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February 28, 2006
There's Nothing Easy for the Field at Bay Hill Invitational Presented by MasterCard
Palmer’s Bay Hill Club is a well-respected, enduring test
One measure of a great golf course is its enduring value as a meaningful test, regardless of the improvement of the players who take it on and the equipment with which they arm themselves. The Bay Hill Club, which has hosted the prestigious Bay Hill Invitational presented by MasterCard since 1979, has proven through the years to be one of the more exacting examinations on the PGA Tour.
“Bay Hill is definitely one of the best courses we play, one I’ve always enjoyed. It tests every part of your game,” says defending champion Kenny Perry, who submitted a solid performance in posting a 12-under-par 276 total and a two-stroke victory over Vijay Singh and Graeme McDowell. “You have to work pretty hard for what you get there.”
Last year Bay Hill was the 10th most difficult course on the PGA Tour, with the field averaging 73.243, more than a stroke over par. Andy Bean set the course record of 62 in 1981 and Greg Norman equaled the mark in 1984. Bay Hill is one of just eight Tour layouts that has not seen a course record set or equaled since 2000, and at only two regular stops has the course record endured longer than at Bay Hill.
Accomplished architect Dick Wilson designed the Bay Hill Club in 1961, but the championship layout didn’t find its identity or earn its high reputation until tournament host Arnold Palmer began in 1989 to slowly, surely and smartly bring it up to modern standards and its current par-72 configuration of 7,267 yards. The broad-shouldered golf course features narrow fairways accentuated by humps, bumps and bunkers, and large greens with strong contours. While generally regarded as one of the best driving tests on Tour, the Bay Hill Club, consistently regarded as one of the best resorts in America, demands much more than good tee shots because of its intriguing green complexes with firm and fast surfaces, its dramatic doglegs, and the intelligent integration of water hazards that initiate numerous risk-reward decisions.
Having said that, those who have found success at Bay Hill have usually enjoyed a good week with the driver. “It's a wonderful golf course for a long hitter, if they are driving it well, because of the way it's shaped,” says Tiger Woods, who won four straight Bay Hill Invitational titles beginning in 2000. “The par fives are borderline for most guys. Guys who are long can probably take a go at most of the par fives. Some of the par fours, since they are doglegs, longer hitters can cut the corners and shorten them up quite a bit.”
“It’s hard to play out of the rough here,” says Chad Campbell, who ended Woods’ reign with his impressive six-stroke victory in 2004. “Everything is sort of set up by how well you drive it, and you definitely have a tough time scoring if you’re not in the fairways. That’s probably the biggest key.”
Long tee shots aren’t necessarily an advantage, at least not all the time, according to 1999 winner Tim Herron. “I think you have to shape it both ways. I think the holes really set up nice. You can kind of see them and visualize your shot, and move it around.”
As far as key holes to consider, two par fours, the first and the signature 18th are annually among the toughest holes on the PGA Tour. No. 1 is a dogleg left of 441 yards. The home hole, also 441 from the championship tees, is renowned for its kidney-shaped green that wraps around water. “Nos. 1 and 2, right from the start the golf course is really tough,” says Ernie Els, the 1998 champion. “Then you have Nos. 17, and 18, that tough green, and the rocks there, it’s a good finish.”
Another hole that causes sweaty palms is the 558-yard par-five sixth, a dogleg left that wraps around a lake. John Daly made 18 there in 1998. “You can ruin your round right there,” Els says. “You want to make birdie, but you also don’t want to hit it left. Anything left is like out of bounds. You got to tee it up from the tee again with that water. So that’s a key hole, a very big hole.”
Loren Roberts, who won back-to-back Bay Hill titles in 1994 and 1995, says the holes around the turn, Nos. 7 through 11, can determine the outcome if a contender plays them too loosely. “I think that’s the meat of the golf course,” Roberts says. “You can’t fall asleep because you can start making bogeys one after the other. But that’s pretty much true of the whole golf course. It’s just not a golf course you can attack. You keep it in play and make some putts, and just go about your business. Physically and mentally, it’s a real challenge.”
For tickets to the 2006 Bay Hill Invitational presented by MasterCard, or for more information, log on to the tournament web site, www.bayhillinvitational.com, or call the Bay Hill ticket office at 407-876-7774 or toll free at 1-866-764-4843. Tournament proceeds benefit the Arnold Palmer Hospital for Children & Women.
Posted by scurry at 07:04 PM
February 22, 2006
Ernie Els, Fit Again, Readies for Another Bay Hill Invitational Presented by MasterCard
Arnold Palmer’s tournament a highlight in Big Easy’s schedule
Fully recovered from a knee injury that cut short his 2005 season, Ernie Els returns to the Bay Hill Invitational presented by MasterCard eager to resume his winning ways on the PGA Tour and revisit a layout that he enjoys and where he’s had some success. Traditionally drawing one of the strongest fields in the game, the Bay Hill Invitational, which is celebrating its 28th year, is scheduled for March 13-19.
Els, 36, who has a home in Orlando, was involved in a freak boating accident last July while on vacation and suffered a ruptured anterior cruciate ligament to his left knee that required surgery. He did not play on the PGA Tour the remainder of 2005, but did play twice in his native South Africa in December, winning his second start at the
Dunhill Championship on the European Tour.
Returning again to Bay Hill, where he won in 1998, Els hopes to add to his 15 PGA Tour titles at one of his favorite venues. Nicknamed the Big Easy, Els won the storm-interrupted 1998 edition of the Bay Hill Invitational in a 36-hole showdown against Tiger Woods and Davis Love III. He separated himself from the field with a sterling third-round five-under-par 67, and despite a final-round 73, Els’ 274 total was good for a four-stroke victory over Jeff Maggert and Bob Estes.
“It was a great winning it at Bay Hill, because I was just a new resident there in Orlando,” Els recalls. “I had a lot of fans there from Lake Nona. Playing with Davis and Tiger. I think Davis, Tiger, myself, we were top three in the world then and we played 36 holes together there, so that was a really special one.”
It was also special because of Els’ relationship and personal history with the tournament’s host, Arnold Palmer.
“Arnold was so wonderful to me. I played with him in the 1992 PGA, and he told my agent at that time that he was going to invite me to his tournament,” Els recalls. “He wrote me a letter. He invited me out of the blue to come and play at his golf course. He has always been great towards me. He’s always been a friend of mine. I still have that letter, so that’s pretty cool.”
So were the spoils of victory. “I think getting the sword from Arnold, getting the jacket from Arnold, all that was great,” Els says.
Els, the No. 4 player in the Official World Golf Ranking, has won 10 of his 15 PGA Tour titles and 20 of his 42 international trophies after breaking through at Bay Hill. Since 2003 only Vijay Singh, Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson have won more than the five titles Els has won on the PGA Tour. He missed last year’s PGA Championship because of his knee injury, but he hasn’t missed a cut in a major since the 1999 PGA while compiling 11 finishes of fifth or better, including the 2002 Open Championship at Muirfield, Scotland. He also has won two U.S. Open titles, in 1994 and 1997.
Els tied for 23rd last year on the 7,267-yard, par-72 Palmer-enhanced layout that is among the most challenging the game’s top players encounter all season. “It’s a good course, it’s a long hitter’s course, and I feel real comfortable there,” Els says. “The start is really tough, and the finish, 17 and 18 are very strong holes. But if you’re on your game there, you can make some birdies on the par-5s and take advantage of a few other holes. The rest is just play hard and try to make your pars.”
Els says his forced sabbatical was good for him on several levels, and that he’s ready to resume his chase for more victories, especially major championships.
“Obviously, when you have time off like that you can reflect and set goals, and I've had real time for myself and to be away from the circus, you know,” Els says. “I think all this time that I had off was very constructive for myself, my family, for my business, everything around. I have got things in place a lot better than I had them in the past. I've got clear goals again, I’ve got some energy again, and I'm looking forward to playing.”
For tickets to the 2006 Bay Hill Invitational presented by MasterCard, or for more information, log on to the tournament web site, www.bayhillinvitational.com, or call the Bay Hill ticket office at 407-876-7774 or toll free at 1-866-764-4843. Tournament proceeds benefit the Arnold Palmer Hospital for Children.
Posted by scurry at 03:09 PM
February 15, 2006
New Online Pricing for Arnold Palmer Iced Tee
A delicately delicious combination of iced tea and lemonade, Arnold Palmer Tee, can now be enjoyed in your own home. Order online and Arnold Palmer Enterprises will donate 100% of their profit to the Arnold Palmer Children's Hospital.
Order now and support a good cause while quenching your thirst!
Created many years ago by Arnold Palmer himself as his beverage of choice after the game, a thirst-quenching glass of "Arnold Palmer" has long been a popular staple at upscale restaurants, health clubs, club houses and other fashionable venues wherever refreshments are served.The refreshing taste of Arnold Palmer Tee can now be enjoyed in your own home, not just at the course.
| Arnold Palmer Tee |
Old Price |
New Price |
|
| 6-Pack |
$7.98 |
$5.94 |
 |
| 12-Pack |
$15.00 |
$10.92 |
|
| 24-Pack |
$28.08 |
$19.92 |
|
Posted by scurry at 12:57 PM
February 14, 2006
Arnold Palmer Looks Forward to Another Bay Hill Invitational presented by MasterCard
Legendary host pleased with course setup, potential field
No longer a competitor in the PGA Tour event he founded 27 years ago, Arnold Palmer nevertheless is eager to host another edition of the Bay Hill Invitational presented by MasterCard. The 76-year-old legend says that although he misses the competition, he has found his tournament an enjoyable enterprise simply by serving as its host.
"I always liked the challenge of playing. When you recognize that it's not fun to play when you aren't doing well, then you move on," Palmer said. "I had to come to that decision. But in other ways I enjoy the tournament as much as ever, and in some ways more so. I enjoy watching the golf, which I couldn't do when I was on the golf course. There are a lot of great players out there and it's fun to see how the course challenges everyone. I enjoy seeing the galleries and a lot of friends."
The 28th Bay Hill Invitational is scheduled for March 13-19 at Palmer's Bay Hill Club in Orlando, Florida. One of the premier stops on the PGA Tour, the Bay Hill Invitational traditionally draws one of the strongest fields among golf tournaments from around the world.
The defending champion is Kenny Perry, who became just the second man over age 40 to win the Bay Hill Invitational, joining Ben Crenshaw. Perry established a three-stroke lead after 54 holes and held on for a two-shot victory over Vijay Singh and Graeme McDowell.
Winner of 62 PGA Tour events, including seven major championships (four Masters, two British Open titles and one U.S. Open), Palmer continues to cut back his active playing schedule to focus on golf course design and other pursuits.
"I don't have many plans for golf this year," Palmer said. "There are people I work for, but I don't know that I will play in the events they sponsor (on the Champions Tour). I am considering it, but that's all. I'll be around. I'll always be around to promote the game; that won't ever change. But at this point I have no plans to play very much at all."
Over the years Palmer has turned the Bay Hill championship course into one of the most demanding on the PGA Tour with its thick rough and humps, mounds and bunkers protecting large, firm greens. In years past he has instituted changes here and there, some subtle and others quite dramatic. The par-72 course again stretches to 7,267-yards.
"We expect the golf course to be absolutely tip top," Palmer says. "There are really no changes from last year. Last year proved to be a good test of golf. The rough will be much the same as last year – not long but very intense, very full. It will put more of a premium on tee shots, which I like to see. The scores reflected the difficulty of the course last year, and the player who won it, Kenny Perry, he played very well to be able to win. It was an exciting finish, right down to the end. That's what you want."
"Everything we can control we like to control and we like to do our very best to put on a great tournament."
For tickets to the 2006 Bay Hill Invitational presented by MasterCard, or for more information, log on to the tournament web site, www.bayhillinvitational.com, or call the Bay Hill ticket office at 407-876-7774 or toll free at 1-866-764-4843. Tournament proceeds benefit the Arnold Palmer Hospital for Children & Women.
Posted by scurry at 11:41 AM
February 07, 2006
Mr. Palmer Will Again Host the Best Players in the World
Official World Golf Ranking confirms elite status of the field
The 2006 Bay Hill Invitational presented by MasterCard is well on its way towards one of the strongest fields in world golf, with 20 players from among the top 50 on the Official World Golf Ranking already committed to PGA Tour event scheduled for the week of March 13-19 at Arnold Palmer's Bay Hill Club in Orlando, Florida.
With 52 commitments received as of today - there will be a minimum of 120 players in the field - the list already includes defending champion Kenny Perry, ranked No. 11 in the world, and other notables such as Retief Goosen, Ernie Els, and Adam Scott, ranked No. 3, No. 5, and No. 10 in the world, respectively. Current U. S. Open champion Michael Campbell, ranked No. 13 in the world, has also committed.
Others already in the field are David Howell (No. 14), Darren Clarke (No. 20), Stuart Appleby (No. 24), Jose Maria Olazabal (No. 25), Nick O'Hern (No. 27), Bart Bryant (No. 28), Stewart Cink (No. 31), K. J. Choi (No. 36), Sean O'Hair (No. 39), Mark Hensby (No. 40), Mike Weir (No. 42), Fred Funk (No. 43), Rod Pampling (No. 45), Lee Westwood (No. 46) and Peter Lonard (No. 50).
The Bay Hill Invitational presented by MasterCard traditionally has one of the strongest fields of the year. In 2005, Bay Hill's field was the world's ninth strongest behind only the four major championships, The Players Championship, and the three World Golf Championship events. Thirty-four of the world's top 50 were at Bay Hill last year, a group which included four of the top five, nine of the top 15, and 20 of the top 30 players.
For tickets to the Bay Hill Invitational presented by MasterCard, or for more information, log on to the tournament web site, www.bayhillinvitational.com, or call the Bay Hill ticket office at 407-876-7774 or toll free at 1-866-764-4843. Tournament proceeds benefit the Arnold Palmer Hospital for Children.
Posted by scurry at 12:43 PM
February 01, 2006
World's No. 1 player has much success at Bay Hill
Tiger Woods, the No. 1 player in the world and the reigning Masters and British Open champion, makes it a practice to not commit to a tournament until the entry deadline nears. That means he won't make the call on entering the Bay Hill Invitational presented by MasterCard for several weeks yet, but given his play at Arnold Palmer's Bay Hill Club in Orlando, Florida, he probably has the number on speed dial.
Woods, who has just embarked on his 10th full season as a professional, has competed at Bay Hill every year since he turned professional in late 1996, and the experience has been profoundly rewarding for the 10-time major championship winner. Woods, 30, enjoyed a four-year winning streak at the Bay Hill Invitational from 2000-03, a remarkable stretch accomplished only twice previously in PGA Tour history.
Speaking of streaks, Bay Hill also was the site of the first of three straight U. S. Junior Amateur titles Woods won from 1991-93. . He defeated Brad Zwetschke in 19 holes that began not only a three-year run as junior champion, but also, with three U.S. Amateur titles after that, an unprecedented six-year streak of U.S. Golf Association victories.
Coming off a season in which he won his sixth Jack Nicklaus Award for PGA Tour Player of the Year after winning six times, including his fourth Masters title and second British Open crown, Woods will undoubtedly be among the heavy favorites for the 28th edition of Palmer's prestigious invitational, which is scheduled for March 13-19.
"Obviously, Bay Hill is a wonderful golf course; it's always a good test," said Woods, who tied for 23rd place in 2005 with a one-under-par 287 total. "When you get on a course where you've had some success, it gives you confidence because you know you can do it again."
Begun by Palmer in 1979, the Bay Hill event boasts an impressive array of winners, including Tom Kite, Fred Couples, Ben Crenshaw, Phil Mickelson, Ernie Els, and the late Payne Stewart. Kenny Perry added his name to the roll last year with a two-stroke victory over Vijay Singh and Graeme McDowell.
No one has had anywhere near the success at Bay Hill Woods has enjoyed. He says the golf course "sets up well to my eye," and the proof is in his record. Among his records is an 11-stroke triumph in 2003 and $2,840,177 in career earnings. Woods has 24 sub-par rounds and 16 in the 60s at Bay Hill, and he has never missed the cut.
Woods was ranked second in the world at last year's tournament, but ascended to the No. 1 position again when he defeated Chris DiMarco on the first playoff hole at Augusta National Golf Club for his fourth Masters title. He went on to claim his sixth Vardon Trophy for the lowest adjusted stroke average and led the Tour in earnings for a sixth time with a career-high $10,628,024, the second-highest single season total in history. His six victories pushed his career win total to 46 on the PGA Tour, seventh on the all-time list. His 10 major championships rank third, one behind Walter Hagen and seven shy of the record mark of 18 established by Jack Nicklaus. He entered the 2006 season with career earnings of $55,770,760.
Despite all the successes, turning age 30, and settling into married life, Woods is very much the same player who emerged on the scene in 1996 almost as some kind of rock star.
"My whole goal is just to be better," says Woods, who went 24-day vacation from the game and didn't touch a club before making his 2006 debut last week with his 47th career victory at the Buick Invitational of California. "Even back when I was in 2000 going through that great run in 1999, 2000 and so forth, my whole idea was to get better. Right now, I'm trying to do the same thing, get better and each and every day."
Obviously, Woods' immense popularity hasn't disturbed his focus or desire, an attribute he shares with the tournament host. Woods enjoys a special connection with Palmer, who has been one of the most popular players in golf history and an icon among American sportsmen. Palmer, age 76, only last stopped competing in this event but he still enjoys playing as often as possible on one of the PGA Tour's most demanding layouts that he has tweaked over the years.
"It's cool when you can come over here any time during the week and see him out here playing," Woods says of Palmer. "You don't get a chance to see that in any other sport. And I think that's what makes it so exciting is that he's continued to play. He's continued to enjoy just being competitive and he's a great guy to be around. I've had a chance to hang around Arnold from a different perspective. I mean, just the stories that he'll tell you. It's been pretty special because he's pulled me aside a couple of times and we've just talked for hours."
For tickets to the 2006 Bay Hill Invitational presented by MasterCard, or for more information, log on to the tournament web site, www.bayhillinvitational.com, or call the Bay Hill ticket office at 407-876-7774 or toll free at 1-866-764-4843. Tournament proceeds benefit the Arnold Palmer Hospital for Children.
Posted by scurry at 05:26 PM