McIlroy's Bay Hill love affair; Bryson's mission; LPGA chance for Maguire and Meadow
Fans watch as Rory McIlroy of Northern Ireland hits an approach shot on the seventh hole during the final round of World Golf Championships-Workday Championship at The Concession on February 28, 2021 in Bradenton, Florida. (Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images)
Rory McIlroy hopes to rekindle his love affair with Bay Hill as he bids to end his 16-month drought in the Arnold Palmer Invitational.
The world number eight ls looking to add to his win in 2018, when he closed with a 64 he described as “the perfect round of golf” by claiming his 19th PGA Tour victory and his first since the WGC-HSBC Champions at the end of 2019.
Making his seventh straight start at Bay Hill, where has one win and three top-six finishes in six starts, the world number eight is also looking build on last week’s sixth-place finish in the WGC-Workday Championship.
“It’s been a wonderful course for me, I played well here in the past, it's nice to be a past champion and I’m looking forward to another great week here in Orlando,” McIlroy said.
After following his first missed cut for more than 18 months with a tie of sixth at the Concession on Sunday, he’s upbeat about the state of his game and his improved putting and wedge play.
“I'm feeling a little better about it,” McIlroy admitted. “I didn't have a great week at Riviera a couple weeks ago, but then had a bit of a better week last week at the Concession. Still trying to iron out a couple of things that I feel like I can do better.
"But I saw some positive signs last week and coming back to a course where you've had some good memories always helps too when you sort of feel a little bit better about yourself. I finished decent last week and hopefully can build on that this week.”
McIlroy tees it up with two Ryder Cup teammates in defending champion and world No 6 Tyrrell Hatton and 2018 Open champion Francesco Molinari (13:06 Irish time).
Graeme McDowell partners Paul Casey and Keith Mitchell (17:13) and Shane Lowry plays with Kevin Na and Ian Poulter (17:24) as European Ryder Cup skipper Pádraig Harrington joins Paul Goydos and Matthew NeSmith (18:08).
All eyes will likely be on Bryson DeChambeau’s bid to drive the 555-yard sixth at Bay Hill when he tees it up with Jordan Spieth and Justin Rose ((13:17)..
The par-five curves around a lake but as it measures “just” 330 yards as-the-crow-flies, the US Open champion is determined to make the carry, despite failing twice in practice yesterday.
“Everybody wants to see this,” DeChambeau said ahead of an event where up to 10,000 fans a day will be allowed.
According to Golf Channel, DeChambeau hit two balls into a right to left wind in practice yesterday but despite a ball speed of 194 mph, came up 30 yards short in the water with both attempts.
Stephanie Meadow. Picture: Philip Magowan / PressEye
On the LPGA Tour, Leona Maguire and Stephanie Meadow have another chance to make a big move in the Rolex Rankings in the LPGA Drive On Championship at Golden Ocala.
Slieve Russell star Maguire (26) jumped 10 spots to 167th following her tie for 16th in last week’s Gainbridge LPGA and with the world’s top three in action in Florida, she can reach a new career-high this week and make a move in the European Solheim Cup race.
With six Solheim Cup wildcards up for grabs Stephanie Meadow will also be looking to bounce back from her missed cut at Lake Nona last week and open her 2021 account.
Meanwhile, the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department has executed a search warrant to recover 'black box' data from Tiger Woods' crashed car as part of the investigation into the accident which saw the 15-time major winner sustain multiple injuries last week.
Police have not, however, served a warrant to obtain a sample of the former world No 1's blood from him or the hospital to which he was admitted as there was "no probable cause”.
Deputy Tracy Koerner said: “At the time of the accident the deputy judged Mr Woods did not display any symptoms (which would have led them to suspect an offence of driving under the influence or drink or drugs).”
