Tournament host Arnold Palmer expressed his delight that World No. 1 Rory McIlroy has officially confirmed he will contest next month’s Arnold Palmer Invitational at Bay Hill in suburban Orlando.

McIlroy confirmed during last month’s Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship, he will be contesting the event but he advised officials today (Monday) he will be a starter.

And no-one could be more happy than Palmer after some years back criticized the likes of McIlroy and Luke Donald in not wishing to add Bay Hill to their schedules.

Indeed, Palmer joked he would break McIlroy’s arm if he didn’t play.

And here was Palmer’s comments from his 2013 press conference.

Q.  Did you try to talk Rory McIlroy into playing in your tournament, and do you understand why he’s not here?

ARNOLD PALMER:  Did who try to talk?  Did I try to?  No.  I sort of threw a casual fun at him.  It was meant to be funny.  I guess, I don’t know whether it was or not.  I was kind of kidding when somebody said is he playing?  And I said, well, if he doesn’t, I’m going to break his arm.  But it was meant in jest, and it was strictly a passing remark.
Frankly, I thought he was going to play, and I was as surprised as a lot of people when he decided he was not going to play.

Now ‘The King’ can sit comfortably on his throne knowing the four-time Major winning McIlroy will be competing in Arnie’s event.

“I am very pleased that Rory is going to be playing here,” said Palmer. “I have talked to Rory about playing here, and it didn’t work into his schedule in the past, but he told me that when it did work into his schedule that he would be here, and he is making good on his word.”

It means McIlroy will be contesting the opening three events of the PGA Tour’s ‘Florida Swing’ – the Honda Classic, the WGC – Cadillac Championship and Arnold Palmer Invitational.

Arnold Palmer speaking about Rory McIlroy’s absence during the 2013 Arnold Palmer Invitational. (Photo – AP.com)