Umbrellas Come out at Bay Hill

Arnold Palmer’s famous umbrella came out once again, but this time the man beneath it was not smiling. No, sir, the first round of Arnold’s tournament was rained out.

Storms dropped two inches of rain on the Bay Hill Invitational Wenesday and Thursday, and first-round play is scheduled to resume at 7:15am Friday morning. The tournament got in three hours of play Thursday, but not all had teed off, and nobody completed 18 holes.

Tiger Woods, playing in an all-star pairing with Ernie Els and Retief Goosen, got in six holes after duffing his opening drive – a three-wood he hit about three inches fat. It traveled 190 yards on the 441-yard opening hole. Woods still made par while Goosen and Els – who didn’t take six-inch divots – both made bogey. Said Woods later, “I’ve never done that before.”

Sergio Garcia, in the lead at -3 after eight holes, said of the weather, “we’re getting used to it.” Joe Ogilvie, who last week lost in a playoff, was also at -3 and played 13 holes, the most of anyone. Woods was one stroke back at -2.

Ernie Els, +1 when the delay came, said that the delay couldn’t have come at a better time. Els has traveled extensively, winning in Dubai and Qatar the past two weeks, and is experiencing a little pain in his hip flexor as he starts the downswing. “It must have been all that walking in the sand, said Els. “It was very sore. If I can only feel 40 percent of the pain, I’ll be fine.”

The first round began playing the ball down – no lift, clean, and place – and the entire first round must be completed as such. The cut will most likely come Saturday afternoon, and third-round play will probably be completed Sunday morning. If the weather forecast is accurate, that is. Said Woods, “It’s rained at every event I’ve played. As soon as I quit playing the tour, it won’t rain.”

Here’s to hoping he sticks around just a little bit longer.

Pos    Player               Tot   Thru    
T1     Joe Ogilvie          -3     13
T1     Sergio Garcia        -3      8
T3     Kenny Perry          -2      8
T3     K.J. Choi            -2      7
T3     Tiger Woods          -2      7
T3     Graeme McDowell      -2      5
T7     Patrick Sheehan      -1     11
T7     Todd Hamilton        -1      9
T7     Fred Funk            -1      9
T7     Mark Calcavecchia    -1      9