Good First Day of Spring from Classic Swing Golf School! Predictions for this weekend include warmer weather so while you're enjoying it, why not contact Classic Swing for golf lessons? Their Professional Instructors are waiting for YOU!
This weekend, I'll be tuned in to the Arnold Palmer Invitational…Enjoy this:
The fourth and final stop of the annual Florida swing starts Thursday morning at the Arnold Palmer Invitational at Bay Hill. The tournament, which some consider to be the best non-major event of the year, lost a lot of juice on Tuesday when defending champ Tiger Woods announced he was withdrawing due to persistent back problems. The venue, imprimatur of Palmer, and the field still make this an above-average tournament, but the eight-time champion at Bay Hill and No. 1 player in the world has been a large part of this event's identity over the past 15 years.
With Woods gone, the top player in the field is reigning Masters champ Adam Scott. The Aussie has a chance to take over that No. 1 ranking in the world this week, and he'll open Thursday alongside Patrick Reed and Justin Rose at 8:23 a.m. ET. They will be the marquee group through the first two days, Scott prepping for a defense at Augusta in just over 20 days and Reed in the headlines thanks to the recent WGC win and his controversial (by golf standards) comments afterwards. The tee time preceding Scott features Bubba Watson, his good friend Rickie Fowler, and Brandt Snedeker, three guys gunning for USA Ryder Cup spots this fall. All the fans out on the course in the AM will be following this two-group cluster.
In the afternoon, Golf Channel's coverage will likely focus on the group of Henrik Stenson, Keegan Bradley, and Orlando local Ian Poulter. Stenson is the highest rated player in the field after Scott, but he has not played well this season following his ridiculous Euro and USA postseason double titles at the end of 2013. Following Stenson-Bradley-Poulter will be Graeme McDowell, Harris English, and … Brice Garnett? Yep, Brice Garnett fills the enormous hole where Tiger Woods once slotted on the tee sheet. The alternate seems to be taking his new and unexpected place in one of the marquee groups pretty well. – By Brendan Porath
Classic Swing makes registering online for upcoming golf schools quick and easy. Register today!