Tour News

McIlroy to play Arnold Palmer Invitational

Published

11 years ago

Feb 9, 2015

Rory McIlroy is must-watch television these days, so tournament directors would be smart do whatever they can to lure the world’s No. 1-ranked golfer to play in their event.

In 2012, Arnold Palmer used some old-school crime-mob tactics to convince McIlroy to play in his annual Arnold Palmer Invitational at Bay Hill.

“If he doesn’t come and play at Bay Hill,” Palmer said. “He may have a broken arm and he won’t have to worry about where he plays next.”

Palmer was surely joking, and McIlroy didn’t play the event in 2013 or 2014.

On Monday, however, McIlroy announced that he’s adding the Arnold Palmer Invitational to his 2015 schedule.

McIlroy was scheduled to make his 2015 PGA Tour debut at the Honda Classic on February 26 at the PGA National Resort & Spa in Palm Beach County, Fla., and will play the WGC-Cadillac Championship the following week at Trump National Doral.

Now, he’ll be in the field at Palmer’s event in Orlando that begins March 19. That’s three events in four weeks for the four-time major champion.

Other McIlroy-related news includes his win at the European Tour’s Dubai Desert Classic and his reported $25 million out-of-court settlement with his former management company.

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Andrew Tursky

He played on the Hawaii Pacific University Men's Golf team and earned a Masters degree in Communications. He also played college golf at Rutgers University, where he graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in Journalism.

5 Comments

MRC

Feb 9, 2015 at 11:15 pm

I thought the same thing Mocha Man.

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Golfraven

Feb 9, 2015 at 6:03 pm

Maybe he needs the cash $ ?

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Double Mocha Man

Feb 9, 2015 at 3:13 pm

Just now, loading the Golf WRX page and seeing the pic of Arnold Palmer, I though, oh no, did he die too! Don’t scare me like that. It’s been a tough week for golf legends. Glad you’re still with us Arnie!

Reply Report comment
Philip

Feb 9, 2015 at 1:43 pm

star = start

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Philip

Feb 9, 2015 at 1:43 pm

If he starts to play the tournament regularly I would wonder if he was hesitate to play before because in a way it was Tiger’s event, like Torrey Pines due to the way he dominated them both. This time he will not be second fiddle to Tiger, he will indeed be the start attraction.

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