ARNOLD PALMER INVITATIONAL PREVIEW 2023

PREVIEW OF ARNOLD PALMER INVITATIONAL 

BAY HILL CLUB AND LODGE ORLANDO FL. 

MAR 2-5, 2023 PURSE $20M + 8M 40% PAR 72

The tournament started in 1966 as the Florida Citrus Open and was renamed for Palmer in 2007.  Since 2016, the winner receives a red cardigan sweater, Palmers favorite kind of outerwear.  It is the fourth elevated event and has 23 of the top 25 golfers entered. He loved to watch the tournament from a mound area behind the 16th green.

My Sentimental Favorites 

#1 Gary Woodland 80/1 Placed 5th last year.  Has had a few good rounds this year.

#2 SJ Im 33/1 He was picked to win last week, and seems to play every tournament.

#3 Patrick Cantlay 25/1 Placed 3rd at Genesis.  Always dangerous.

#4 Tom Kim 50/1 He is due for a good tournament.

#5 Ricky Fowler 80/1 Truly sentimental.  Waiting for his next win.  Played well last fall.

Oddsmakers Favorites

#1 Jon Rahm 6/1 Hard to bet against him right now.

#2 Rory McIlroy 9/1 Led after 1st RD last year.  Faded in final round, very windy.

#3 Scottie Scheffler 10/1 Last year winner, not playing as well up to this point.

#4 Max Homa 16/1 Playing well.  Winner should come from 1 of these 4.

#5 Will Zalatoris 18/1 Still may have some back issues.

#5 Colin Morikawa 18/1 Not consistent for 4 rounds yet. 

(Photo from GolfWRX.com)

ARNOLD PALMERS OFFICE AT BAY HILL 

It has been left exactly the way he left it prior to his death on 9/12/2016 at 87.  Bay Hill opened in 1961 and after Palmer played the course he told his wife Winnie that it was the best course in Fl, and he would own it some day.  He bought it in 1974 and owned it until his death.  His estate, estimated at $875M was split between his 2 daughters, Peggy & Amy.  Amy is married to Roy Sanders who took over Bay Hill upon Arnies death. Their son Sam Sanders plays on the PGA.  His office, pictured above is like a museum with many artifacts such as President Eisenhower’s clubs and golf bag inscribed General Ike.  Also, a Palmer portrait by Leroy Neiman, the Claret Jug from his OPEN win, a Ryder Cup Trophy, Silver Masters Cigar Boxes (given to the winners before current trophy), US Amateur trophy and the 1954 ACC Champion Cup from his Wake Forest Days.  A biography of John Wayne’s is on his shelf, and also a western novel by Lous L’Amour who is mentioned in Ed Bruce’s song “The Last Cowboys Song”.  Despite his busy schedule Palmer always accommodated fans and visitors.  He is known as “The King”, due to his positive nature and contribution to golf. The name fits him because he did not act like one.