Memories of the 2019 Valspar Championship at Innisbrook Won by Defending Champion Paul Casey!

2018 Left; 2019 Right! Photo Credit: Google Search/Getty Images.

It’s been a long road back for Paul Casey and a colorful one at that! In the year of 2009 Paul Casey won for the first time on the US PGA TOUR and reached his highest Official World Golf Ranking (OWGR)—third! With 13 European Tour wins from 2001 to 2014 nine came before the 2009 Shell Houston Open victory and five afterwards.

Casey lost twice in playoffs in 2015 on the PGA TOUR and remained dormant until the rejuvenated breakthrough win at the 2018 Valspar Championship.

Now his third PGA TOUR victory and OWGR No. 11!

The par-4 18th on Copperhead; sometimes an easy birdie; sometimes an easy bogey; always a difficult par to win!

A courageous one at that closing with a Sunday 1-over par 72 to beat Louis Oosthuizen (69) and Jason Kokrak (71) by one stroke. Oosthuizen was in the clubhouse at 7-under par. Kokrak finished with a bogey after driving so wide right he was right of the bunkers. With a wedge in his hand he failed to reach the green and then failed to get it up-and-down. Casey had a 3-putt bogeyed on the 17^th and looked to be headed to another on the 18^th when he drove into a deep bunker. But he responded with a gallant shot reaching the green and 2-putting for a par and victory!

The Valspar Championship is a colorful one, on and off the golf course!

The Copperhead Course at the Salamander Innisbrook Resort is a great test of golf and with firm and fast conditions and some wind played quite difficult the entire week. Another testament to Casey’s brilliance this week was World No. 1 Dustin Johnson’s final round 74 while paired with Casey.

So good to be back at the Valspar Championship for the first time since the 2008 PODS Championship won by Sean O’Hair. But I have been to the Salamander Innisbrook Resort several times in between to tee it up on the Copperhead Course. In 2018 I played all four courses!

America’s Best Golf Resort: Innisbrook a Salamander Resort near Tampa, FL!

Note the 36 on the back nine of the Copperhead Course!

Who’s behind the awesome Salamander Innisbrook Resort and hostess to the Valspar Championship?

Lady Trump Outshines Donald in FLA.

Ms. Sheila Johnson is!

Don’t disregard Mr. Paul Casey at the season’s first Major Championship—The Masters in two weeks’ time. His last four finishes there in the last four years, chronologically—T6—T4—6^th—T15.

Tribute to the great golf course architect Lawrence Packard, an Innisbrook Legend!

An absolutely spectacular day for Round 3 of the Valspar Championship at Innisbrook, A Salamander Golf & Spa Resort! Paul Casey (68), DJ (67), Jason Kokrak (66), & Jim Furyk (68) made moos on Chick-fil-A’s Mooving Saturday! Thirteen players within 5 strokes of leader Paul Casey who is at minus-9! Tough but fair championship course is Copperhead! Likely a Sunday Shootout & maybe a Playoff too! I was last here in 2008 on my original Florida Swing. My oh my has this tournament grown into something truly special! Had the feel of a Players Saturday today! Hats off to Sheila Johnson, Copperhead Charities, & the tournament staff & volunteers!   (Andy Reistetter; 3/23/19; Facebook Post with 30 Pics)

On Course Reporter Jane Crafter in her element and out of the snow in Arizona!

Out of the snow in Arizona… into the Florida sunshine… one of the best in the golf broadcasting business… good to see Jane Crafter out there with the Jon Rahm/Rory Sabbatini pairing this afternoon at the Innisbrook, A Salamander Golf & Spa Resort!   (Andy Reistetter; 3/23/19; Facebook Post with 30 Pics)

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Memories of the 2019 PLAYERS Championship Won by Rory McIlroy!

Rory McIlroy, 2019 PLAYERS Champion! Photo Credit: Google Search

A memorable Sunday at the PLAYERS!

First, another inspirational FCA Chapel Service!

2019 PLAYERS: FCA Sunday Chapel Service with Justin Hueber & The Jason Lovins Band!

Second, immediately following the first, an ACE at the par-3 17^th by yours truly! The replicate par-3 17^th that is! Not the full 136 yards, more like 13 yards or 40 feet. But it went IN!!!

Third, what an amazing finish with Rory strong and steady to win by one stroke over local favorite Jim Furyk!

What an exciting morning out at TPC Sawgrass and then an exciting afternoon watching the drama play out on TV!

Tiger Woods, 2-time PLAYERS Champion!

Even though Tiger Woods was out of it, his Sunday 69 moved him up 13 spots to a T30 finish. His gallery with playing partner Matthew Fitzpatrick (71, T41) was huge and moved through the Stadium Course with good cheer. Tiger birdied 4 of his first 11 holes; 7 of his last 18 going back to Saturday’s Round 3 but it was the quadruple bogey 7 on the par-3 island green 17^th in Round 2 that came between Tiger and his third PLAYERS win to tie Jack Nicklaus!

Jon Rahm, hot off his Saturday 64, was leading heading into the back nine at 14-under par with Jim Furyk who was 5 groups ahead and through the 12^th hole. Rory birdies No. 11 to get to that 14-under mark.

The picturesque 11th doomed the fate of Rahm & Fleetwood in the 2019 PLAYERS!

Tommy Fleetwood, Rahm’s playing partner in the final pairing, unexpectedly hits his second shot into the water at the par-5 11^th hole. A petulant Rahm, after not heeding the advice of his caddie, tries to him the miracle hook down wind that does hook and winds up in the water too. Rahm was pretty much done for the day at that point. Fleetwood later eagles the par-5 16^th hole to get back to the 14-under mark and has a chance until he finds water on the 17^th. And this time Rahm follows him into the drink! A ‘do-see-do’ dance that favors no one!

Earlier Eddie Pepperell birdies the 17^th and there is a 4-way tie at 14-under until the scores above at No. 11 are posted. Furyk bogeys the 15^th missing a 3-footer for par. Now it’s only Rory & Eddie leading at 14-under.

Rory drains a 20-footer for birdie at the short par-4 12^th after a poor chip while Pepperell pars the 18^th for a Sunday 66 and is the clubhouse leader at 14-under. Now Rory and Furyk know what the number to win is!

Another memorable PLAYERS Championship at TPC Sawgrass!

Johnny Vegas, defying the Vegas odds makes a bomb of 72 feet on the tiny 17^th green which is indeed better than most and the longest putt made to date on the island! Vegas also pars the 18^th, posts a Sunday 66 to tie Pepperell in the clubhouse at 14-under.

Furyk birdies the 16^th, a hole that he has markedly has never eagled, to get back to 14-under while Rahm does the same with a deuce at the 13^th.

Rory does not get it up-and down from the players-left greenside bunker, a difficult shot, for par at the 14^th and falls into a 5-way tie at 14-under with two of those scores in the clubhouse!

Furyk burns the right edge with a 15-footer for deuce at the 17^th but gets the birdie he needs (and needed to make a playoff with Kaymer in 2014) to post 15-under in the clubhouse after a solid Sunday 67.

Rory’s heroic shot to win comes from the right bunker on the par-4 15^th and then he makes the 12-footer to get back to 15-under and a tie with Furyk. Then it comes down to power golf, Rory power, with only a 9-iron second shot into the par-5 15^th he gets the birdie he needs and the two pars coming home to win his first PLAYERS Championship!

The new walkway from the Nicklaus Gate, evidence of the new era of PGA TOUR Chairman Jay Monahan!

Congrats Rory! Great job Furyk, double Sawgrass SPLASHES for Rahm & Fleetwood on 11 & 17! Great fun & entertainment is the 2019 THE PLAYERS Championship!   (Andy Reistetter; 3/18/19; Facebook Post with 30 Pics)

LOL, aced the replica 17th hole this morning after attending the 7 am Chapel Service! Two balls; sleeve of balls if hit both on the green; skulled the first, literally said & was heard ‘might as well make this one;’ took dead aim with 52 degree wedge, landed softly & it went in sideways as shown on the end of this video of my new friend Curtis & his father Rich! Happy Players, Happy Andy! TROML Baby!!!   (Andy Reistetter; 3/17/19; Facebook Posts with 8 Pics)

Always, always, always a memorable PLAYERS Championship but this year with my friend Sir Walter, my ace at the 17th, and Rory roaring to victory was extra special!

Awesome THE PLAYERS Championship in progress! Enjoyed being out there this week with my good friend Sir Walter & watching the NBC/Golf Channel broadcast! Impressive Jon Rahm leading after 3 rounds. Rory & Fleetwood are one stroke back; then Day & Ancer; then a group of six golfers 5 strokes back including local favorite Jim Furyk! A Sunday 65 just might do it for Furyk! Going to be a great PLAYERS Championship Sunday and it all will start with an inspirational 7 am Chapel Service inside the PLAYERS Welcome Center inside the new & updated Nicklaus Gate. Hope to see you out there! TROML Baby!   (Andy Reistetter; 3/16/19; Facebook Post with 30 Pics)

Thursday Round 1 at the PLAYERS! In the Stadium on the Stadium Course! Happy PLAYERS!   (Andy Reistetter; 3/14/19; Facebook Post with Panoramic Pic)

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Francesco Molinari looking good in Mr. Palmer’s Red Cardigan after winning the 2019 Arnold Palmer Invitational at Bay Hill! Photo Credit: Google Search

Francesco Molinari won the prestigious Arnold Palmer Invitational, which dates back to the 1966 Florida Citrus Open, coming from way behind shooting an 8-undr Sunday 64! Teeing off at 12:05 pm with Billy Horschel, a full hour and 40 minutes before the 1:45 final pairing of Matthew Fitzpatrick and Rory McIlroy.

Fitzpatrick, yet to win in 45 PGA TOUR events, had a one stroke lead over Rory McIlroy after Round 3. McIlroy who shot a sizzling 66 on Saturday looked destined to repeat as the API Champion. In 2018 he shot a Sunday 64 to win at Bay Hill for the first time and received the red cardigan sweater given in memory of Arnold Palmer. Palmer, who passed on September 25, 2016 at the age of 87. This was the third tournament without the physical presence of Mr. Palmer. Marc Leishman won the red cardigan sweater in 2017. Jason Day, the 2016 Champion, was the last to win with Arnold there to congratulate him.

Of course, Tiger Woods owned Bay Hill, winning the API eight times in fourteen years (200-2013). The last two back-to-back in 2012 and 2013. Tiger was injured (neck strain) and did not play in the 2019 API.

A Tribute to Arnold Palmer, Forever The King! (1929-2016)

Mr. Palmer, It was an Honor to Meet You!

Mr. Palmer’s Legacy is alive at Bay Hill with the new domed Experience Exhibit off the 10th fairway!

Molinari, Italy’s best all-time golfer, fully came out on the world golf stage in 2018. After winning for the sixth time on the European Tour (2018 BMW PGA Championship) and the first time on the PGA TOUR (2018 Quicken Loans National); he won his first major at the 2018 Open Championship at Carnoustie Golf Links. The he wrapped up his breakout season by winning 5 out of 5 points for Europe as they won the 2018 Ryder Cup on the Albatros Course of Le Golf National just outside of Paris, France.

Molinari made a 44-foot bomb on the 18^th hole, longer yet similar to Rory’s dramatic putt to win by 3 strokes in 2018 and Tiger Woods historic putts made there, to post 12-under and eventually win by 2 strokes over Fitzpatrick (Sunday 71, sole 2^nd) and 4 strokes over McIlroy (Sunday 72, T6). Molinari became the first to win by making a pin-in putt on 72^nd hole!

Congratulations Francesco Molinari, 2019 Arnold Palmer Invitational Champion!

Always a thrill to be at Bay Hill… Mr. Palmer’s legacy and presence live on…

The Arnold Palmer Invitational is one of only five tournaments given “invitational” status by the PGA Tour, and consequently it has a reduced field of only 120 players (as opposed to most full-field open tournaments with a field of 156 players). The other four tournaments with invitational status are the Genesis Open, RBC Heritage, the Fort Worth Invitational, and the Memorial Tournament. Invitational tournaments have smaller fields (between 120 and 132 players), and have more freedom than full-field open tournaments in determining which players are eligible to participate in their event, as invitational tournaments are not required to fill their fields using the PGA Tour Priority Ranking System. Furthermore, unlike full-field open tournaments, invitational tournaments do not offer open qualifying (aka Monday qualifying).

Frosty My Love, Gone All Too Soon…

With Frosty My Love!

Been a few years since I have been at Bay Hill, first time since the King & Frosty have passed. Mr. Palmer would be pleased as this tournament continues to grow amidst just the right Arnie’s Army spirit permeating this special place. Golf course is in great shape. Good to make a few new friends and run into a handful of old friends including the beautiful Katherine Deen Way in the umbrella dress! Will be a great finish! Go Rory!   (Andy Reistetter; Facebook Post with 30 Pics, Saturday 3/9/19)

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