Rory McIlroy set a fitting tone on Wednesday as the world of golf prepares to honour the memory of its greatest ambassador at the Arnold Palmer Invitational at Bay Hill in Orlando.
This is the first staging of the event that carries his name since Palmer passed away on the eve of the Ryder Cup last September.
McIlroy paid his own tribute by releasing a lovely letter Palmer wrote to him after he won the United States Open, his first major title, in 2011. After congratulating the Ulsterman, how typical of Palmer to remind Rory that with a great triumph comes great responsibility.
‘You are now in a position where you have the opportunity to give back to the game that is making you famous and I hope, and certainly feel sure, that you will live up to that obligation in the years ahead,’ wrote the King.
Whether restoring the prestige of the Irish Open almost single-handedly or spreading the gospel of the game through a global schedule that would make most superstars balk, McIlroy has heeded Palmer’s words.
‘A letter from AP after my first major,’ tweeted the 27-year-old. ‘Great words of wisdom as always. Can’t wait to play this week and celebrate his amazing life.’
Palmer didn’t just want to know people when they were winners. A few years ago, veteran Englishman Greg Owen, who lives nearby, was dropping off a letter requesting a sponsor’s exemption when he was invited to give it to Palmer personally.
‘I didn’t know what to say but he started the conversation and put me at ease,’ recalled Owen who, in 2006, stood over a 3ft putt at the 71st hole for a two-shot lead in Arnie’s tournament, only to three- putt and bogey the last to lose by a stroke. It didn’t stop Owen from joining Bay Hill.
‘You’d see him in the locker room and he’d always say hello,’ recalled Owen. ‘One time he introduced me to his wife and said, “This is Greg Owen, he was the unlucky guy”.’
The unlucky guy will join McIlroy, world No 2 Jason Day, Masters champion Danny Willett and a host of others for what will be a moving edition of one of the best events on the PGA Tour.
Palmer might have been an all-American hero but he was never all-American in his thinking. Appropriately therefore, invitations have been extended to three of the young Englishmen making an impression on the sport — Matt Fitzpatrick, Tyrrell Hatton and Tommy Fleetwood, current leader of the Race to Dubai.
One of four people with the proud honour of stepping into Palmer’s shoes and being tournament host this week is Graeme McDowell, who first was runner-up at the API in 2005 and who lives 20 minutes away.
Two years ago G-Mac was practising on the range when Palmer wandered over and gave him a one-iron to try. When McDowell tried to give it back Palmer told him to keep it.
‘We could never fill his shoes but we can carry on his passion for the game and for helping others,’ said McDowell. ‘My kids were born at his hospital in Orlando so I’ve been a beneficiary of his charitable legacy. It’s one of the great honours of my life to be a host this week.’
*The European Tour’s Players’ Player of the Year Award has been renamed The Seve Ballesteros Award, in tribute to the five-time major winner who died in 2011. The first recipient of the prize is Sweden’s Henrik Stenson, who won the 2016 vote after claiming the Open at Royal Troon and the Race to Dubai.