Russell Henley wins Arnold Palmer Invitational, claims $4 million from $20 million purse

The Arnold Palmer Invitational 2025 crowned Russell Henley as its champion this Sunday at Bay Hill Club & Lodge in Orlando, marking the fourth signature event of the PGA Tour season. Henley edged out Collin Morikawa by a single stroke in the final round, securing a $4 million payout—the largest single-tournament prize of his career—from a $20 million purse. The tournament, known for its elite, limited field, distributed substantial rewards to the 70 golfers who made the cut, with the top four surpassing seven-figure earnings and the top 11 exceeding $500,000 each. As the PGA Tour season gains momentum, this event underscores the lucrative stakes driving professional golf in 2025.

Henley’s triumph, his fifth PGA Tour title and first in over two years, came after a tight battle with Morikawa, who took home $2.2 million for second place. Corey Conners earned $1.4 million in third, while Michael Kim pocketed $1 million in fourth, rounding out a top tier that showcased the depth of talent at Bay Hill. Big names like Rory McIlroy, Shane Lowry, and Scottie Scheffler also cashed significant checks, reflecting the event’s hefty prize pool, which matches the Genesis Invitational’s $20 million from February. The Arnold Palmer Invitational, steeped in tradition, continues to elevate the financial landscape of the PGA Tour, offering life-changing sums even beyond the winner’s circle.

Despite the restricted field, the payout structure ensured generous rewards for all who advanced to the weekend. Golfers like Keegan Bradley, Sepp Straka, and Tommy Fleetwood featured among the top earners, with prizes ranging from $840,000 to $349,000 for the top 15, while even the 70th-place finisher walked away with $32,000. The tournament, concluded this Sunday, highlights the financial success of the 2025 PGA Tour season, which has already delivered four signature events with record-breaking purses, setting a new standard for golfer earnings.

Tight contest crowns champion at Bay Hill

Russell Henley delivered a standout performance in the final round of the Arnold Palmer Invitational, clinching victory by a single stroke over Collin Morikawa. The American showcased consistency and precision, leveraging his experience at Bay Hill to claim his first signature event title. Morikawa, pushing hard until the end, settled for second place and a $2.2 million prize, while Corey Conners locked in third with $1.4 million.

Other notable finishes included Michael Kim in fourth, earning $1 million, and Keegan Bradley and Sepp Straka, who tied for fifth, each taking home $800,000. Shane Lowry secured seventh place with $700,000, followed by Byeong Hun An, Justin Rose, and Jason Day, who split $600,667 each in eighth. The leaderboard reflected the high caliber of competition, with top-tier talent vying for the substantial rewards on offer.

Million-dollar payouts for top finishers

The Arnold Palmer Invitational handed out $20 million to the 70 players who made the cut, with impressive sums even beyond the podium. Golfers like Tommy Fleetwood, Scottie Scheffler, Robert MacIntyre, and Aaron Rai, tied at 11th, each earned $451,250, while Jacob Bridgeman, Daniel Berger, and Rory McIlroy, in 15th, pocketed $349,000 apiece. The payout structure underscores the event’s signature status, ensuring significant earnings across the board.

Signature event boosts PGA Tour stakes

The Arnold Palmer Invitational solidified its place as one of the PGA Tour’s most lucrative tournaments in 2025, joining three prior signature events with massive purses. Matching the $20 million pool of February’s Genesis Invitational—won by Ludvig Åberg for $4 million—it follows The Sentry, where Hideki Matsuyama claimed $3.6 million in January, and the Pebble Beach Pro Am, where Rory McIlroy also earned $3.6 million. This quartet of events has set a high financial bar for the season.

With four different winners so far, the 2025 signature events highlight the tour’s competitiveness. Henley’s $4 million haul adds to a combined $15.2 million awarded to champions across these tournaments. The limited-field format concentrates top talent, raising both the skill level and the monetary rewards. At Bay Hill, the top four cleared $1 million each, and the top 11 surpassed $500,000, a testament to the PGA Tour’s strategy to elevate its marquee events.

Unlike regular tournaments, signature events offer amplified purses, drawing stars like Scheffler, McIlroy, and Morikawa, who, despite not winning, left Orlando with substantial earnings. The Arnold Palmer Invitational’s payout extended to mid-tier finishers, with the 20th place earning $269,000 and the 30th collecting $140,000, showcasing the tournament’s financial depth and appeal to players at all levels.

Top earners at Arnold Palmer Invitational

The $20 million purse at Bay Hill delivered hefty rewards to the leading finishers. Here’s the breakdown for the top 15:

• 1st: Russell Henley – $4,000,000
• 2nd: Collin Morikawa – $2,200,000
• 3rd: Corey Conners – $1,400,000
• 4th: Michael Kim – $1,000,000
• 5th: Keegan Bradley, Sepp Straka – $800,000 each
• 7th: Shane Lowry – $700,000
• 8th: Byeong Hun An, Justin Rose, Jason Day – $600,667 each
• 11th: Tommy Fleetwood, Scottie Scheffler, Robert MacIntyre, Aaron Rai – $451,250 each
• 15th: Jacob Bridgeman, Daniel Berger, Rory McIlroy – $349,000 each

These figures illustrate the event’s capacity to reward excellence across a competitive field.

Season stats showcase financial surge

The 2025 PGA Tour season has already disbursed over $73 million across its four signature events, with the Arnold Palmer Invitational contributing $20 million. The Sentry and Pebble Beach Pro Am each offered $20 million purses in January and February, followed by the Genesis Invitational’s identical pool. This trend of high-stakes tournaments reflects the tour’s push to enhance its financial allure, with winners alone collecting over $15 million combined.

Henley’s $4 million prize aligns with Åberg’s haul at the Genesis, surpassing the $3.6 million won by Matsuyama and McIlroy earlier in the year. The Arnold Palmer Invitational’s purse has grown significantly, jumping from $12 million in 2023 to $20 million in 2025—a 66% increase in two years. This escalation mirrors the PGA Tour’s efforts to rival circuits like LIV Golf, boosting player earnings to unprecedented levels.

Timeline of 2025 signature events

The 2025 PGA Tour season has delivered four signature events so far, each with a unique winner and hefty payout. Here’s the rundown:

• January: The Sentry – Hideki Matsuyama wins $3.6 million.
• February: Pebble Beach Pro Am – Rory McIlroy claims $3.6 million.
• February: Genesis Invitational – Ludvig Åberg secures $4 million.
• March: Arnold Palmer Invitational – Russell Henley takes $4 million.

Upcoming signature events, such as the RBC Heritage and Wells Fargo Championship, are expected to maintain the $20 million standard, promising more high-stakes battles in the months ahead.

Henley’s breakthrough at Bay Hill

Entering the Arnold Palmer Invitational, Russell Henley aimed for his first signature event victory and emerged with a career-defining $4 million prize. His one-stroke win over Collin Morikawa on Sunday showcased his steady play and clutch performance under pressure at Bay Hill. The victory, his first since 2022, netted him a sum exceeding his previous single-tournament high by over $1 million.

Morikawa’s runner-up finish earned him $2.2 million, while Conners and Kim rounded out the top four with seven-figure payouts. The tournament highlighted the fierce competition of 2025, with stars like Scheffler and McIlroy finishing among the top earners despite not contending for the title. Henley’s success at Bay Hill cements his status among the season’s elite winners.

Financial windfall for golfers

The Arnold Palmer Invitational didn’t just reward its champion. Mid-tier finishers, such as the 20th place with $269,000 and the 30th with $140,000, secured notable earnings, while even the 70th spot claimed $32,000. This broad payout structure benefits the entire field, offering substantial returns even for moderate performances in an elite event.

The 2025 PGA Tour season remains dynamic, with signature events setting a new financial benchmark. Henley’s $4 million triumph symbolizes this shift, while Morikawa, McIlroy, and others stay in the hunt for future titles and multimillion-dollar paydays as the tour progresses.