The Arnold Palmer Invitational

Bay Hill Club and Lodge Course, 7,419 yards, Par 72

Designer: Dick Wilson, 1961. Arnie bought it in the late 1960’s

Defending champion: Matt Every, two time defending champion, won it in 2014 and 2015. Every won last year with an 18 foot birdie putt on the legendary 18th, and shot 66, waiting it out as Henrik Stenson, who came into the final round with a two shot lead, but three putted 16 and 17, missed a 16 foot birdie putt on 18 that would have sent the tournament into a playoff.

White’s World’s pick last week: Patrick Reed. Reed tied for seventh at the Valspar Championship in Tampa, as Charl Schwartzel, the 31 year old South African who won the Masters in 2011, won it in a playoff over Bill Haas.

Best finish for White’s World this season: Reed, second at the Hyundai Tournament of Champions in Hawaii, Spieth won it.

Two of my readers have made correct predictions this season. Bama golf correctly predicted Hideki Matsuyama to win the Waste Management Open in early February which Hideki did. Two weeks ago, Spike picked Adam Scott to win the WGC-Cadillac Championship at Doral and he did. Good job by Bama and Spike. Hopefully, they’ll predict again this week. They’re both  good at it. I’ll link a 25 second video below on how to comment on this blog. It’s a little different from the old site, but the short video makes it very easy to understand. Your comments are encouraged and more than welcome here.

Key tee times tomorrow at Bay Hill:

7:11 AM CT/8:11 AM ET: Adam Scott, Henrik Stenson, Brandt Snedeker

11:56 AM CT/12:56 PM ET: Jason Day, Zach Johnson, Hideki Matsuyama

12:08 PM CT/1::08 PM ET: Rory, Matt Every, Kevin Kisner

TV: Tomorrow-Friday: Golf Channel: 1-5 PM CT/2-6 PM ET; Saturday-Sunday: Golf Channel: 11:30 AM-1:30 PM CT/12:30 PM-2:30 PM ET; NBC: 1:30-5 PM CT/2:30-6 PM ET.

Weather: Thursday: 86 high, 40% chance of t storms, wind, WSW 7-13 MPH; Friday: 82 high, 40% t-storm chance, wind SSE 8-14; Saturday: High 80, 40% chance t-storms, wind SE 7-10 MPH; Sunday,  76, Partly sunny, stray shower, 30% chance, wind W 12-16 MPH. Wind will be a factor on Sunday when the pressure is really on.

There were two double eagles in last year’s Arnie. Daniel Berger double eagled the par five 6th hole from 237 yards out using a 4 iron, and Zach Johnson double eagled the par 5 16th from 207 yards out using a five iron.

Arnie won seven majors and recorded 62 PGA victories. Arnie won the Masters in 1958, 1960, 1962, and 1964, the U.S. Open in 1960, The Open Championship in 1961 and 1962, and tied for second at the PGA in 1964, 1968 and 1970. Quite a career for the King. He will not be hitting the ceremonial opening tee shot at the Masters this year as he’s done with Jack and Gary Player since 2007. Arnie is 86 and he’s just a little tired right now. He’s done so much for golf, for his community and the country for that matter, and needs a break. He’s competitive still and is probably eyeing 2017 to see if he can tee it up at Augusta National with Jack and Gary then.

Key holes:

No. 16, Par 5, 511 yards

The beginning of a three hole stretch that is one of the best in golf. A sure birdie opportunity and a legitimate eagle possibility, but the drive is tight with trees and rough on the right off the tee and water on the left. There is a ton of water at Bay Hill. A narrow, but long green that’s guarded by water on the left and sand on the right. Pretty tight landing area for the player’s approach, usually his second shot. 

No. 17, Par 3, 221 yards

Another good opportunity to gain ground or implode on Sunday. It’s a long tee shot from an elevated tee to a green that’s surrounded by water on three sides with bunkers protecting the right side of the green from the tee box. The green is small by Bay Hill’s standards, and birdieable, but can lead to three putt bogeys. If the player hits it in the gigantic sand trap in front of the green, he’d do well to get up and down and not bogey the hole. Pressure packed hole on Sunday.

No. 18, Par 4, 458 yards

The hole looks pretty straightforward on the scorecard, but it’s anything but straightforward. It’s a pretty wide fairway off the tee, so that’s doable, but the second shot has a high degree of difficulty. The large green is fronted by rocks and water, requiring a longer carry to the right half where the pin is tucked in on Sundays. The bunkers on the left side are there for errant pull hooks when the pressure on. A lot of dramatic birdies have been recorded here, several by Tiger, as he’s won here eight times, and Every has created some fireworks the last two years, especially last year with his 18 footer, which was straight down the line, and he hit it in center cut, City Hall. The 32 year old Daytona Beach, Florida native is certainly in the hunt this year. 

Prediction:

I’m going with the 40 year old from Iowa City, Iowa to get it done. He’s won 12 times on tour and won the Open Championship last year at St. Andrews and the Masters in 2007. The prediction this week is:

Zach Johnson

If you’d like to leave a comment, you can watch this 25 second video below and it’ll show you how. Thanks.

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