Woods, Mickelson star attractions
Here’s everything golf fans need to know for tournament at Bay Hill
Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson are the biggest stars, but they are far from the only storylines to watch during the Arnold Palmer Invitational.
Check out everything you need to know before action tees off later this week at Bay Hill.
Tiger effect
Woods proved he still has it last year at Bay Hill — as a player and a drawing card.
Woods was in contention on Sunday until some late miscues and Rory McIlroy’s back-nine blitzkrieg. But The Arnie might have been the biggest winner last March.
Woods’ first appearance at Bay Hill since 2013 generated record crowds and a massive spike in TV ratings. Ticket sales were up more than 50 percent from 2017. Every upgraded tournament pass, onsite parking pass and hospitality event sold out.
“It’s a beautiful thing,” said Marci Doyle, CEO of the tournament.
Meanwhile, Sunday’s final round earned a 3.2 rating and 5.0 million viewers on NBC, up 129 percent in ratings and 134 percent in viewership from last year (1.4, 2.1 million).
Expect more of the same this week when Woods returns seeking to win for the ninth time at Bay Hill and break his tie with Sam Snead for the most wins at a single event.
Dream field
Arnold Palmer wanted to see the game’s best tee it up at his tournament. The King often would invite top players with a phone call and would receive one if Bay Hill did not fit their schedule.
Palmer is at his event ever.
Woods, Mickelson, defending champion McIlroy, reigning U.S. Open and PGA Championship winner Brooks Koepka and world No. 1 Justin Rose are among 13 of the top 20 golfers in the world rankings expected in the 120-player field. Fan favorite Rickie Fowler, 2018 runner-up Bryson DeChambeau and 2017 winner Jason Day are other big names scheduled to play this week.
Dustin Johnson, Justin Thomas and Jordan Spieth are notable absences, but none is surprising. Johnson last teed it up at Bay Hill in 2011, while Thomas’ only start was in 2015. Spieth never has played in the event.
“The field this year is the best it’s been in 12 years,” Doyle said. “We are looking forward to hosting these players, along with all the fans who will undoubtedly witness some exciting golf here at Bay Hill. I know Mr. Palmer would be proud.” gone, but will be as
Swing shift
the field strong as
The Florida Swing is intact again, thanks to the return of The Players Championship to March — a week after the API. Yet the four-tournament tour of the Sunshine State poses plenty of challenges and tough decisions for players.
The month-long stretch is sandwiched between two World Golf Championships and on the cusp of a condensed major championship season resulting from the PGA Championship’s move to May. Players pursuing millions of dollars and a shot at history have to pick and choose even more vigilantly when and where to play.
The big winner this year has been The Arnie, where a starstudded field will arrive Monday. Meanwhile, the Honda Classic, which concludes Sunday, drew just three of the top 20 players in the world rankings, and two of them (Fowler, Koepka) also are playing Bay Hill.
The Valspar Invitational outside of Tampa likely will suffer a similar fate.
The Valspar traditionally has drawn the weakest field among the Florida events but had been gaining strength, highlighted by Woods’ 2018 appearance. Now it will be sandwiched between TPC and the World Golf Championships-Dell Technologies Match Play.
Players-scheduling decisions can change year to year. Some could decide to play the WGCMexico Championship and the Honda, skip Bay Hill and tee it up at The Players Championship a week later.
But if this year is any indication, the Florida Swing changes are a boon for The Arnie. Tiger Woods reacts to his again draw a big crowd.
Are you experienced?
Ever wanted to Swing like The King? Here’s your chance.
The Arnold Palmer Experience will debut this week at Bay Hill. Fans can learn more about Palmer’s storied life and also test their skills by hitting some of his famous shots, including his drive on the first hole at Denver’s Cherry Hills during his 1960 comeback win in the U.S. Open.
Located along the right fairway of the 10th hole, the exhibit will feature a domed 360-degree theater where 40 people can watch a five-minute film celebrating Palmer as a champion golfer, an aviator and a philanthropist.
Fans then will enter the interactive experience, which will include four golf simulators and memorabilia from both Bay Hill and Latrobe — his Pennsylvania hometown.
The Arnold Palmer Experience will be open to all tournament ticket holders beginning Wednesday at noon and during tournament days.
Plans call for the 360-degree theater to remain open for Bay Hill members and Lodge guests for a few weeks following the tournament. It then will travel to Latrobe this summer, leading into what would have been Palmer’s 90th birthday in September.
Arnie’s charitable mark
Few athletes have helped others with their fame and fortune quite like Palmer.
Palmer’s philanthropy, for one, spawned the Arnold Palmer Hospital for Children and the Winnie Palmer Hospital for Women and Babies in Orlando.
In January, Palmer’s charitable foundation was renamed the Arnold & Winnie Palmer Foundation. It formerly was known as Arnie’s Army Charitable Foundation.
The API has generated tens of millions of dollars over the years for the two hospitals, the foundation and various charities.
“My father would be so pleased with the continued positive impact this tournament has on so many families in our community through the Arnold & Winnie Palmer Hospitals and other local charities — not only the millions of dollars raised, but also the visibility it provides,” Amy Saunders said of Palmer. “As he said, ‘Making a positive change in the life of a child is the most significant thing you can do.’”
72nd hole drama
Three of Woods’ eight titles at Bay Hill came down to the final putt. But he is not the only API winner to come through in the clutch on the daunting par-4 18th hole — fronted by a lake and enclosed by a back bunker.
Two-time champion Matt Every sank a 17-foot birdie on the 18th hole in 2015 for back-to-back wins at the event. Robert Gamez’s 5-iron for eagle on the final hold in 1990 delivered another heartbreaking defeat to Greg Norman.
But the drama at Bay Hill is not exclusive to No. 18.
The course’s three-hole closing stretch is among the best in golf. It begins with the risk-reward par-5 16th hole followed by the par-3 17th, which sits 220 yards from an elevated tee box and features a shallow green surrounded by water on three sides and fronted by a bunker.
Sometimes, 72 holes is not enough to decide a winner. Sudden-death playoffs decided six of the first 20 events at Bay Hill, including two wins by Hall of Famer Tom Kite.
Grand opening
For the third time since Palmer’s 2016 passing, an opening ceremony on Wednesday will kick off tournament week.
Golf Channel’s Rich Lerner will serve as master of ceremonies and Palmer’s grandson Sam Saunders, a PGA Tour professional, will speak prior to a video tribute touching on his grandfather’s many interests.
Saunders then will hit a ceremonial tee shot, followed by his fellow Tour pros one after another down the line. Joining the golfers will be nine special guests who represent the breadth of Palmer’s passions and impact.
They will be:
■ Warren Christie, senior vice president with JetBlue and a member of the Latrobe Classic board, representing Palmer’s love of flying.
■ Dr. Jorge Ramirez of the Arnold Palmer Hospital for Children.
■ Justin Suh, a member of this year’s Arnold Palmer Cup team and API exempt golfer.
■ Kelly Tilghman, longtime anchor at Golf Channel, which was co-founded by Palmer.
■ Paul Azinger, the 1988 API winner and now lead analyst at NBC/ Golf Channel.
■ Jon Podany, the new CEO of Arnold Palmer Enterprises and president of the Arnold and Winnie Palmer Foundation.
■ Craig Vosburg, Mastercard president of North America. Mastercard is the event’s longtime presenting sponsor.
■ Ryan Shaw, AET1, representing the United States Coast Guard and Palmer’s service and passion for the country.
Know before you go
Here are some things to know to make one’s tournament experience fun and hassle-free.
■ Will Call is located at PGA Tour Superstore, 7603 Turkey Lake Road in Orlando.
Hours of operation, during tournament week: Monday-Saturday, 7 a.m.-6 p.m., Sunday 7 a.m.-4 p.m.
■ Those without on-site parking can either use Uber, a taxi or general parking. All Uber drivers or taxis should enter through Gate C, where they’ll be directed to the designated dropoff/pick-up location near Lot 8. General parking is located at Universal Studios ($10) and offers a free shuttle to Bay Hill.
■ Spectator mobile is as follows:
Devices must be on silent at all times and flash may not be used; devices may be used to capture video, audio and photos in all areas throughout tournament week; content may be used for personal purposes but not for commercial use; no live streaming or real-time coverage; data use (e.g., texting) is permitted in all areas throughout tournament week; phone calls are allowed only in designated areas.
Failure to comply with this policy may result in the revocation of your ticket.
■ Public spectator viewing bleachers are available for seating on a first-come, first-serve basis at Holes Nos. 1, 6, 8, 9, 17, 18 and the driving range.
Handicapped/disabled seating is located at Holes Nos. 1, 8, 17 and 18.
■ The following types of bags are allowed on the grounds: Clear bags smaller than 12” x 6” x 12”; or one gallon plastic freezer bag; medical necessity and diaper bags (subject to search); non-transparent bag smaller than 6” x 6” x 6”.
■ Prohibited items are as follows: No cameras/video cameras permitted after Wednesday; no radios, TV’s, signs or banners; no alcoholic beverages may enter or leave the course; no clipboards or items larger than 8” x 12” for autographs; no coolers, chair bags, knapsacks and backpacks; no firearms or explosive devices.
All items are subject to search. Failure to comply may result in ejection from the grounds or revocation of tickets without refund.
Designated areas include the following:
■ The Orlando Health Family Care Suite: a dedicated, air-conditioned space for for families with young children and nursing moms,
Located just off the 18th fairway, the area is stocked with plenty of complementary diapers, a changing table, private nursing area, phone charging station and comfortable seating.
Open from 10 a.m. through the end of play each tournament day.
■ The Mastercard device Club: policy Open to all cardholders and offering full bar for purchase, daily player appearances and views of the driving range, putting green and 9th hole. ■ Club Ketel One and The 19th Hole: Located along the 18th fairway offering a public concession area views of the action on the par-4 closing hole.
This and that
■ This week marks the 40-year anniversary — and 41st event — of the tournament at Bay Hill.
■ The 2019 purse has been increased to $9.1 million, with the winner receiving a three-year exemption on the PGA Tour. For the first time, the API winner will automatically qualify for the British Open.
■ Golf Channel and NBC will deliver nearly 50 hours of coverage and analysis from Bay Hill. This includes 20 hours of tournament coverage: Thursday-Friday 2-6 p.m. on Golf Channel, SaturdaySunday 12:30-2:30 p.m. on Golf Channel and 2:30-6 p.m. on NBC.
Golf Central will air from a dedicated news set on the driving range at Bay Hill for pre- and postgame news coverage. Morning Drive will air from behind the driving range at Bay Hill throughout the week.
Also on Wednesday, Golf Channel will air live coverage of the Arnold Palmer Invitational Opening Ceremony from 11 a.m.-noon, followed by a special Pro-Am show from 5-6 p.m.
■ Rose, a former Orlando resident with five top-20 finishes in his last six visits to Bay Hill, will serve as one of three tournament ambassadors.
Rose will be joined by Orange County mayor Jerry L. Demings and longtime TV personality Tilghman, who retired from Golf Channel in 2018.
■ Players will benefit from a new short-game practice facility.
The two-acre layout offers golfers the ability to simulate any shot inside 100 yards and has a total of four greens and seven bunkers. The primary putting surface is more than 10,000 square feet.
■ Course conditions should be better than ever at Bay Hill. In November, the club installed a new irrigation system with more than 3,600 sprinklers.
■ The season-long Aon Risk Reward Challenge will be staged this week at Bay Hill’s par-5 16th hole.
Pitting players from both the PGA and LPGA tours, the challenge — now in its first season — takes the best two scores from every participating event a player competes in throughout the season.
The player with the lowest average score to par will win a $1 million prize.