Field begins Masters leadup at Bay Hill
IN: News | US PGA | Bay Hill Invitational (2006) | Preview | by Bruce Young | 15 Mar 2006
The PGA Tour is still headed north this week as it arrives in Orlando for the Bay Hill Invitational.
The event has been part of the PGA Tour calendar since 1966 when Lionel Herbert won the Florida Citrus Open, as it was known at that time. It became the Bay Hill Citrus Classic when the tournament moved to the Bay Hill Club and Lodge in 1979 and has undergone several name changes in the interim, but has remained at the Bay Hill venue since.
The course was originally designed by Dick Wilson and Joe Lee in 1961 but was purchased by Arnold Palmer and a business group in 1970 and changes were made. Palmer is still the primary owner of the Club and Lodge at Bay Hill and this tournament and its success is largely a result of the involvement of the great man. The recent news that the event will become known as the Arnold Palmer Invitational as from 2007 further reflects the role Palmer has played in the event and in golf generally for that matter. Aside from Byron Nelson he will be the only golfer to have a PGA Tour event named after him.
The course has undergone further changes in recent years, the greens changed from Tifdwarf to Tifeagle Bermuda in 2001. That the greens have been so firm in recent years may well be a reflection of the fact that new greens often take time to settle in and become receptive. The greens on the two of the par threes, the 2nd and 17th holes which were causing so much angst amongst the professionals, have been reshaped to assist in making them more receptive to the type of shot for which they were originally designed. The last twelve months have seen little change from the layout that restricted the winner in 2005, Kenny Perry, to just twelve under par. Perry is not here this year as he undergoes knee surgery.
The four time winner Tiger Woods is back to not only keep his remarkable record at this venue going but to continue his fine start to 2006. He may not be the leading money winner on the 2006 PGA Tour at this stage but it is a fair bet to suggest that he might just be at the end of the week. Three wins in five starts worldwide in 2006 highlights his domination and on a golf course that clearly fits his eye, he is going to be a factor. Interestingly he has not played so well in his last two visits here but surely he will be the one that most expect to figure at week's end.
Vijay Singh has acheived everything at this tournament except for a win. He has been runner up three times and while he has been playing reasonably well of late it has not been at that same level as recent years leading into the tournament.
Ernie Els was a winner here several years ago and appears to be back on track to the level we all have come to expect. His 7th place at the Ford gives every indication that he is approaching some very good form and while it might be a little early for him to be peaking, he should do well.
Sergio Garcia has lost his way a little in recent starts but he has form here including three top tens in six starts. He was in form prior to arriving in America this year but given that he has not played well since his 8th place at the Buick, his chances here are a little difficult to assess.
Geoff Ogilvy has not done well here and it will be interesting to see whether his current streak of form can turn things around for him on a golf course where 36th has been his best in four starts. For a man who seems to do well on Bermuda greens it is an ordinary record.
Adam Scott has enjoyed a good record at times here and comes off three reasonable finishes in his last few starts. He is changing his swing to accommodate what he sees as a requirement for Augusta and all seems on track. This will test that further.
Others who are very much in the mix are the likes of Chad Campbell, Zach Johnson and Stewart Cink all of whom have an excellent record in this event and are currently in good enough form for a win.
Other Australasians in the field are Michael Campbell who finished runner up four years ago in his best finish in the US prior to his amazing week at Pinehurst last year. He is a little underdone however in terms of the amount of events he has played this year and on that basis it would a surprise if he contended here.
Stuart Appleby, Robert Allenby, Nathan Green, Mark Hensby, Rod Pampling, Peter Lonard, John Senden, Craig Perks and Paul Sheehan make up the rest of what is a strong Australasian contingent.
The tournament is worth US$5 million.
