2020 Arnold Palmer Invitational at Bay Hill

[fillwelix]

Those are some stellar featured groups

 

LET'S GO RORRYYYYYY

[RichieHunt]

Was there yesterday. Even though it was a Tuesday, the early morning fan turnout was smaller than normal Tuesdays at API. However, after lunch there were more fans there than I ever recall on a Tuesday. 

 

The course is in great shape, but I expect the scores to rise, particularly on Saturday. The greens were in good shape, but already they are a bit firm and it’s supposed to be windy and warm this week, just making the course more crusty as the week goes along. This should benefit the shorter hitters a bit more than when the course plays super soft.

 

They still have the new tee on #4 that now has the hole playing 590+ yards. They moved it back there last year, but didn’t use those tees in the event.  Seriously, if the wind is blowing in their face, I think half of the field won’t reach the fairway. That’s how far back the tees are.

 

I didn’t quite see the preparation of the surrounding houses for the event. Usually the houses are already prepped for parties and viewing areas for the tournament, but I saw much less of that than I’ve seen before. 

 

Brandon Matthews is L-O-N-G. He almost drove #3 (par-4 over water) and hit the longest drive on #8 that I saw all day.

 

DeChambeau had a 50-year old long drive competitor with him on the range. He would have the guy hit shots and the guy was clocked at 201mph ball speed on one shot using a standard length driver. I think the closest DeChambeau got was 190 mph. He’s certainly bulked up, but he doesn’t look like he’s made this ridiculous change in his physique. He was hitting it well from what I saw.

 

Bubba is ridiculous to watch. On the range, tailwind and he’s purposely hitting various sized cuts to different greens and then hitting variable sized draws to those greens. They also added palm trees to the middle of the range…for whatever reason.

 

I thought from the looks of the range, Sung Kang, Bubba, DeChambeau, Fleetwood and Rickie were all hitting it well. Niemann, Reed and Hovland weren’t hitting it that great.

 

Overall, another fun time at Bay Hill. Feet were killing me after a while. A fun, but pleasant atmosphere and should be a good event this week.

 

 

 

 

RH

[third-times-a-charm]

Looks like brooks has switched back to his old Scotty with the standard ping grip for the API as of this morning

[caniac6]

Watching "Arnie and Me" on the Golf Channel, and not ashamed to say that I'm a bit emotional. I live less than 10 minutes from Wake Forest, I play an Arnold Palmer course almost every day, and my son shares Arnie's birthday. I think I'll try to get down to the API next year.

[jobin]

Well, that's a new one: emotional over golf, golf TV no less.

[stingerfade]

Have you not seen The Greatest Game Ever Played? Or Tommy’s Honour?? ?

[bscinstnct]

When Francis dad handed him that dollar after he won.

 

I didn’t even cry ; )

[stingerfade]

More waterworks than PGA National

[wcbjr]

Holy heck, the NBC Sports Golf app on Android sucks. Half the time it won't load, and half the time it loads the wrong feed.

[Hawkeye77]

Amazon Prime on my MacBook works perfect.

[OldTomMorris]

Molinari out with back injury.

[OldTomMorris]

Brooks has ditched the SuperStroke grip on his putter.

[fillwelix]

Is that the Ping grip he's using?

[OldTomMorris]

Not sure, only started watching the coverage about 45mins ago and not seen it closely enough. Definitely doesn't look like the Scotty grip (Studio Design IIRC) he had on it previously.

[QuigleyDU]

I Brooks also starting to look like more of a former linebacker that discovered beer.

[Birdie Mac]

Crickey. He sure has gone downhill. He was a sure bet for the top of the leaderboard for quite some time. Golf is a funny game.

[QuigleyDU]

In a Fantasy golf group I am in, I was excited to pick him. I have since dumped him.

[flushem]

Molinari was my initial pick but his odd was so low. So i looked into his latest. No bueno in this season. Glad I pulled him out.

[OldTomMorris]

This time last year he looked skinny in comparison.

[QuigleyDU]

Yeah, I didnt think he would be a big winner but thought he would be a regular top ten guy. Not so much..

[QuigleyDU]

That was ESPN body issue time though. I think it is his knee and lack of ability to exercise. Sitting around healing can cause some bloating. I tweaked my back about a week and a half ago. Seriously making gym time hard and way less productive.

 

[OldTomMorris]

I realise that just noting that the change is quite dramatic. I know he has had an injury/surgery in the interim but it all must have had some sort of impact. Anyway, he came good after a slow start last year.

[QuigleyDU]

 

True. His putting has been much more suspect this year though. We will see. I always like watching him play.

[FlyingBasset]

Good to see Brooks playing well. I know he's probably bummed about having to spend a few hours on the range after his time away.

Also I really like Robert Damron as an announcer with his course knowledge, although he does also fall prey to the now-common 'wow that tee shot was so far' on nearly every drive.

[The Giraffe]

"Hold on to your hats".

[Shriner]

Really starting to wonder if Rory is going to get bored with being in the top 5 of every event he plays in. The consistency has been jaw dropping and he starts off in 1st place AGAIN.

[Hawkeye77]

Damron is great.

Mentioned it in the thread running about the issue, but I was impressed that Rory had no hesitation answering Lerner's question about the proposed new "tour" - straightforward, articulate, no waffling and tossed in "I didn't like where the money was coming from." And "proposed" is a bit strong since it's more PR campaign and not a lot of real details.

Showing a little leadership and clearly not looking for something to say just to say something, lol.

 

[OldTomMorris]

"I didn't like where the money was coming from."

I know some will say its easy for him to take that stance and make that comment given his status/wealth but I'm glad someone out there is as he could have easily stayed quiet on the reasons.

Rory is a great interview.

[buckeyefl]

More ridiculousness about BD "new body" and "bulking up" and a clip of his average driving distance on the usual super soft your fairways followed by a 270 yard drive well behind a 49 year old. Classic

[3jacker]

Kudos to Rors for standing up for principle and taking the risk of alienating certain rich and powerful types out there.

FTR, I'd take $$$ from them if the price is right and apologize later.