Arnold Palmer Invitational: What's the lowest 18-hole score at Bay Hill?

Adam Scott was the latest to match the course record at Bay Hill during the playing of the Arnold Palmer Invitational.
Arnold Palmer's Bay Hill Club & Lodge signage
Arnold Palmer's Bay Hill Club & Lodge signage | Brennan Asplen/GettyImages

While the Arnold Palmer Invitational is typically viewed by players as one of the toughest tests on the golf calendar, Bay Hill Club & Lodge has yielded plenty of low rounds since becoming a regular stop on the PGA Tour schedule in 1979.

With an abundance of water, a plethora of daunting bunkers, and plenty of thick rough throughout the course, Bay Hill challenges even the best players in the world, especially when the wind starts whipping around.

That said, though, there are many birdie opportunities to be had when conditions are favorable. And with four par-5s, eagles can come into play as well. It needs to be noted, of course, that Bay Hill hasn't always played to a par of 72 during the Arnold Palmer Invitational.

From 1979 to 1989, it played as a par-71 before becoming a par-72 in 1990. And for three years, from 2007 to 2009, it actually played as a par-70, as the fourth and 16th holes were converted from par-5s into par-4s. But after a renovation following the tourney in 2009, it once again became a par-72.

So, exactly how low can one go at Bay Hill?

Well, for a trio of players, the answer to that is 62, although two of those rounds came when it played as a par-71.

Here's a quick look at the three players who share the course record during the playing of the Arnold Palmer Invitational.

Andy Bean, 1981

A six-time PGA Tour winner coming into the 1981 edition of what was then called the Bay Hill Classic, Andy Bean opened his week with a solid first-round 68.

But the Georgia native took things to an entirely different level in Round 2, firing a 9-under 62 to take control of the tournament.

With rounds of 67 and 69 on the weekend, Bean cruised to a seven-shot victory over second-place finisher Tom Watson, ultimately finishing the week at 18-under to take his seventh title and the $54,000 winner's paycheck.

Greg Norman, 1984

While Greg Norman had notched nine victories on the European Tour coming into the 1984 Bay Hill Classic, he'd yet to record his first win on the PGA Tour, although he'd come close a year earlier at Arnie's Place, losing a playoff to Mike Nicolette.

After shooting an even-par round of 71 to open his week, Norman caught fire on Friday, making seven birdies and an eagle en route to a bogey-free 62.

Unfortunately for the Australian, he couldn't maintain his momentum and ultimately tied for sixth, shooting 71-73 over the final two rounds to finish at 7-under.

Gary Koch nearly matched the course record, shooting an 8-under 63 on Sunday before winning a playoff over George Burns.

Adam Scott, 2014

Last but certainly not least, we come to Adam Scott, who technically holds the true course record as his opening-round 62 at the 2014 Arnold Palmer Invitational was a round of 10-under, not the 9-under versions we saw from Bean and Norman.

With seven birdies and two eagles against just a single bogey at the 18th, Scott's 10-under 62 gave him a four-shot lead heading into the final 54 holes.

But like his fellow countryman three decades earlier, Scott failed to take the title at Bay Hill. While the 2013 Masters champ kept himself in the mix over the next two days, shooting 68 and 71, respectively, a final-round 76 knocked him out of contention.

Scott ultimately took solo third at 11-under for the week, finishing two strokes back of winner Matt Every, who went back-to-back the following year.

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