Tiger Woods dominated the Arnold Palmer Invitational like no other golfer, winning a record eight titles at Bay Hill between 2000 and 2013, including four consecutive victories
Tiger Woods built his iconic career and legacy on the golf course by commanding PGA Tour competitions and achieving accomplishments that left fellow players amazed. He claimed numerous major titles by double-digit spreads and turned Sunday contests into showcases for his trademark red outfit, yet his showings at the Arnold Palmer Invitational might stand among his most remarkable triumphs.
Woods won the event a record eight times. No other professional has captured this PGA Tour competition more than twice. From 2000 through 2003, Woods took home the trophy four consecutive years, effectively making Arnold Palmer’s home layout his private territory. It comes as Scottie Scheffler raged after missing a putt and threw his ball into the water.
His commanding run included multiple wins by gaps of four shots or more, peaking with an astounding 11-shot demolition in 2003 at a tournament total of 269. Woods crushed a strong lineup that featured a four-player deadlock for runner-up (-8) and included distinguished competitors such as Davis Love III, Vijay Singh, Angel Cabrera, and Justin Rose. Elsewhere at this weekend’s API, Jake Knapp withdrew minutes before his tee time.
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That final victory spread remains the widest of his professional career in the event. After a brief hiatus from Bay Hill’s champion’s podium, Woods came back to claim the tournament again in 2008 and 2009, reports the Irish Star.
He added two more victories in 2012 and 2013, bringing his total to eight Arnold Palmer Invitational championships. This feat equaled a PGA Tour record previously set by Sam Snead, who also won the Greensboro event, now known as the Wyndham Championship, eight times.
Palmer once declared that Woods is the most dominant and talented player in history. In 1991, Woods clinched victory at the U.S. Junior Amateur on the same course, marking his ninth competitive win there. Whilst the tournament has seen several repeat champions, none have come close to Woods’ remarkable record.
Scottie Scheffler has taken home the title twice in 2022 and 2024. Matt Every secured back-to-back wins in 2014 and 2015.
Tiger Woods has won the Arnold Palmer Invitational a staggering eight times
Ernie Els, Loren Roberts, Gary Koch, Tom Kite, and Jerry Heard have each won the championship twice as well.
Interestingly, Woods never received one of the tournament’s newer traditions. After Arnold Palmer’s death in 2016, organizers introduced the now-iconic red cardigan sweater presented to the winner on the 18th green.
The tribute honors Palmer’s signature alpaca sweaters and has become one of golf’s most unique contemporary awards. The tradition began in 2017, four years after Woods’ last Arnold Palmer Invitational victory in 2013.
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Woods has consistently recognized Palmer as one of the sport’s biggest influences in broadening golf’s appeal.
“Arnold meant everything to golf. Everyone got hooked on the game of golf via TV because of Arnold,” he commented in 2019.
“You finally had someone who had this charisma, and they’re capturing it on TV for the very first time.”