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From the PGA Tour: Arnold Palmer Invitational stages unpredictable finish
Scheduled just two weeks shy of the Masters Tournament, The Arnold Palmer Invitational in Orlando Florida is considered one of the PGA Tourâs marquee stops
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cheduled just two weeks shy of the Masters Tournament, The Arnold Palmer Invitational in Orlando Florida is considered one of the PGA Tour's marquee stops.
At 84, the legend Arnold Palmer still hosts the event adding a dimension of pressure for the field. Double defending champion Tiger Woods stole the headline by withdrawing just before the event citing a continuing struggle with his ailing back.
'Unfortunately, my back spasms and the pain haven't subsided. It's too early to know about the Masters, and I will continue to be evaluated and work closely with my doctors. I feel badly that I won't be able to play in this great tournament this week,' said Woods who personally called Palmer to break the news.
With the clock ticking on the 38-year-old Woods, it's difficult to imagine that he won't at least attempt to play for his fifth Green Jacket.
It was time for world number two, Australian Adam Scott to take center stage at Bay Hill Club and Lodge, the venue for the Arnold Palmer Invitational.
Scott took little time to dissect Bay Hill with seven birdies, two eagles and a lone bogey shooting a sensational 62 to register 10 under par after the first round. He tied the course record to lead the field by three strokes.
His closest pursuers were the 'Bashful Japanese Prince' Ryo Ishikawa and American John Merrick who were both at seven under par. 'Obviously I'm really thrilled with the start today. It's maybe a little surprising. I don't know where it came from, but the putter certainly got hot today. And today was just one of those days where the hole was a bit like a bucket,' Scott said.
The talented Australian kept the pressure on and shot a four under par 68 in round two unwittingly extending his lead to seven strokes at 14 under par.
His nearest challengers were still at seven under par in the form of Americans J.B Holmes and Chesson Hadley and the Italian Francesco Molinari.
Scott appeared infallible at this juncture. With a total of 130 after two rounds Scott also tied the two-round cumulative total at the Arnold Palmer Invitational.
'I would say I struck the ball much better than yesterday, but just didn't quite make the putts. But it's tough to do that all the time around a track like this,' said Scott, the defending Masters Champion after the round.
Scott couldn't keep the same mojo going in the third round. He bogeyed two of the first five holes and finished the day with a one under par 71.
Now at 15 under par he left the back door open allowing American Keegan Bradley to get to within three strokes of him at 12 under par.
Bradley shot a marvelous 66 in the third. Americans Matt Every and Jason Kokrak were only four strokes behind Scott at 11 under par.
Despite the less-than-stellar third round, Scott has gone on to win six out of the last nine times he held the lead going into the final round.
With Tiger Woods' former caddie Steve Williams in tow, Scott's plans were to make it seven out of 10 on Sunday and record his 11th PGA Tour victory.
A shaky front nine on Sunday tested Scott's confidence when he went two over par and dropped back to 12 under for the event.
Matt Avery had shot two under par after 10 holes to move to 13 under and suddenly get one stroke ahead of Scott. Scott had relinquished the lead for the first time and seemed unsure of himself.
He couldn't steady his ship on the back nine holes. With steady play Every on the other hand shot a one under par on the back nine
and finished the day with a two under par 70 to take lead for good at 13 under.
Scott felt the pressure and finished at 11 under par a full two strokes behind Every. Bradley could not make a birdie on 18 to tie Every and finished in second place at 12 under par.
Every upset the favorite Scott to take victory at the Arnold Palmer Invitational, his first ever PGA
Tour win.
Every was asked how difficult it was to get his first win on Tour after 93 starts: 'It's hard, I'm telling you. It's tough, man, you just never know if it's going to happen. I've been there so many times. It's nice to get it,' an emotional Every responded.
He then said: 'I can't believe I won. I just, I really can't.' By winning the Arnold Palmer Invitational Every jumped up 50 spots in the World Golf Rankings from 94th to 44th and received an invitation to play the Masters.
