ORLANDO, Fla. — Arnold Palmer always wanted the best field and toughest course during his annual invitational.
Much to his chagrin, even The King could not guarantee all the top players would show up given conflicts created by a jammed-packed PGA Tour schedule.
Palmer did his best to ensure Bay Hill Club and Lodge, fangs barred, was ready to greet arrivals with a four-day test of golf not for the faint of heart.
Recent course setups surely would make Palmer proud: the course scoring average has been over par for five consecutive years.
“You can’t really fake your way around this golf course,” said ballstriker extraordinaire Will Zalatoris.
The 2022 edition of Bay Hill might present an even stiffer test thanks to 4-inch rough seemingly everywhere players turn.
“If you look at the last couple years, the course conditions have got very firm,” 2018 winner Rory McIlroy said. “It’s been dry, and it’s been windy. The scores have got progressively higher each and every day because the course has firmed up, it’s gotten trickier. Hole locations go in tougher spots.
“All of that combined, it’s become one of the toughest tests that we face all year. Then this year with the rough being as long and as thick as it is, it just adds another dimension to that.”
Sunday’s 2022 Arnold Palmer Invitational winner is sure to be exhausted after navigating ankle-deep rough, rock-hard greens and a 7,466-yard layout.
“Whoever does win on Sunday,” tournament organize Joie Chitwood said, “I guarantee you they will have earned it every stroke of the way.”
A $2.1 million winner’s check awaits one of the 120 golfers in the field.
Meanwhile, bogeys, double-bogeys and “others” are sure to rattle the confidence of pretty much everyone who tees it up.
“What’s funny about this place is it doesn’t look that intimidating in terms of the shots that you hit,” said Zalatoris, who tied for 10th during his 2021 debut. “But one little mistake or one mishit, and you’re fighting your way to save par. It’s one of the fairest tests that we play out on Tour, just because great shots are always rewarded, but mediocre shots, you’re going to have to scramble.”
