2014 & '15 Arnold Palmer Invitational at Bay Hill Discussion Thread

[Rick Martin]

Foley gets a little animated and O'Hair is barely talkative, at least during the short game practice where he was standing nearby.  Foley looks to be in great physical condition - and you're right, he looks to be 5'9" or so.  Every time I've seen him he's usually dapper attired in NIKE clothing.

[RonTheSavage]

Foley gets a little animated and O'Hair is barely talkative, at least during the short game practice where he was standing nearby.  Foley looks to be in great physical condition - and you're right, he looks to be 5'9" or so.  Every time I've seen him he's usually dapper attired in NIKE clothing.

I'm not trying to rag on the guy about his height or anything because at 5'9" he hits the ball miles past me lol. Just seems like he should be taller, maybe because It seems as though he carries himself like a bigger guy. Im a fan of Foley, I have his instructional DVD.

[newtogolf]

I'm not trying to rag on the guy about his height or anything because at 5'9" he hits the ball miles past me lol. Just seems like he should be taller, maybe because It seems as though he carries himself like a bigger guy. Im a fan of Foley, I have his instructional DVD.

That's what they said about Dalton in Roadhouse.

[Rick Martin]

US Amateur Winner (2013) Matt Fitzpatrick

[Rick Martin]

[Rick Martin]

Patrick Reed

[SteveBamford]

Great photos as always.  The course is looking in fine fettle.  How punishing does the rough look? The GCSAA factsheet is quoting 4" and I know this part of Florida has seen more rain over the winter than it did for the 2013 tournament.

[k-troop]

That's what they said about Dalton in Roadhouse.

I didn't know Swayze made a golf instruction DVD.

[Rick Martin]

Great photos as always.  The course is looking in fine fettle.  How punishing does the rough look? The GCSAA factsheet is quoting 4" and I know this part of Florida has seen more rain over the winter than it did for the 2013 tournament.

If you look behind the picture of Reed, I think that's pretty representative of the rough.   Found it a little breezy yesterday - if wind continues this weekend, it'll make some of those par 5s  that were reachable in two, unreachable.  Course looks plush, green -   Got a kick out of listening to the other players give their little congrats to Senden. Even Singh gave him a little "congrats" quip - like it hurt his mouth to utter anything positive toward a fellow competitor.  Looking forward to the tournament, even without TW.

[Rick Martin]

[Rick Martin]

CHIII Bay Hill practice round

[ChrisP]

Tiger seems to be in the best shape physically compared to most of the other players.  With the amount of conditioning and strengthening that he does, you'd think that he'd be less prone to back injury -

I listened to Paul Azinger and he seems to think that all these swing changes that he's gone through plus the amount of torque he puts in that back (which is a lot more than most every golfer) is a big contributor. I was a workout machine when I was younger and didn't help my lower back problems. I have to think, though, he's had the best doctors and chiropractors in the world working on him since last September....which makes this a little more puzzling and makes me wonder if it's more than just spasms and there's some damage back there. Just speculating.

I sincerely hope we don't start to hear the words "back surgery." If he ever ended up having that, you could kiss his pursuit of Jack goodbye. That would be a big setback because it takes a while to recover from that and it would require likely another big swing change.

[Kieran123]

Patrick Reed

That rough looks nasty and clumpy as hell.

[Rick Martin]

Noticed Andy North walking amongst the gallery and inside the ropes with the Woodland/Koepka - later in the day I hear that North is an asst captain for Ryder Cup. Looks like he's doing a little scouting, maybe, for CPT Watson?

Also noticed Deane Beman around the putting green (had to look at his badge to confirm) - I looked like he was selling putters or something. At least he was talking to a few of the club reps. Very few players came up to him or acknowledged him - it was definitely the ex-commish.  I wondered if any of the pros even realized the significance of this individual and what he did for the tour.

[Rick Martin]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rick Martin

Patrick Reed

That rough looks nasty and clumpy as hell.

Player look dumpy and clumpy as hell - very different than many in the field who seem to be in very good athletic condition - even Duval looks better than in his days as a 59er and Ryder Cupper. BTW, speaking of Duval, he still hits the ball  ton.  I overheard Briny Baird make the comment to his caddy after Duval hit a couple of drives then started walking down the fairway.  Question is - should PGA players get into better physical condition? Should Reed try to lose the fat? We saw what happened to Duval.  I still see Lumpy Herron on the tour, hitting the hell out of the ball, smoking on the course, and making  living.  Tiger's ailments - were they worsened because of his  extra physical fitness working out?  Jack was never an overly fit individual. Gary Player was.

[jbishop15]

I listened to Paul Azinger and he seems to think that all these swing changes that he's gone through plus the amount of torque he puts in that back (which is a lot more than most every golfer) is a big contributor. I was a workout machine when I was younger and didn't help my lower back problems. I have to think, though, he's had the best doctors and chiropractors in the world working on him since last September....which makes this a little more puzzling and makes me wonder if it's more than just spasms and there's some damage back there. Just speculating.

I sincerely hope we don't start to hear the words "back surgery." If he ever ended up having that, you could kiss his pursuit of Jack goodbye. That would be a big setback because it takes a while to recover from that and it would require likely another big swing change.

The idea that Tiger's swing changes are contributing to his back problems doesn't really make sense to me. How would that hurt his back? Even if he hadn't changed his swing, he still would've put the same amount of practice in with the old swing. And its not like he's turns more or swings that much faster than the rest of the Tour.

[Rick Martin]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rick Martin

there's more to the PGA than Tiger Woods

WHAT?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!??!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!

This is still a great tournament with a lot of big names - just not sure that some of the invites (ie Sam Saunders, Zach Olson) is fair to the top 150 golfers in the world.

[David in FL]

This is still a great tournament with a lot of big names - just not sure that some of the invites (ie Sam Saunders, Zach Olson) is fair to the top 150 golfers in the world.

I don't think Arnie gives a crap if inviting his grandson to play in his tournament is "fair" to anyone!