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1st Arnold Palmer Invitational Without The King A Success

By Kathlene Bissell

Mar 19, 2017; Orlando, FL, USA; Marc Leishman holds the champions trophy and wears the red memorial sweater after winning the Arnold Palmer Invitational golf tournament at Bay Hill Club & Lodge . Mandatory Credit: Reinhold Matay-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 19, 2017; Orlando, FL, USA; Marc Leishman holds the champions trophy and wears the red memorial sweater after winning the Arnold Palmer Invitational golf tournament at Bay Hill Club & Lodge . Mandatory Credit: Reinhold Matay-USA TODAY Sports /
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Arnold Palmer was well-remembered and well-honored this week at his signature Bay Hill event.

It’s been an emotional week for the PGA Tour. If a tournament is measured by tributes, enthusiasm for the founder and praise from the professionals, the Arnold Palmer Invitational was a success in its first year without Arnold Palmer.

Of course, it took a village to attempt to replace The King who is irreplaceable.

To remember Palmer and give him a presence at the tournament, a 13-foot bronze statue of him finishing in his trademark swing was placed behind the first and 10th tees.

It’s an excellent likeness, and appropriately, it’s larger than life, just as Palmer was. The statue became a popular place for fan photo opps (including me).

Five golf professionals – Graeme McDowell, Peter Jacobsen, Curtis Strange, Annika Sorenstam and Arnold Palmer’s grandson, Sam Saunders – plus the former governor of Pennsylvania and former Secretary of Homeland Security, Tom Ridge, stepped up to take on various hosting responsibilities which included pro-am functions, sponsor functions and media relations tasks. The Sorenstam and McDowell children were born at the Arnold Palmer Hospital in Orlando.

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Saunders led a press conference that featured Sorenstam, Tournament Director Marci Doyle: Kevin Bingham, CEO of the Arnie’s Army Charitable Foundation;  Jay Monahan, Commissioner of the  PGA Tour; Michael Robichaud, Senior Vice President for Mastercard; and Alastair Johnston, CEO of Arnold Palmer Enterprises.   It was held in the 10 A.M. Wednesday slot that in previous years had typically  been reserved for Palmer.

The PGA Tour helped the tournament by giving it special status which includes a three-year exemption for the winner. Title sponsor Mastercard agreed to increase the purse to $8.7 million, higher than that of regular PGA Tour events.

In addition, a new sentimental prize was added in addition to the winners take home: a replica, red, alpaca sweater, just like the one Palmer used to wear. Governor Ridge, a long-time friend of the late Arnold Palmer, was on hand for the trophy presentation when Aussie Marc Leishman became the first post-Palmer era champion.

In the tournament proper, on the back nine, the contest tightened. Rory McIlroy, Charley Hoffman and Kevin Kisner were in a three-way tie at top until Leishman drained a 50-foot eagle putt on the par five 16th to take the lead.  No one else could top him.

In addition to the three-year exemption, Leishman will now qualify for The PLAYERS and the Masters.  It is his second PGA Tour victory.

In 2009 Leishman was Rookie of the Year on the PGA Tour. He also won the 2012 Travelers Championship with a final round 62.  

Next: The Pros Remember . . . 'When I first met Arnie'

In addition to the three-year exemption, Leishman will now qualify for The PLAYERS and the Masters.

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