The course at Arnold Palmer’s Bay Hill Club & Lodge is once again testing the quality of everyone in the Arnold Palmer Invitational. Keegan Bradley, who finished his round as the clubhouse leader, summed it up in nine very eloquent words.
“This is the hardest course we play all year,” he said.
Bradley spoke to the press covering the event at the end of his performance on the first 18 holes. With the course being one of the stars of the day, the 7-time PGA Tour winner talked about how challenging it had been for this edition of the event.
“This course has changed so much since my first year. I think that this is the hardest course we play all year. I used to think it was Torrey, I think it’s here now. The four par-5s and you’re still, you know, really got it play well to shoot under par. Sprinkle in some conditions like this, it’s really tough.”
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According to Bradley, the greens and rough are the highlights of the course for this edition of the Arnold Palmer Invitational.
“I don’t really remember the rough being this difficult. Then the greens were never like this. These are like firm, major championship-type greens. Every year we come here the course is in perfect condition and really major championship ready.”
Keegan Bradley carded four birdies and one bogey to finish the first round in first place, pending the completion of the afternoon wave. Considering the course and weather conditions, this is an extraordinary performance, as less than a third of the players managed to break par.
Even World No. 1 Scottie Scheffler finished the day with four birdies and three bogeys for a 1-under 71. This is none other than the player who won the last two editions of the Bay Hill event.
Counting only the players with morning tee times, the course produced five rounds of 79 and two over 80s (Max Homa with an 81 and Cameron Young with an 82). World No. 3 Xander Schauffele is 6-over through 13, so it is possible he will join the aforementioned group.
The round totals also show how tough the course is, even though the first round is not over yet. When the final group of the day is playing the 10th hole, there are only 183 birdies against 257 bogeys and 52 double bogeys or worse. The average score is over 74, although it has improved throughout the day.
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