South African amateur Daniel Bennett is the surprise name in the field challenging for the 2026 Arnold Palmer Invitational at Bay Hill.
As expected this week’s field for the prestigious $20m event is very strong with 19 of the world’s top 20 playing and headlined by World No.1 Scottie Scheffler and No.2 Rory McIlroy in the 72 man field.
South Africa’s Bennett is playing as a sponsor’s exemption. He joins Joel Dahmen for the first two rounds. Also in the field is Aldrich Potgieter, who is joined by Adam Scott for the opening 36 holes.
He played the Arnold Palmer Cup last year, representing the International team, where he won the Palmer Cup Award. Bennett even hit a hole-in-one at that tournament, which massively helped his chances of securing this life-changing opportunity.
Bennett recently told the Orlando Sentinel: “I was shell shocked. I thought they made a mistake. I heard my name, and it was kind of weird. I kind of felt like they were going to call my name, and then when they did, my head shot up immediately, and I was like, ‘No way.’ ”
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