Arnold Palmer to play Bay Hill Invitational

Arnold Palmer will keep his streak alive at the Bay Hill Invitational, deciding Thursday to play in his PGA Tour event for the 26th consecutive year.

The 74-year-old Palmer, who has threatened to stop playing the tournament each of the last two years, is the only player to compete in the tournament every year since it moved to his Bay Hill Club in 1979.

He has a special lifetime exemption to the tournament and will be an addition to the limited-field event, not taking away a spot from a younger PGA Tour player.

Palmer has not made the cut at Bay Hill since he tied for 71st in 1993. He won the tournament in 1971 when it was called the Florida Citrus Open Invitational, played at Rio Pinar.

Still, he often draws some of the largest galleries.

Tiger Woods is the four-time defending champion at Bay Hill, which will be played next week. He will try to become the first player to the win the same professional event five years in a row.

Palmer also plans to play in Masters for the 50th straight year.

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