Arnie And Tiger: Two Guys Everyone Misses At Bay Hill

It’s just not the same.

Not the same at venerable Bay Hill, yes, name’s still the same — Arnold Palmer’s Bay Hill Club.

It’s just not the same without Arnold.

Who misses him?  Golf does.  Anyone who loves golf misses Arnold.  Bay Hill misses him, the Arnold Palmer Invitational was his event, created by him, grown by him.  He took it from infancy to adulthood.  Thirty-eight years old, pretty much a staple.

We knew this day was coming.  After seeing him at The Masters last year, it was a stretch that he’d make it another year.

He didn’t and last September it happened.

Arnold was gone.

This PGA Tour stop is just a small part of his legacy, a small jewel in The King’s Crown.

This event ran like clockwork from the beginning.  Arnold was hands-on.  There was hardly a part of this event he didn’t touch.  Everything had to be just right, as close to perfect as it could be.  The course always was and has been.  Everything else as well.

It was his place, his show and he made it a great one.

Bob Byman won the first year — 1979.  In 1980 Dave Eichelberger won in perhaps the worst conditions the tournament had seen in its history.  The final Sunday was extraordinarily cold and beyond windy.  A certain young golf writer from Tampa walked the front nine that Sunday with Eichelberger.  It was tough just walking in the wind and cold.  Hard to believe it was Florida.

There were many great winners over the years and things got real interesting in 2000 when a 24-year-old phenom began his domination of the PGA Tour.  Tiger Woods won for the first time that year then again in 2001, again in 2002 then made it four straight in 2003.

You think Tiger Woods liked Bay Hill?

Woods getting bear-hugged by Arnie at the end became a regular event.

You could tell Arnold had a certain affection for Woods and vice versa.

Woods gave everyone else a break then cranked it up again in 2008 and 2009.  He added two more in ’12 and ’13.

Eight wins at Bay Hill.  Woods had what amounts to a really nice PGA Tour career at one venue.  Eight wins in a career is pretty darn good.  Tiger won eight times just at Arnie’s place.

Woods won’t be there this year and maybe not anywhere else.

Like seeing Arnie last year, you look at Woods and think that he may not have much time left as far as his playing days are concerned.

And that’s sad.

Some of the best highlights are Woods sinking improbable winning putts on the 72nd hole of this event.

This event was pretty much a microcosm of his career.

Domination. Thrilling shots and incredible clutch putts became the norm for Woods when he lived at nearby Isleworth.

It is sad that Woods cannot be here, even more sad that he may not play anywhere, ever again.

It’s looking that way because right now, there is no timetable for his return to the PGA Tour if there is going to be a return.

Yes, things were exciting at Bay Hill when Woods was in his prime.

Things were so much better over the years with Arnold making his rounds, clamping that strong handshake of his on countless tour players.

They will honor Arnold this week and somewhere over in Jupiter, maybe Woods will think about his days at Bay Hill.

Arnold’s gone and Tiger’s not doing very well.

Sad.

Very sad.