Arnie stories still flowing

PALM BEACH GARDENS, Fla. — With the death of Arnold Palmer last summer still fresh in the minds of many and his annual Arnold Palmer Invitational tournament coming in a few weeks at Bay Hill, several players have been recounting stories about the golf icon.

Englishman Ian Poulter recalled having a $100 bill autographed by Palmer to be framed as a keepsake until it met an unlikely demise.

“I’ve got a lovely picture of Jack [Nicklaus] and Arnie — and I don’t know who is paying who — but there’s a black-and-white photograph of them swapping some notes,’’ Poulter said Wednesday in advance of Thursday’s Honda Classic opening round. “So I took the two $100 bills, one from Jack, one from Arnie, and I [wanted to] put it in a frame. Arnold signed a $100 bill, which my wife actually spent. It was in the safe. She didn’t realize it was actually signed by Arnie, so it’s out there somewhere.’’

Asked where she spent the $100, Poulter said, “I have no idea. Not a clue. It was probably in Publix. She probably went to get some groceries. But it was shock horror when I actually did go in there to put it in the frame. You can imagine what I said: ‘Where has the $100 bill gone?’

“She says, ‘I don’t know. I must have spent it.’ So I had to go to [Palmer’s] office to get another one done. I phoned up and I said, ‘I’m really sorry, but is there any chance I could pop in and get Arnie to sign another hundred?’ He said, ‘Of course, Ian.’ So I drove to his office and he signed another hundred.’’

Adam Scott is the defending Honda Classic champion despite carding a quadruple bogey on the par-3 15th hole in the third round last year. Scott’s even-par 70 in the final round was good enough for a one-stroke win, his 12th on the PGA Tour, over runner-up Sergio Garcia. Scott became the first player to win on the PGA Tour with a quadruple bogey during the week since Phil Mickelson at the 2009 TOUR Championship.