Brendan Steele fired a 5-under-par 67 Thursday on the Bay Hill course in the Arnold Palmer Invitational in Orlando, to grab a share of the early, five-way lead with several players still on the course.
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It will be the first time since 2007 that Palmer has not taken a ceremonial tee shot at the Masters. Coupled with his closing 74 in the WGC-Cadillac Championship in his last start, it’s the first time in more than two years that McIlroy didn’t break 74 in back-to-back rounds. Any other tournament on tour (with perhaps the exception of the Memorial hosted by Jack Nicklaus) and a player just makes a phone call to the tour offices.
Last year, Palmer hit his opening shot low and left, and into the crowd that lined up to see the three greats start off the year’s first major.
After Palmer dislocated his shoulder in a fall four months before last year’s Masters, there were questions about his ability to pull off the tee shot.
Nicklaus and Player are still expected to hit ceremonial tee shots before the opening round on April 7. Johnston said Palmer has committed at least $10 million to Arnie’s Army to make sure the charitable work is sustained.
This year, he’ll pass. According to the Golf Channel report, Palmer was planning to go to Augusta and attend the champions’ dinner.
Matt Kuchar, who painted his fingernails green for St. Patrick’s Day, tosses a ball while waiting to tee off on the 10th hole during the first round of the Arnold Palmer Invitational golf tournament in Orlando, Fla., Thursday, March 17, 2016.
“I stopped playing in the Masters in 2004, I stopped playing in the Par-3 (Contest) a year ago, and now it’s time to end this part of my Masters career”.
Even at 86, 43 years after his last PGA Tour win (at the Bob Hope Classic, his fifth in that event), some 36 years after he helped to make the Champions Tour popular, Palmer still holds a place and a popularity in the game that few have ever achieved.
“Playing the back nine at the Arnold Palmer Invitational with Mr. Palmer watching”. Day arrived slightly out of form, by his standards, but is off to a strong start here at Bay Hill.
The Masters, a tradition unlike any other, will be without one of its most recognizable moments this year. “I don’t think his liveliness is quite there like it has been, but I think that’s pretty common for the age”.
Sport Stops * Dallas Seavey won his third straight Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race, crossing under the burled arch on Front Street in Nome, Alaska, for his fourth overall title in the last five years.
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Playing in the Arnold Palmer Invitational is about more than just the $6.3million purse on offer.
