Palmer criticises McIlroy and Donald

Unhappy: Arnold Palmer was displeased that Rory McIlroy and Luke Donald turned him down

Legend hits out at world’s top two for skipping his tournament this week

Arnold Palmer has criticised the top two players on the world rankings, Luke Donald and Rory McIlroy, for turning down places in his tournament taking place this week at Bay Hill Golf Club in Florida.

Palmer revealed that he extended invitations to the two players to take part but was hugely disappointed when they both declined.

“I’m certainly not happy that those fellas chose not to come this year,” revealed Palmer, a winner of seven majors during his long career. “We are doing everything we can to entice them to come and play.”

Both players are taking this week off as they gear up for the opening major of the season, the Masters, in just a fortnight’s time.

However, Palmer is unimpressed by their decision not to play in his event.

“When I think back over the years, when back in the early years of the Tour, I went to the British Open to kind of enhance or to create additional interest in international golf,” he said. “Those people are now the top international players in the world and we would like to have them here.

“We have a wonderful field and we are very proud of our field, but to have a couple of the top players not here, I’m kind of sorry for that. But I think we can get that squared away and maybe we’ll entice them to come in the future.”

Palmer also revealed that McIlroy had at least gone to the effort of sending him a letter confirming he wouldn’t be in attendance, whilst also requesting a meeting with him at some point in the near future.

“I’m not sure that I know exactly what he wants me to tell him or what he wants to hear from me, but I look forward to seeing him and talking to him,” said the 82-year-old. “And of course, as I said, I’m sorry that he isn’t here.  But he also mentioned in the letter that he will be here to play in the years to come.”

Despite his disappointment with McIlroy for his no-show this week, Palmer remains a fan of the young Northern Irishman, particularly given the way he dealt with his notorious Masters collapse last year.

“I think he has handled himself very well,” said Palmer. I don’t know him really well; I know him and have talked to him a little bit. But I think he has done a wonderful job, being just 22-years-old and starting a career like he has just gotten launched onto.”

Palmer also had some words of encouragement for Tiger Woods, who is still struggling to regain his imperious form of old after two scandal and injury-hit seasons.

“I have not talked to him personally in some time,” said Palmer. “But I’m watching him swing and I’m watching him play, and I see some moments of the old‑fashioned Tiger that is very good.

“I think he’s strong enough and he’s smart enough and he’s got all of the equipment to do the things that he always did do, and I think it’s just a matter of getting it in the proper order to make him play the kind of golf that he played in the past 20 years.

“If I were making a prediction, I would say, look out, because one of these days, he’s going to come back and play pretty good golf.”

Bryce Ritchie is the Editor of bunkered and, in addition to leading on content and strategy, oversees all aspects of the brand. The first full-time journalist employed by bunkered, he joined the company in 2001 and has been editor since 2009. A member of Balfron Golfing Society, he currently plays off nine and once got a lesson from Justin Thomas’ dad.

Editor of bunkered