GOLF NOTES

a connection between this product aimed at consumers and Arnold Palmer’s vision of starting Golf Channel in 1995.

“To try to carry forward what Arnold started 25 years ago, bring it into the 21st century with GolfPass ... you can never fill shoes that big, but to try to carry the torch in some way is a great honor,” McIlroy said. “It’s about me trying to give something back to a game that has given me so much.”

Palmer left indelible memories with McIlroy when he first played at Bay Hill in 2015 as No. 1 in the world. McIlroy approached The King’s table at lunch, and Palmer asked if there was anything he needed. McIlroy replied, “Mr. Palmer, thanks to you, I have everything I could ever need in my life.” According to those at the table, Palmer began to get tears in his eyes.

McIlroy won the Arnold Palmer Invitational last year.

It’s the second time in two months that a prominent player began a direct-toconsumer product. Tiger Woods signed a deal with Discovery’s “GolfTV” for exclusive access to Woods and original content.

McIlroy is doing a docuseries called “My Roots” on his rise in golf, and he plans to co-host a podcast with Carson Daly. But it’s not all Rory all the time. Other content includes players, analysts and celebrities discussing how they play some of the toughest holes in golf, along with other athletes talking about their daily routines.

“I’ll be on there a lot,” McIlroy said. “It will be hard to miss me.”