Arnold Palmer found himself again having to defend an off-the-cuff comment surrounding the continued absence of the current World No. 1, Rory McIlroy in this week’s Arnold Palmer Invitational.
Palmer remarked: ‘Maybe I will have to break his arm’ earlier this year when asked on the Golf Channel if McIlroy was intending to contest the $6.2m tournament at Bay Hill Golf Club.
Arnold Palmer finds himself again drawn into Rory McIlroy ‘absence’ controversy. (Photo – www.golfbytourmiss.com)
McIlroy has yet to play the event and given the course doesn’t seem to suit his game, is more than likely to skip the event for many years to come.
However the 83-year old Palmer faced the media on the eve of the event when the following question was put to the legendary golfer.
“I sort of threw a casual fun comment at him, and I was kidding when I said, well if he doesn’t play, I’m going to break his arm,” said Palmer.
“But it was meant in jest, and it was strictly a passing remark.
“Frankly, I thought he was going to play, and I was surprised as a lot of people when he decided he was not going to play.
“So for some reason I got it in my mind that he would be playing, but that, obviously, is wrong.
“What his reason or reasoning is, I don’t know, and I’m not going to worry about it.”
And good friend, Graeme McDowell has defended McIlroy’s absence in suburban Orlando.
“I guess I feel for Rory,” said McDowell.
“If he’s not a Bay Hill fan, that’s his own personal prerogative. If it doesn’t fit his schedule this week, I know Caroline has a week off and he hasn’t seen her in six weeks, so, again, that’s his prerogative.
“Is he disrespecting Arnold by not being here? I don’t think he is disrespecting him. Yeah, it’s Arnold’s tournament and he’s an icon of our sport. But we all know what schedules are all about. Guys preparing for major championships, the demand on players’ time in general, it’s very hard to play every week.
“I’ve never played the Memorial tournament. Am I disrespecting Jack Nicklaus? The guy is one of my golfing idols and heros. Of course, I’m embarrassed that I’ve never played the tournament. It’s just it’s always the week after Wentworth. I’ve had a relationship with the Wales Open for several years. Won there in the Ryder Cup, et cetera. It’s always been opposite that week and just never fit my schedule.”
McIlroy will no doubt be anxiously watching the event with great interest as an eighth victory would see Tiger Woods go back to World No. 1 for a first time since 30th October, 2010.
Woods has slowly chipped away at McIlroy’s rankings lead and helped by winning two of the five events the 37-year old has contested this year.
* See earlier story on Woods hopeful return to World No. 1.
