Chaska, Minnesota …

FedEx Cup champion Rory McIlroy has paid a special tribute to the late Arnold Palmer.

News of Palmer’s passing had been kept quite purposely until after McIlroy had been confirmed as the Tour Championship winner and FedEx Cup champion.

And it was just moments before leaving the Atlanta course McIlroy was advised of the news.

Rory McIlroy and Arnold Palmer.

Four years ago, Palmer joked he would break McIlroy’s arm if he didn’t tee-up in the Arnold Palmer Invitational at Bay Hill in Orlando and it was not till last year McIlroy finally answered Palmer’s call finishing T11th.

“It is very sad as the game of golf will not be the same without him,” he said.

“I played the Arnold Palmer Invitational for a first time in ’15 and I wanted to go and play because of what he meant to the game and what he meant to so many people.

“Quite frankly, I didn’t know many opportunities I would get to play Bay Hill before this day would come so I went there to pay my respects, and the good thing is that I got to spend some time with him that was really cool.

“We had dinner and just talked for about two hours and he told me some great stories, and there was that unique smile of his in telling me so many stories.

“He was a great man and just so generous and you only have to look at the Orlando community and you see his legacy with the children’s hospital, Bay Hill and his tournament, so he’s provided a lot of great opportunities to a great many people.

“And Mr. Palmer has meant so much to golf around the world and while he was not the most successful player ever, he was the player that brought the game to the masses.

“If it wasn’t for Arnold Palmer we would not be playing for these obscene amounts of money that we play for every week, and I would not be standing here having achieved, or having achieved the success and the prize-money I have earned.

“So what he has done for those professionals who have and are competing still in the game we all respect that, and that’s why you do see so many guys going to play Bay Hill each year because of the man who was responsible for paving the way for professional golfers to be as privileged and as successful as we are.”