Gary Woodland, the winner of the 2019 U.S. Open has some tips for players participating in the Arnold Palmer Invitational presented to Mastercard: Pay attention to your steps on the par 3s at Bay Hill Club and Lodge.
Woodland finished last year’s event at the downhill, under-the-water par-317th with a lead of 6 under par. He had just made an eagle on par-5 16th. Woodland could play the famous par-4 18th if he has one more good swing and one more positive result to his quest for his first Bay Hill title.
It didn’t go according to plan. Woodland’s 8-iron approach at the back-right hole location, a small target wedged between sand and rough, fell short of the green. He cleared the pond, but plugged into the bunker in front. He had to take two swings to clear the sand and then he made a double bogey, leaving him one shot behind Scottie Scheffler. He was tied for fifth with a bogey on 18.
This was a terrible example of the difficulty that Bay Hill’s par 3s can be. The Nos. The four holes – Nos. 2, 7, 14 and 17, had the highest average score over par of any set 3s on the PGA Tour’s 2021-22 season. This was not counting major championships. The average over-par score for the Bay Hill quartet was 3.193.
Woodland stated, “Most of all, the par 3s here (on the PGA Tour), are trying to attack, trying make some birdies.”
Bay Hill is not the same.
The four-time PGA Tour winner said, “You really should play to center of the green on all of them.” “… No. 2. When you want to get away with par. No. 17. When you want to get away with par.”
Gary Woodland had to take two shots in order to escape a buried lie at the front 17th green bunker in the final round at the 2022 Arnold Palmer Invitational at Bay Hill Club & Lodge, Orlando. (Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)
Woodland’s worst mistake last year was: Woodland hit his tee shot at No. He struck his tee shot on No. 17 exactly as he had planned, toward a larger area of green left of flag. 17 exactly as he planned to use the green left of the flag.
Woodland wasn’t alone in losing traction on Sunday, the 17th. Viktor Hovland was 5 over par for the week, which would have earned his spot in a playoff. He walked up the hill to the 17th hole from the 16th green. He was still one shot behind after four shots. After his bogey on 17, the Norwegian spoke out about how “this one stings”. He was tied for second.
Woodland stated, “It’s just an awful hole.” “You can see where the pin is going to be: Back right. They raise the tee and try to tempt you a bit.
As is often the case, temptation can lead to folly. Bay Hill’s par 3s are a great example. It is known for its 18th par-4, which has its green wrapped around the pond. In recent years, the par-5 sixth has been gaining notoriety with ever longer players trying to hit eye-popping shots across the lake that wraps the hole. Smart pros are aware to be cautious of one-shotters.
It’s evident how important par 3s are to players seated at the top of a tight leaderboard. Scheffler won the week’s par 3s in 48 shots. This was even better than Scheffler’s 16 attempts. Woodland played 50 shots and finished the round two shots behind. Tyrrell Hatton finished tied for second, one shot behind Scheffler. He required 51 strokes to complete the par 3, playing them at 3 over par for the week. Hovland managed 52 shots on the par 3, playing them over 4 for the week. Every stroke was important on the final leaderboard.
This theme continued into the final round. Scheffler finished 1 under on Sunday’s par 3, making birdie at No. Parring the other players, Scheffler was 1 under on Sunday’s par 3s. Hatton and Hovland were worse than the other players, both of whom could not make the par 3s in round three. Woodland finished the pars 3s in 2 over par with three pars, and a double bogey on 17.
