The PGA Tour Arnold Palmer Invitational began today with the likes of Rory McIlroy and Adam Scott competing, but something "seems amiss when the top 5 Americans skip the tournament bearing the name of the individual most responsible for the PGA Tour being the success it is today," according to Adam Schupak of GOLFWEEK. Although Tournament Dir Scott Wellington said that the field is "on par with the past few years," only eight of the top 22 U.S.-born golfers are playing. Schupak noted the tournament "will end up with the second-best strength of field ... of the four Florida Swing events." However, the PGA Tour moved the WGC-Dell Match Play to the week after the API, and Wellington thinks that it "hurt the field by a 'handful' of players." All healthy players who are missing this week "are expected to play" in the 64-player match play next week in Austin. Schupak: "No one is doubting that players have legitimate reason for taking this week off." Jordan Spieth played last week at the Valspar Championship and "then jetted to New York to make the rounds promoting the the Drive, Chip and Putt." He also "feels an obligation to play as many of the Texas stops in his home state as possible" Spieth has "yet to play the API" (GOLFWEEK.com, 3/16). In Orlando, Edgar Thompson noted Tour player Sam Saunders, Palmer's grandson, "realizes scheduling conflicts and nagging injuries are part of the game." But if not for Palmer, the Tour "would not exist in its current form, either." Saunders: "Golf would not be what it is if it were not for him. ... You have all these World Golf Championships and the majors, and I know the money and points are big in those. But it's bigger than money and points. It's about paying respect to the history of the game" (ORLANDO SENTINEL, 3/16).
PUTT FOR DOUGH: In Orlando, Brian Schmitz notes Commissioner Tim Finchem yesterday announce that the Tour "is pumping up the API purse" from $6.3M to $8.7M starting next year. The Tour will also provide the winner with a "three-year exemption instead of the standard two years." Additionally, the tournament will have "a more charitable impact in keeping with Palmer's legacy" (ORLANDO SENTINEL, 3/17). Finchem's announcement "would give the API the largest purse for a regular-season FedEx Cup event," and "for now, gives the tournament a larger purse than the four FedEx Cup playoff events." Also announced yesterday was the "formation of the Arnie's Army Charitable Foundation, which will manage the tournament and be the primary charity recipient" (FLORIDA TIMES-UNION, 3/17).
