While tournament host Arnold Palmer was disappointed he also expressed his delight defending champion Tiger Woods telephoned ‘The King’ to advise a nagging back injury had forced him to withdraw from this week’s $US 6.2m  Arnold Palmer Invitational.

Woods phoned Palmer late on Tuesday before then going onto his website to advise everyone of his inability to tee-up at Bay Hill and in an event Woods has won eight times previously.

“I, of course, have great sympathy for the fact he tried like hell to come here and play, and I appreciated the fact he called me,” said Palmer.

However Palmer’s full comments appear on the video below.