{"id":836797,"date":"2026-07-30T21:57:11","date_gmt":"2026-07-30T21:57:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/836797\/"},"modified":"2026-07-30T21:57:11","modified_gmt":"2026-07-30T21:57:11","slug":"arnold-palmer-invitational-gains-champions-series-status-in-2028","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/836797\/","title":{"rendered":"Arnold Palmer Invitational gains Champions Series status in 2028"},"content":{"rendered":"

The slow drip of the PGA Tour\u2019s Championship Series schedule release continued Thursday, with the Arnold Palmer Invitational joining a trio of previously announced tournaments.<\/a><\/p>\n

Along with the four majors, The Players Championship and the Presidents Cup, the Tour now has 10 of its targeted two dozen Championship Series events in 2028. <\/p>\n

Bay Hill Club and Lodge joins TPC River Highands in Cromwell, Connecticut, and Torrey Pines in La Jolla, California, as host venues that will welcome the best players in the world. The 2028 Napa Valley event<\/a>, which will be sponsored by Japanese insurance company Sompo, has not locked down a venue yet.<\/p>\n

The Arnold Palmer will celebrate 50 years in Orlando when the Tour makes its inaugural Championship Series stop in two years. <\/p>\n

\u201cMr. Palmer believed in challenging the world\u2019s best players while creating an unforgettable experience for fans,\u201d said API tournament director Drew Donovan. \u201cAs a PGA Tour Championship Series event, we will continue to deliver championship golf at Bay Hill and give back to the Central Florida community.\u201d <\/p>\n

A new chapter begins. \u26f1\ufe0f<\/p>\n

We\u2019re proud to be named to the @PGATOUR<\/a> Championship Series beginning in 2028 and look forward to welcoming the world\u2019s best players to the #APInv<\/a> presented by @Mastercard<\/a>.<\/p>\n

The stakes are rising. Stay tuned\u2026there\u2019s more to come. pic.twitter.com\/8sCmau2vUA<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 apinv (@APinv) July 30, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n

Akshay Bhatia won the 2026 event for his third career victory. It didn\u2019t come without drama though: Bhatia defeated Daniel Berger in a sudden-death playoff.<\/p>\n

Next year\u2019s tournament is set to run from March 15-21 on NBC and Golf Channel. <\/p>\n

Mastercard has been the event\u2019s presenting sponsor for two decades. Along with Sompo, Mastercard joins Travelers and Sentry as companies that have secured deals to be Championship Series sponsors. <\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

How competitive is the market for 2028 Championship Series events?<\/p>\n

Golf Channel’s Todd Lewis and Golf Digest’s Shane Ryan join Golf Today to discuss the latest PGA Tour scheduling news. Lewis estimates that there are only four unclaimed spots for interested sponsors when the Tour’s Challenger Series debuts in 2026.<\/p>\n