Sunday at 3: 00 p. m. ET, the arnold palmer invitational prize money sits at a $20 million purse as players head into the final round at Bay Hill, where Daniel Berger holds a one-shot lead over Akshay Bhatia. That tight leaderboard is the immediate reason the payout schedule is in focus today.
Daniel Berger Leads at Bay Hill After Years of Setbacks
Berger arrives at the final round alone atop the leaderboard and can clinch a tour-caliber victory in 18 holes. He holds a one-shot advantage over Akshay Bhatia and is three clear of Cameron Young, Sepp Straka and Collin Morikawa, putting a familiar name back in contention on Sunday.
It has been five years since Berger’s last win at the 2021 AT& T Pebble Beach Pro-Am. He lost 19 months to a bulging disc that took time to diagnose, returned to the PGA Tour and rebuilt his game inside the top 100 in the Official World Golf Rankings, then suffered a broken finger at last year’s BMW Championship.
Arnold Palmer Invitational Prize Money Breakdown
The arnold palmer invitational prize money comes from a $20 million pool, with the winner’s check set at $4, 000, 000. Below is the official payout breakdown for positions 1 through 50 at the 2026 Arnold Palmer Invitational.
1st: $4, 000, 000 2nd: $2, 200, 000 3rd: $1, 400, 000 4th: $1, 000, 000 5th: $840, 000 6th: $760, 000 7th: $700, 000 8th: $646, 000 9th: $600, 000 10th: $556, 000 11th: $514, 000 12th: $472, 000 13th: $430, 000 14th: $389, 000 15th: $369, 000 16th: $349, 000 17th: $329, 000 18th: $309, 000 19th: $289, 000 20th: $269, 000 21st: $250, 000 22nd: $233, 000 23rd: $216, 000 24th: $200, 000 25th: $184, 000 26th: $168, 000 27th: $161, 000 28th: $154, 000 29th: $147, 000 30th: $140, 000 31st: $133, 000 32nd: $126, 000 33rd: $119, 000 34th: $114, 000 35th: $109, 000 36th: $104, 000 37th: $99, 000 38th: $94, 000 39th: $90, 000 40th: $86, 000 41st: $82, 000 42nd: $78, 000 43rd: $74, 000 44th: $70, 000 45th: $66, 000 46th: $62, 000 47th: $58, 000 48th: $56, 000 49th: $54, 000 50th: $52, 000
The payout also includes tournament extras for lower finishing positions, with prize packages noted on the official distribution list.
What a Win Would Deliver for Berger and the Field
A victory on Sunday would secure Berger both the winner’s check and a Masters invitation, an outcome explicitly referenced as within reach if he holds his lead through the final 18 holes. That potential return to the winner’s circle would come five years after his last title and mark a dramatic career swing after lengthy injury layoffs.
Akshay Bhatia, Cameron Young, Sepp Straka and Collin Morikawa remain in contention for the top payouts listed above; finishing position directly determines the cash awarded from the $20 million pool and the distribution shown in the breakdown.
Final results and confirmed payouts will be available Sunday at 6: 00 p. m. ET. If Berger maintains his lead through the closing round, he will collect the $4, 000, 000 winner’s check and the accompanying Masters berth.
