Rory McIlroy, the globe’s second-ranked golfer, stays active bouncing from one competition to another without any complaints as he seizes a sought-after life. Recently, he partnered with his father, Gerry, in a match at the Seminole Golf Club and managed to get into the top 20 in the Cognizant Classic despite adverse weather.
McIlroy next looks to place in his preferred Bay Hill playground during the Arnold Palmer Invitational. Following that, he’ll participate in the Players Championship at Sawgrass, marking the PGA tour’s flagship event’s golden jubilee.
Despite his last win on the PGA tour in the Genesis Scottish Open occurring last July (his most recent win being the Dubai Desert Classic on the DP World Tour in January), McIlroy firmly believes a victory is imminent. His preparations are largely centred around the forthcoming Masters event next month.
McIlroy expressed his confidence, highlighting his impressive driving skills in the Cognizant Classic. He anticipates that the remaining elements of his game will come together soon. After a sporadic start to the year following his Middle East tour, McIlroy is eager to establish consistency with an upcoming sequence of events.
In other news, due to health implications, Gareth McNeilly is withdrawing from his role as the captain of the Irish golf team. Residing on the banks of Lough Neagh at the Massereene Golf Club, McNeilly was a forceful proponent for the advancement of disabled golf, both domestically and internationally. He had been guiding the Irish team towards victory in the European Championship in 2022 after losing a leg in a motorcycle incident in 2004.
When asked about his decision to step down as captain of the Irish disabled golf team, McNeilly explained, “After being diagnosed with a chronic lung condition in April 2023, I’ve had to make the tough choice to step down from my captaincy to focus on my health. Although managing the condition with medication, it’s taken a significant toll both physically and emotionally. My tenure as captain over the past seven years has granted me fantastic experiences that I never dreamt of.”
From notable golf personalities, we hear Paul Azinger, a former player and captain of the US Ryder Cup team, lamenting the current state of golf. In conversation with Golfweek, he voiced his opinion how the PGA Tour had essentially become a qualifying event for the LIV Tour, marking a dark period for the sport.
Assessing the numbers: There are three Irish players – Rory McIlroy, Shane Lowry, and Séamus Power – scheduled to compete at the Arnold Palmer Invitational at Bay Hill. Tom McKibbin stands as the only Irishman to compete in the Jonsson Workwear Open in South Africa on the DP World Tour.
On a historical note: Blaine McCallister created a record on March 5, 1989. He was known for playing right-handed shots whilst putting left-handed and managed to clinch the Honda Classic title with a record-breaking 22-under-par 266. Despite nerves threatening some erratic drives towards the end, he maintained a remarkable four-stroke lead over Payne Stewart. Interestingly, he was able to rescue a par on the 16th with a shot over water from behind a forklift and achieved a birdie on the 17th. Trailing behind Steve Pate by one shot in the final round, he made an impressive comeback with a birdie on the third and taking the sole lead with an eagle on the fifth – thus marking his second of five career wins on the PGA Tour and ensuring himself a comfortable sum of $144,000.
Ex-tour player Willy Wilcox fondly recalls the time he had the privilege of participating in one edition of the Arnold Palmer Invitational and was honoured to shake the legendary golfer’s hand in his last ever hosting. The tradition of Arnold Palmer offering his hand at the 18th hole in Bay Hill to each finishing player is etched in his memory.
Meanwhile, the 2020 Arnold Palmer Invitational champion, Tyrrell Hatton, reflects on his rollercoaster career in golf, mentioning his performance in Saudi and his upcoming journey to Hong Kong. Hatton, who switched to LIV, reminisces about his unique evolution in the sport, maintaining that his sole PGA Tour triumph has forever linked him to the world of golf.
Craig Connelly, the Scottish caddie affectionately known as the Wee Man, voices his support for the Dalmuir Golf Club, a place that kindled his love for the exquisite game of golf. The fate of his future, he claims, could have been drastically different if not for this beloved institution.
From a rules perspective, when a player correctly drops a ball for lateral relief from a red penalty area within the stipulated two club-length relief zone, and a sudden gust of wind blows the ball back into the penalty zone, the player is obliged to place the ball back at its original position without any penalty. This scenario is in accordance with Rule 9.3, addressing movements of a stationary ball due to natural forces.
The champion of the HSBC World Championship, Hannah Green, trusts her game to an equipment lineup featuring a Callaway AI Smoke Driver, Ping G425 Fairway woods and a Hybrid, with a selection of Srixon ZX7 MKII Irons. She also has Cleveland RTX 6 ZipCore Black Satin Wedges in her bag, complemented by a Ping Sigma 2 Tyne Putter and the Srixon Z Star Diamond Ball.