky Sports, ended up apologizing for the incident. The anticlimax was that the Spaniard ended up making the 35-foot putt for the par.

2. Wyndham Clark cheating controversy in 2024

Another major winner was caught in a controversial moment, another year later. Wyndham Clark at the 2024 edition was on the 18 hole. His drive was a bit wayward landing at the deep rough on the right side. He used a wedge to set the surrounding grass around the ball, but the ball seemingly moved. The incident was visible as the broadcast had a clear view of the movement of the ball, falling deeper into the grass. This usually counts as a two-stroke penalty but the officials explained that a penalty was not necessary as the ball had reached back to the original position.

“I wasn’t trying to cheat or anything like that or improve my lie. I just simply put my club down. Obviously, they zoom in, and it makes it look worse… We all talked about it. Scottie [Scheffler], the rules official, didn’t think it moved. So, fortunately, that (a penalty) didn’t happen,” the 2023 US Open winner stated during an interview after the incident.

Not everyone took it kindly. Most fans started criticizing Clark on social media, labelling him as a cheater and comparing him to Patrick Reed. Even analyst Brandel Chamblee of Golf Channel, stated that he believed that Clark should have been penalized. In the end, the American golfer finished second in the event, 5 strokes behind winner Scottie Scheffler.

1. Phil Mickelson’s absence from the 2022 edition sparking debate

The 2022 edition had a different tone altogether. One of the PGA Tour’s most successful golfers, Phil Mickelson had announced his intention to remove himself from the Tour. Why would he do that? Mickelson was joining the then newly formed Super Golf League (LIV Golf, as called now). In doing so, he was severely criticized, particularly because of the Saudi Arabian government’s sports-washing technique.

The fact that Mickelson did it despite knowing the atrocities, did not make it easy for players to digest. However, over the years, many big golfers like DeChambeau, Brooks Koepka, Jon Rahm, and so on followed suit and joined LIV Golf, seeking the riches that the Saudi-backed Tour provided. Even now, the PGA is seeking a deal for the reunification of golf, via funds from PIF.

What do you think of the moments discussed above? Do you think there are more controversial instances at Bay Hill?