Time for a big player to win
It is safe to say the 2024 golf season has been lacklustre thus far. Granted, there have been some cool stories and exciting finales, but there has not been the world’s absolute best going head-to-head on the back nine on Sunday. Well, Bay Hill gives us the chance for exactly that.
With the first Major of the year just over a month away, the top players are looking to find their form in the coming weeks. This week we have the Arnold Palmer Invitational at Bay Hill, with The Players Championship next week. It is the last two designated events before Augusta, where all the top players are competing against each other.
Embed from Getty ImagesThe designated events this year so far have been slightly disappointing; it has repercussions for the Tour’s product from an entertainment standpoint. The continuation of a fractured golf world, with the best players in the World being split into two different tours, does not help this.
Embed from Getty ImagesSo, hopefully, from a fan’s perspective, the governing bodies find a resolution where the fans can see everyone come back together in some form in the coming years. Also, with the NFL season done, Sunday afternoon has a free slot for golf to put on a show and have an exciting climax to draw more people to watch.
Arnie’s Legacy
Arnold Palmer is strongly regarded as one of the greats of the game, If not the greatest. Since his passing in 2016, his tournament’s legacy has grown more than ever.
Every player cherishes the opportunity to play in this event and It typically lives up to the billing. Between 1959 and 1964, the seven-time major champion won 30 out of 100 events! In that time span, he also won five of his seven major titles and had 71 top 10s. That stretch set Palmer aside from the rest, and, alongside his charismatic personality, won over the fans of the game, as well as his peers.
Mr Palmer purchased Bay Hill Club and Lodge in 1975, and four years later, it became home to the eventual Arnold Palmer Invitational. Since then, it has been one of the biggest events on the PGA Tour calendar with multiple big-name winners. Tiger Woods won this event a record eight times in just a 13-year span.
He owned this tournament during the 2000s and always played well at Bay Hill. Sine ‘Arnie’ passed away in 2016, the winner of the event has received a red cardigan as a gesture towards Mr. Palmer, and it has become a staple of the week, much like the green jacket at The Masters.
Embed from Getty ImagesHistory of course setup
Bay Hill, unlike most stops on Tour, does not yield too many birdies, leading to a winning score closer to par. The course is long and is a tough test even for the pros, which is amplified by the typically high winds that the course is a victim of. Previous winners have taken advantage of the four par-five on the layout. As a par 72, birdies are hard to come by with some challenging par threes and fours, so a four on a par five is crucial to a good round.
The highest winning score was produced by Bryson Dechambeau in 2021, but the previous year in 2020, Tyrell Hatton won on 4-under. It is obviously dependent on the weather conditions of the week at Bay Hill, which is situated just outside of Orlando. If the wind is down, and it is relatively soft, then scores will be lower. But the firmness that we are accustomed to at Bay Hill will make it tougher for players to score and make par a good score on most holes. At the same time though, these are some of the world’s best golfers, who can make birdies even on the toughest of holes; are in complete control of their ball from start to finish. The ever-lurking water on many of the holes provides another mental and physical test for the players.
Top 10 power rankings
10 – Shane Lowry – Had the 54-hole lead last week at the Cognizant Classic before a uninspiring final round impacted by weather delays. Will look to continue the form he had at beginning of last week.
9 – Matt Fitzpatrick – His worst finish in the last five events at Arnie’s place is T14. Has contended every year without getting over the line, most notably his second place in 2019 when compatriot, now on LIV, Tyrell Hatton won with a winning score of 4-under.
8 – Cameron Young – Young has one of the highest ceilings of young players on Tour but has yet to reach his potential. When he rolls the flat stick well, he tends to be in contention. His elegant swing always is on tune.
7 – Will Zalatoris – The return of ‘Willy Z’ has been great for golf; he is much loved by golf fans. He finished well to come tied for second at Riviera.
6 – Tommy Fleetwood – Still looking for his first Tour win despite success in Europe. His world-class ball striking will play dividends on the Bay Hill setup.
5 – Viktor Hovland – Was T2 in 2022 and finished in the top ten last year. He should be well rested after missing the Waste Management last month.
4 – Xander Schauffele – often, Xander is guaranteed to be in the mix. His win drought is a problem, but this week could be the week he finally gets back in the winner’s circle.
3 – Patrick Cantlay – More or less threw away the Genesis after leading for the first three rounds. He is known to play well on tougher courses so could feature near the top of the leaderboard this week.
2 – Scottie Scheffler – Rumours on the ground are that Scottie is trialling a mallet putter this week. If he finds it with the putter, the rest of the field are in trouble.
1 – Rory McIlroy – The Northern-Irishman won here in 2018 and has typically played well. His form on Tour so far this year has been mediocre, but he will look to build this week with The Masters looming.
Image Credit: Deposit Photos
