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The Arnold Palmer Invitational will be a celebration of the King
The void Arnold Palmer left in the golf world will be felt uniquely at this week’s Arnold Palmer Invitational.
Palmer was 87 and in poor health at the time of his passing last September. It was clear the end wasn’t far off for the King, as he was unable to stand for any extended period of time and confined to a golf cart at last year’s Arnold Palmer Invitational, yet his passing remains massively sad.
Speaking to Golfweek’s Jeff Babineau, Graeme McDowell tried to sum up the King’s impact.
“For guys like me, who grew up in the Tiger Woods era, you feel the Tiger impact, and you don’t really feel the Arnie impact, when Arnie was probably more important in the modern game than Tiger. I mean, that’s a big statement. It’s very hard to compare, because to me they did very different things. Tiger transcended the sport. Arnold was the first golfing superstar, really, the first guy that did it all.”
McDowell will be one of five tournament hosts this week, along with Peter Jacobsen, Annika Sorenstam, Curtis Strange and Tom Ridge.
Beyond the tournament hosts, organizers have some special touches in store for the fans. This one, again per Babineau, is particularly poignant.
“Competitors will register in the King’s upstairs office, which remains pretty much untouched from his annual transition north to Latrobe, Pa., last year. Players will sign items that will be dispersed to fans who had sent in memorabilia to Palmer that he never got to sign. Some of Palmer’s medals and trophies will be on display around the course. Saturday, a 13-foot statue of him was unveiled behind the first tee.”
There will also be a special ceremony remembering Palmer at 11 a.m., where, at the very least, his grandson Sam Saunders is scheduled to speak. It won’t be a mournful occasion, says tournament chair Marti Doyle.
“We’re all about a celebration. Certainly, we had the mourning time back in the fall, and we still miss his presence … but he would want it to be a celebration, and be about what he thinks is important, which is always about giving back – to the fans, to charity, whatever.”
Palmer’s presence at Bay Hill will be undeniable. The important thing is that fans have a chance to continue celebrating his life and legacy… and today’s pros follow his lead.
Long live the King!
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Tour Photo Galleries
Photos from the 2024 RBC Heritage
GolfWRX is on site this week at Harbour Town Golf Links on Hilton Head Island for the RBC Heritage. Plenty of golfers who competed in the Masters last week will be making the quick turnaround in the Lowcountry of South Carolina as the Heritage is again one of the Tour’s Signature Events.
We have general albums for you to check out, as well as plenty of WITBs — including Justin Thomas and Justin Rose.
We’ll continue to update as more photos flow in from SC.
Check out links to all our photos, below.
General Albums
- 2024 RBC Heritage – Monday #1
- 2024 RBC Heritage – Monday #2
- 2024 RBC Heritage – Tuesday #1
- 2024 RBC Heritage – Tuesday #2
WITB Albums
- Justin Thomas – WITB – 2024 RBC Heritage
- Justin Rose – WITB – 2024 RBC Heritage
- Chandler Phillips – WITB – 2024 RBC Heritage
- Nick Dunlap – WITB – 2024 RBC Heritage
- Thomas Detry – WITB – 2024 RBC Heritage
- Austin Eckroat – WITB – 2024 RBC Heritage
- Xander Schauffele – WITB – 2024 RBC Heritage
- Jason Day – WITB – 2024 RBC Heritage
- Will Zalatoris – WITB – 2024 RBC Heritage
- Patrick Cantlay – WITB – 2024 RBC Heritage
- Ludvig Aberg – WITB – 2024 RBC Heritage
- Collin Morikawa – WITB – 2024 RBC Heritage
- Sam Burns – WITB – 2024 RBC Heritage
- Stephen Jaeger – WITB – 2024 RBC Heritage
Pullout Albums
- Wyndham Clark’s Odyssey putter – 2024 RBC Heritage
- JT’s new Cameron putter – 2024 RBC Heritage
- Justin Thomas testing new Titleist 2 wood – 2024 RBC Heritage
- Cameron putters – 2024 RBC Heritage
- Odyssey putter with triple track alignment aid – 2024 RBC Heritage
- Scotty Cameron The Blk Box putting alignment aid/training aid – 2024 RBC Heritage
- Cameron putter – 2024 RBC Heritage
- Odyssey Ai One Eleven T putters – 2024 RBC Heritage
- Christian Bezuidenhout – testing new Callaway Ti 340 mini driver – 2024 RBC Heritage
- Rory McIlroy testing the new TaylorMade BRNR Mini Driver Copper – 2024 RBC Heritage
- Xander Schauffele testing the Callaway Ti 340 mini driver & the DUW – 2024 RBC Heritage
- Byeong Hun An, two new L.A.B. Golf putter builds with “T” alignment – 2024 RBC Heritage
See what GolfWRXers are saying and join the discussion in the forums.
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Rafibomb
Mar 13, 2017 at 3:25 pm
McDowell will be one of five tournament hosts this week, along with Peter Jacobsen, Graeme McDowell, Annika Sorenstam, Curtis Strange and Tom Ridge.
McDowell is hosting twice? Did he make a clone of himself?