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March 25, 2009
THE PRINCE MEETS THE KING
The Arnold Palmer Invitational presented by MasterCard was the setting for a potentially historic photograph Wednesday, as 17-year-old rising Japanese star Ryo Ishikawa - known as the Bashful Prince for his unassuming demeanor - came to meet the King of golf, the tournament host, Arnold Palmer.
"To have our young friend from Japan here to play is great," Palmer said later in a press conference. "I hope he has a good week and enjoys the game."
"We're certainly very pleased. I've heard everything from (him being) a young Tiger Woods to just a really great young man, and having met him and talked to him, he has a great personality. I see from what he's done playing golf that his future is very bright, and not just in Japan but around the world."
Ishikawa arrived at Palmer's second-story executive offices at the Bay Hill Club & Lodge at 9:40 a.m., precisely the appointed time. Ushered to the King's corner office, Ishikawa shook hands with Palmer then in perfect English expressed his appreciation for the invitation.
Palmer took a lapel pin with his umbrella logo and attached it to Ishikawa’s shirt and also gave him several logoed ball markers. Then they headed downstairs for the photo opportunity in front of a large gathering of photographers and television cameramen, mostly from Ishikawa’s home country, who have been following his American tour.
In a press conference later, Ishikawa said: “I (was) so honored when I received Mr. Palmer’s invitation to this tournament. It is going to be my lifetime treasure. I just met Mr. Palmer this morning. It was my wonderful memory, and it’s hard to explain how I feel at the moment. But I could feel he’s a warm-hearted person, just shaking hands.”
At Palmer’s request, the PGA Tour designated Ishikawa to receive an exemption reserved for foreign players in the Arnold Palmer Invitational. “I’ve had a relationship in Japan that has gone on for many, many years,” Palmer said. “When something happens like this young man, who is a real hero, it is obvious that we’re going to hear about it and hear how good he is.”
Ishikawa made history in 2007 when, as a 15-year-old high school freshman, he became the youngest champion ever on one of the world’s major golf tours, winning the Munsingwear Open KSB Cup on the Japan Tour. He became a professional last year and won again at the mynavi ABC Championship and placed second in the Japan Open. He was fifth on the 2008 Japan Tour money list and earned $1,074,469 converted to U.S. dollars. He is presently ranked No. 69 in the world.
While Palmer’s was the first, Ishikawa also accepted invitations from the Masters Tournament and two other PGA Tour events, the Northern Trust Open and the Transitions Championship. “I’ve been in Florida for two weeks now, and I’ve found that orange juice tastes great, and hamburger. So I’m enjoying America,” he said.
This is Ishikawa’s second visit to Bay Hill. Four years ago, he played in an AJGA junior event here.
--Bev Norwood
Posted by scurry at 09:30 PM
March 21, 2009
RYDER CUP AND PRESIDENTS CUP STARS ENTER ARNOLD PALMER INVITATIONAL PRESENTED BY MASTERCARD
Defending champion Tiger Woods leads field of 120 players
The 31st Arnold Palmer Invitational presented by MasterCard will feature
defending champion Tiger Woods along with most of the players from the
recent Ryder Cup and Presidents Cup teams. The PGA Tour event is scheduled
for March 23-29 at the Bay Hill Club & Lodge in Orlando, Florida.
The world’s No. 1 player and a five-time winner at Bay Hill, Woods will be
joined by the other two current major champions, Trevor Immelman and
Padraig Harrington, among 29 players entered from the top 50 of the Official
World Golf Ranking.
In addition to Woods, past Bay Hill winners in the field of 120 players are
Vijay Singh, Kenny Perry, Fred Couples, Paul Azinger, Chad Campbell, Rod
Pampling, Tim Herron, Andrew Magee, Paul Goydos and Robert Gamez.
Nine members of Captain Azinger’s victorious 2008 U.S. Ryder Cup team
are entered. They are Campbell, Perry, Stewart Cink, Ben Curtis, Jim Furyk,
J.B. Holmes, Anthony Kim, Hunter Mahan and Boo Weekley. From the
European Ryder Cup team are Harrington, Graeme McDowell, Ian Poulter,
Justin Rose and Oliver Wilson.
The latest Presidents Cup teams, from 2007, will be well-represented
with 10 players from the American team and eight from the International team.
These include U.S. players Woody Austin, Lucas Glover, Charles Howell III,
Zach Johnson, David Toms and Scott Verplank, and International players
Stuart Appleby, Angel Cabrera, Retief Goosen, Nick O’Hern, Adam Scott and
Mike Weir.
Among the 19 players who received sponsor exemptions is Rocco
Mediate, appearing in a tournament with Woods for the first time since their
playoff at the U.S. Open last June. Woods had surgery on his left knee after
that and did not play again until last month. This will be his third tournament
of 2009.
For tickets or more information on the Arnold Palmer Invitational
presented by MasterCard, log on to the tournament web site,
www.arnoldpalmerinvitational.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 and the Winnie Palmer Hospital for Women and
Babies.
Posted by scurry at 05:31 PM
March 19, 2009
KIM LOOKS FORWARD TO HIS DEBUT AT ARNOLD PALMER INVITATIONAL PRESENTED BY MASTERCARD
American young gun loading up for Bay Hill challenge
One of America’s rising stars, Anthony Kim, has been off to a slow start
in 2009 while nursing a series of nagging injuries, including a shoulder strain
that has prevented him from working on his game as much as he would like.
Kim figures one of the best ways to get back to the top of his game is to
take on the Champions Course at the Bay Hill Club & Lodge in the 31st Arnold
Palmer Invitational presented by MasterCard. A two-time PGA Tour winner last
year, Kim, age 23, joins a stellar field of highly-ranked players and former
champions in Orlando in the final leg of the Florida Swing on the week of
March 23-29.
“I haven’t been playing a lot of golf, so I’m a bit rusty, to be honest,” said
Kim, ranked No. 12 on the Official World Golf Ranking. “I need to get some
more rounds under my belt, but I’m finally healthy again, and I think I am
coming around at just the right time. And I think Bay Hill is going to be a good
place to test myself.”
Kim has never played the Bay Hill course designed by the host, but he’s
heard plenty about the 7,157-yard, par-70 layout.
“I haven’t had the chance to play the golf course before so I’m looking
forward to that,” said the native Californian. “I’ve obviously watched the
tournament on television and know that Bay Hill is a course that has typically
favored longer hitters, so hopefully I can put on a good show for the fans that
week.
“I’m expecting it to be tough,” Kim added. “It’s plays pretty long and the
rough is going to be thick, but like any golf tournament, you play well and you
make some putts, you’re going to do just fine.”
Kim has done quite well for himself in a short amount of time. In
addition to victories last year at the Wachovia (now Quail Hollow)
Championship and the AT&T National, the youngster played an instrumental
role in helping the U.S. Ryder Cup team defeat Europe at Valhalla Golf Club in
Louisville, Kentucky.
In addition to a desire to get more golf in before he heads to Augusta for
the Masters Tournament, Kim said he was motivated to see Bay Hill for
himself, and, of course, to have a chance to visit with the host.
“Obviously, it means a lot to play in events like this. Arnold Palmer …
everybody knows how he helped to change the game, helped it grow. He’d like
me to play in his event, and I would love to be a part of it.
“Playing in the Arnold Palmer Invitational is an honor that I have looked
forward to for many years, and the chance to make my first appearance there
next week will be a highlight of the season for me. Mr. Palmer is a legend in the
game that we all owe so much to, and I hope that one day I can add my name
to the list of champions at Bay Hill.”
For tickets or for more information, log on to the tournament web site,
www.arnoldpalmerinvitational.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 and the Winnie Palmer Hospital for Women and
Babies.
Posted by scurry at 11:52 AM
March 16, 2009
MEDIATE WANTS TO MAKE PALMER PROUD
U.S. Open runner-up among 19 to receive sponsor exemptions to 2009 Arnold Palmer Invitational presented by MasterCard
Rocco Mediate will get his wish – another chance to make Arnold Palmer
proud.
Mediate was among the 19 players who received sponsor exemptions to the
2009 Arnold Palmer Invitational presented by MasterCard, scheduled for the week of
March 23-29 at the Bay Hill Club & Lodge in Orlando, Florida.
In a hand-written note to Palmer requesting the exemption, Mediate wrote: “I
would once again love to play in your tournament. I tried so hard to make you
proud last June at the U.S. Open. I hope to have another opportunity to do so at
Bay Hill.”
At the U.S. Open Mediate, who had five career victories at age 45, became a
hero to millions of golf fans as he battled through 19 playoff holes before finishing
second to Tiger Woods, age 32, the world’s No. 1 golfer, with 65 career victories
including 14 major championships.
“They say that nobody remembers who finished second in a golf tournament,”
Palmer said. “I don’t think that will be the case with the 2008 U.S. Open and Rocco
Mediate.”
Woods is the defending and five-time champion of the Arnold Palmer
Invitational. He has until Friday March 20 to commit to the PGA Tour that he will be
at Bay Hill this year. If Woods plays, this would be the first tournament since the
U.S. Open to include both Woods and Mediate. Woods had surgery on his left knee
in June and did not play again until last month.
Mediate, who is from Greensburg, Pennsylvania, close to Palmer’s home in
Latrobe, will be playing for the 21st year (not consecutive) at Bay Hill, where his best
finish was second place in 2007, two strokes behind champion Vijay Singh.
Sponsor exemptions also went to three others who have played at Bay Hill for
more than 20 years: Corey Pavin will be making his 25th appearance, along with
Brad Faxon (23rd) and Billy Andrade (21st). Andrade’s total is consecutive, as he has
not missed a year since starting in 1988. Faxon placed second at Bay Hill in 1995
and tied for second in 2003.
In addition to Pavin, the 2010 U.S. Ryder Cup captain and 1995 U.S. Open
champion, exemptions went to 2006 U.S. Ryder Cup captain and 1996 British Open
champion Tom Lehman, 1993 and 1998 U.S. Open champion Lee Janzen, and 2001
British Open champion David Duval. Lehman tied for fifth at Bay Hill in 2007 and
tied for eighth last year.
Others receiving exemptions included Japanese teenager Ryo Ishikawa, whose
position as a foreign player designated by Commissioner Tim Finchem was
announced earlier.
In the category of eight PGA Tour regular or past champion members,
exemptions went to Andrade, Faxon, Janzen, Lehman, Mediate, Brian Davis, Jason
Gore, and Skip Kendall.
In the category of two players from the top 25 finishers in the 2008 Qualifying
Tournament and the 2008 Nationwide Tour, exemptions were given to Greg Owen,
who was second at Bay Hill in 2006, and Harrison Frazar.
Eight unrestricted exemptions were awarded to Pavin, Duval, 2008 Southern
Amateur champion Kyle Stanley, Erik Compton, D.A. Points, Steve Flesch, Notah
Begay, and Vaughn Taylor.
For tickets or more information on the Arnold Palmer Invitational presented
by MasterCard, log on to the tournament web site,
www.arnoldpalmerinvitational.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 and the Winnie Palmer Hospital for Women and Babies.
Posted by scurry at 01:35 PM
March 13, 2009
Navigating the 31st Arnold Palmer Invitational presented by MasterCard
All the information you need to attend the 31st Arnold Palmer Invitational presented by MasterCard.
Tournament Dates:
Monday, March 23, 2009 – Sunday, March 29, 2009
Location:
Arnold Palmer’s Bay Hill Club & Lodge 9000 Bay Hill Boulevard Orlando, FL 32819
Schedule of Events:
- Monday, March 23, 2009 – Youth Day/Monday
PRO-AM
7:30 a.m. – Junior Golf Breakfast in the Arnold Palmer Terrace Room.
9:00 a.m. – Monday PRO-AM Tournament begins.
4:30 p.m. – Coca-Cola® Youth Clinic at the Driving Range.
ALL YOUTH admitted FREE with paying adult on March 23.
- Tuesday, March 24, 2009
Practice rounds for PGA TOUR players.
Wednesday, March 25, 2009 – Wednesday PRO-AM
PRO-AM Tournament tee times throughout the day, #1
and #10 tees. (Pairings available day-of.)
- Thursday, March 26, 2009*
Round 1 of Competition.
- Friday, March 27, 2009*
Round 2 of Competition.
College Day - $20 entry for ALL current college students.
- Saturday, March 28, 2009*
Round 3 of Competition.
- Sunday, March 29, 2009*
Final Round of Competition.
*All pairings and tee-times will be available on the tournament Web site – ArnoldPalmerInvitational.com – the evening prior to play.
Daily Ticket Information:
- Practice/PRO-AM Ticket (Monday – Wednesday) – $35 Grants admission into the event on any one day, Monday – Wednesday. Monday is a ticketed day for adults, with the addition of a second PRO-AM event ticket.
All youth are admitted free on Monday with a paid adult. On-site parking included.
- Any One Day Ticket (Thursday – Sunday) – $45 Grants admission into the event on any one day, Thursday – Sunday. Parking at Universal Studios, with complimentary shuttle to the tournament provided.
- Youth Ticket, Ages 11 to 17 – $15 (10 and under free) Grants admission into the event on any one day, Tuesday – Sunday. All youth admitted free with a paid adult on Youth Day – Monday, March 23.
- College Students (Friday, March 27) – $20
On Friday, March 27, current college students can purchase a discounted ticket with their student ID at Universal Studios tournament parking.
- Military – FREE
All military receive free admission, any day, all day with a
valid military ID. Military present their ID to pick up a
ticket when parking on-site at Bay Hill, Monday –
Wednesday, and when parking at Universal Studios
tournament parking, Thursday – Sunday.
Ticket Packages:
- The King’s Club – $2,000
The King’s Club is the ultimate tournament experience.
This exclusive ticket package grants weeklong entrance to
the tournament and access to the King’s Club (Thursday –
Sunday), an elevated, air-conditioned structure offering
beautiful views of the 16th and 17th greens. A very
limited number of tickets are available. Tickets include:
full food and beverage service; on-site parking with shuttle
to the front of the venue; player meet and greets;
premium, limited edition giveaways; access to the Palmer
Pavilion, Clubhouse and MasterCard Club; and one round
of golf at the Bay Hill Club.
- Bay Hill Badge – $300
Includes weeklong access to the Clubhouse and Palmer
Pavilion. This limited edition badge offers a prime view of
the putting green, as well as access to the grounds and
Palmer Pavilion on the 18th tee. Badge holders enjoy the
privilege of guaranteed on-site parking.
- Clubhouse Badge – $190
Includes access to the tournament grounds and Bay Hill
Clubhouse. The Clubhouse offers a prime view of the
putting green. On-site parking on a space available basis
is also included.
- Palmer Pavilion Badge – $185
The Palmer Pavilion features a comfortable, covered
hospitality area and patio with unique views of the 18th
green. This badge grants access to the grounds and into
the Palmer Pavilion Monday – Sunday. It includes on-site
parking on a space available basis.
- Grounds Badge – $95
Includes grounds-only admission to the entire
tournament, Monday – Sunday. Parking with shuttle bus
is provided at Universal Studios.
- Gold Patron Package – $3,500
Includes 20 Clubhouse Badges and 10 parking passes for
guaranteed on-site parking in Lot 10.
- Bay Hill Patron Package – $2,800
Includes 10 Clubhouse Badges as well as 10 Palmer
Pavilion Badges. Includes on-site parking on a space
available basis.
To Purchase Tickets:
Purchase tickets online at ArnoldPalmerInvitational.com, call the Arnold Palmer Invitational Ticket Office at 407-876-7774 or toll-free at 866-764-4843, or purchase at your local participating Edwin Watts stores.
Parking Information:
- On-Site –
Any One Day (Thursday – Sunday) $20
Full Week (Thursday – Sunday) $65
Guaranteed parking on the tournament grounds. Limited availability.
- Free General –
Thursday – Sunday parking and shuttle service is provided from Universal Studios for all Arnold Palmer Invitational ticket holders.
- Disabled –
Thursday – Sunday, ALL disabled spectators will be required to park in a handicap-specific, hard surface, covered area at Universal Studios. This handicap area will be serviced by special handicap–equipped shuttles. The drop-off at Bay Hill will be at the end of the Clubhouse area.
Will Call Information:
The Will Call trailer is located on the East side of Turkey Lake Road, between Sand Lake Road and Hollywood Way.
Directions to Will Call:
Traveling either direction on I-4, take exit 74A and head west on Sand Lake Road (once on Sand Lake Road, stay in the far Right lane) to Turkey Lake Road. Turn Right on Turkey Lake Road. Travel approx. one mile. You will come to a traffic light at Wallace Road. The Will Call trailer will be just north of Wallace Road and on the East side of Turkey Lake Road (there will be signs).
Will Call Hours:
Monday, March 23 7:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m.
Tuesday, March 24 7:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m.
Wednesday, March 25 6:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m.
Thursday, March 26 6:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m.
Friday, March 27 6:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m.
Saturday, March 28 6:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m.
Sunday, March 29 6:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.
Directions:
To Universal Studios – General Parking
- From Daytona/Sanford: Take I-4 West to Exit 74B;
Follow signs to tournament.
- From Tampa: Take I-4 East to Exit 74A; Follow signs to
tournament.
To Bay Hill Club & Lodge
- From Daytona/Sanford: Take I-4 West to Exit 74A; Exit
right onto Sand Lake Road. Take Sand Lake Road. until
you end at Apopka-Vineland Road and turn right. Follow
signs to Gate C for public parking.
- From Tampa: Take I-4 East to Exit 74A; Exit left onto
Sand Lake Road. Take Sand Lake Road until you end at
Apopka-Vineland Road and turn right. Follow signs to
Gate C for public parking.
Posted by scurry at 09:00 PM
March 11, 2009
FURYK IS BACK VYING FOR LONG-SOUGHT BREAKTHROUGH AT ARNOLD PALMER INVITATIONAL PRESENTED BY MASTERCARD
Former World No. 2 eager to take on toughened Bay Hill
Jim Furyk admits he didn’t always pencil in a stop at the Bay Hill Club &
Lodge on his busy playing schedule. The calendar seemed to work against him,
and the Champions Course didn’t seem to suit his game, as much as he
enjoyed it.
Now, Furyk is again making a point of heading to central Florida, to the
PGA Tour event hosted by one of the game’s legends.
When the 2009 Arnold Palmer Invitational presented by MasterCard
begins March 26, Furyk will be among the many former major championship
winners in the elite, invitation-only field, and the Florida resident hopes he can
add to his 13 PGA Tour victories at a tournament that has come to have special
meaning for veteran.
Furyk, 39, is a native of Pennsylvania, as is the tournament host, the
source of a special bond. That bond was strengthened a few years ago when Palmer wrote to Furyk personally to return to Bay Hill after the 2003 U.S. Open winner had missed the Orlando spot for six years starting in 2000.
“He wrote to me, and that meant a lot,” said Furyk, who last won on the
PGA Tour at the 2007 Canadian Open. “I'll be dead honest, if Arnold or
someone will talk to you personally or writes you a letter personally and signs
it, it would be tough to say no.”
Ranked as high as No. 2 in the world and currently No. 17 in the Official
World Golf Ranking, Furyk also sees the tournament dates as being
advantageous as he prepares for the first major of the year, the Masters. The
Arnold Palmer Invitational has been moved back two weeks to anchor the
Florida swing on the PGA Tour.
“This year, it would kind of be a no-brainer for me because of the way the
schedule worked for me,” Furyk says. “I’ve played the last few years, and I
planned on going this year as well all along. It’s really a tournament I don’t
want to miss now. Obviously, a big part of that is simply what Arnold means to
the game. Being from Pennsylvania, I’ve always been aware of what he’s done,
and of course, the game we are playing today, we all owe a lot to Arnold. The
game would be much different without him.”
Furyk would point out that his game is different these days, too, and the
changes mean he is better equipped to compete at Bay Hill, not that he has
struggled too much before. True, he missed the cut in his first two appearances
in 1994 and 1995, but he has scored at par or better in every start since then.
His best showing was a tie for eighth in 1998. Last year, he was just three off
the lead through two rounds before No. 1 Tiger Woods pulled away for his fifth
victory.
“It's actually endearing itself to me,” Furyk says of the 7,157-yard, par-
70 layout. “The more I play it, the more I tend to enjoy it. But I think my game
has changed a lot, too, in the last few years, and that probably helps. I think I
hit the ball higher, hit the ball a lot farther, and I'm not having some of the
issues I had at the course. Plus, I think they're setting it up a little bit
differently, which should be interesting. It will be challenging, for sure. I am
looking forward to it.”
Palmer said his fellow Keystone State native has to be considered among
the favorites because of his ability to drive the ball, a staple of Palmer’s game in
his prime.
“Jim drives it well enough, and we aren’t so long that he couldn’t take
advantage of some scoring opportunities from the fairways,” Palmer said. “He’s certainly capable of winning here. His game is such that he’s capable of winning anywhere.”
For tickets or for more information, log on to the tournament web site,
www.arnoldpalmerinvitational.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 and the Winnie Palmer Hospital for Women and
Babies.
Posted by scurry at 12:45 PM
March 05, 2009
SINGH EAGER FOR ANOTHER SHOT AT ARNOLD PALMER INVITATIONAL PRESENTED BY MASTERCARD
FedExCup champion gears up for return to Bay Hill
When Vijay Singh decided to undergo arthroscopic surgery in January on
his right knee, one impetus for choosing to not wait was because he didn’t
want to risk missing certain events in the first few months of the PGA Tour
schedule. No one ever wants to miss a major, so the former Masters champion
certainly wanted to be ready for Augusta. But other events were on his mind as
well.
“Events like Bay Hill and Pebble Beach, where I’ve had some good
success, are very important to me. Those you don’t want to miss,” said Singh,
the reigning champion of the PGA Tour’s yearlong FedExCup competition, who
underwent surgery January 14 near his home in Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida.
Few tournaments have been a better fit for the fitness-minded, hardworking
Singh than the Arnold Palmer Invitational presented by MasterCard.
The three-time major champion has never missed the cut at the Bay Hill Club
& Lodge in Orlando, Florida, and, in fact, he showed great promise in the
tournament from the beginning.
Singh’s first start as a member of the PGA Tour came at the 1993 edition
at Bay Hill, when the tournament was known as the Nestle Invitational, and courtesy of a personal invitation from the legendary host whose name now
adorns the tournament, Singh not only showed up, but made his presence felt,
finishing second.
But until the 2007 tournament, Singh had piled up 30 PGA Tour
victories while meeting with frustration in one of his favorite events. Singh
racked up two more runner-up finished and 11 top-25s in his first 14
appearances until finally breaking through with a two-stroke victory over Rocco
Mediate. Last year in his title defense he tied for third, three strokes behind
Tiger Woods.
Little wonder then that Singh is eager for a return to Bay Hill’s Champion
Course. Likewise, it’s no mystery that the talented Fijian will again be among
the favorites when the 31st edition of the Arnold Palmer Invitational presented
by MasterCard is held March 23-29.
“I have a long and proud history with the Arnold Palmer Invitational and
I consider it one of the most important events on my schedule each year," said
Singh, 45, who has won 22 times since he reached age 40, a record. "It was a
huge thrill for me when Mr. Palmer offered me an exemption to play 17 years
ago, and I have looked forward to Bay Hill every year since. Obviously, finally
winning the tournament two years ago, after coming close a number of times,
will go down as one of the highlights of my career, and I would love to
recapture that moment later this month.”
A former No. 1 player in the world, Singh has broken par at Bay Hill in
12 of his last 16 rounds, and he was one of just three players to shoot par or better in all four rounds a year ago on the 7,157-yard, par-70 layout that Palmer designed.
“I know the golf course; I know how to play it,” said Singh, who was
inducted into the World Golf Hall of Fame in 2006. “I think I owe it to Arnie
inviting me there the first time I played in America, so I've played there every
single year.”
Palmer expects Singh, one of a number of former champions expected to
participate, to again vie for the top spot at the elite, limited-field invitational
tournament that offers a purse of $6 million, an increase of $200,000 from a
year ago.
“Vijay is such a strong player and he works tremendously hard, so it’s no
surprise to me the success he’s had,” Palmer said. “His full swing is very good,
one of the best, and he’s very consistent. Bay Hill seems to suit him well.”
For tickets or for more information, log on to the tournament web site,
www.arnoldpalmerinvitational.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 and the Winnie Palmer Hospital for Women and
Babies.
Posted by scurry at 10:00 AM
March 03, 2009
A Week with the King
PGA Tour players enjoy perk of spending time with host at the Arnold Palmer Invitational presented by MasterCard
It was autumn when Davis Love III last ran into Arnold Palmer. “ When I
saw him, Arnold asked me, ‘You’re going to be at Bay Hill, right?’” Love
recalled. “Well, I said I wouldn’t miss it for anything, and you know, I
wouldn’t.”
Love is a three-time runner-up of the Arnold Palmer Invitational
presented by MasterCard, so he’s naturally eager to add that title to his 20
career PGA Tour victories. But beating an elite invitational field on a tough golf
course isn’t his only motivation for wanting to return to the Bay Hill Club &
Lodge for the 31st edition of Palmer’s prestigious event in Orlando, Florida.
Neither is playing for a handsome $6 million purse.
“I love the tournament, and I’ve enjoyed the golf course, though I haven’t
quite gotten over the hump, but one of the best things about playing at Bay Hill
is the time you get to spend with Arnold,” Love said. “You don’t get to do that
very much. It’s in honor of him that you want to be there. That’s what was
great about playing for him on the Presidents Cup when he was the captain (in 1996) – it’s that the time you get with him that really means something. You don’t forget it.”
Love’s outlook on the long-running PGA Tour event hosted by one of the
game’s most beloved figures is shared by many of his peers. When the Arnold
Palmer Invitational presented by MasterCard is held March 23-29, many of the
120 players in the elite invitational field will use the trip to renew
acquaintances with golf’s recognized “King.”
“We all know about his success on the golf course but it’s what he’s done
for the game, and his tournament is a visible example of that,” said Tim
Herron, who won the 1999 edition at Bay Hill. “There’s an aura about him that
makes him the man, someone who is a great example for golfers and nongolfers.
You conduct yourself like Arnold Palmer, and you aren’t going to go
wrong. Being around him for that reason is worth the trip.”
“It’s always great to play there, and the course has gotten harder, so it’s
even more of an accomplishment to win there, I think,” Paul Goydos, the 1996
champion, added. “But when you go there, it’s still about being there with
Arnold. He treats the pros great; the pros are what matter at Bay Hill. It goes
back to who he is. It’s all about the professionals there, and you have to come
ready to play because you know that’s what he would do.”
There certainly appears to be no shortage of players who have shaped
their decisions by thinking about what Arnold Palmer would do. Two-time
winner Loren Roberts is among them, and he believes that all golfers would
benefit from some informal lessons from the King.
“I’ve always thought that it’s kind of like our young guys who come out of
Q-School or the Nationwide Tour or wherever … rookies ought to have to play a
couple of rounds of golf with Arnold Palmer, just to see how he treats everyone
on the golf course, how he treats the fans, how he conducts himself,” Roberts
said. “It should be a prerequisite to play with Arnold and learn a few things.”
Some PGA Tour members who live in Orlando find that one of the perks
of a central Florida residency is a greater opportunity to visit with Palmer away
from the stress and bustle of tournament week.
“I saw him at a charity event at home in Orlando for the Winnie Palmer
and Arnold Palmer Hospitals in December, and he looks great, and he doesn’t
look like he’s slowing down at all,” two-time Tour winner Charles Howell III
said. “He’s just unbelievable how he interacts with people. I always get a kick
out of seeing him, especially in settings like that where you really see what he’s
about, which is, basically, that he’s the same no matter the situation. He’s just
a phenomenal person.”
“Personally, I love hanging out at Bay Hill, just to be around Arnie. What
a lovely man,” Daniel Chopra, another two-time winner, said. “The first time I
met him, it was like he was so much larger than life. It was like meeting John
Wayne. It has nothing to do with records and such. It’s who he is. He is
approachable, and he makes everyone around him feel good. Just a regular
guy, and that is his charm.”
According to Goydos, there’s one additional legitimate reason to journey
to Bay Hill in late March. “What do we play for that week? (The purse is $6
million.) That’s not even close to what Arnold Palmer has done for us and for
the game,” Goydos said. “More than anything, you just want to go there and
play well and then be able to say thanks. Really, you can’t thank him enough.”
For tickets to the 2009 Arnold Palmer Invitational presented by
MasterCard or for more information, log on to the tournament website,
www.arnoldpalmerinvitational.com or call the Bay Hill Club ticket office at 407-
876-7774 or toll free at 1-866-764-4843. Proceeds from the tournament benefit
the Arnold Palmer Hospital for Children and the Winnie Palmer Hospital for
Women and Babies.
Posted by scurry at 09:16 AM