RG's "Fairway Focus" is a weekly look at golf's major tours. PGA Professional Brendon Elliott, a three-decade industry veteran, provides his insights. Elliott previews the PGA TOUR in the Sunshine State this week, starting the Florida Swing at the Cognizant Classic. The LPGA’s “Asia Major” at HSBC and a review of this week's TGL action.
The PGA TOUR's Florida Swing continues this week with a trip to one of my favorite places in golf – Arnold Palmer's Bay Hill Club & Lodge for the Arnold Palmer Invitational presented by Mastercard. Meanwhile, the Puerto Rico Open provides opportunities for those not in the Signature Event field, the LPGA Tour heads to China, and TGL's inaugural regular season has wrapped up with the playoff picture now set.
Arnold Palmer Invitational: A Special Week at Arnie's Place
There's something magical about Bay Hill. Perhaps it's the legacy of the King himself that still permeates every corner of the property, or maybe it's the demanding test of golf that has humbled even the game's greatest players. Having had the pleasure of playing the course a dozen times over the years, I can attest that Bay Hill possesses a unique charm that television simply cannot capture.
World No. 1 Scottie Scheffler returns to defend his title, looking to win for the third time in four years at Bay Hill. Last year, Scheffler was surgical in his approach, firing a final-round 66 to pull away from the field for a five-shot victory – the largest winning margin since Tiger Woods in 2012. His triumph kicked off what would become a magical 2024 season, culminating in his first FedExCup crown.
The field is absolutely loaded this week, with 38 of the top 40 players in the Official World Golf Ranking set to compete. Perhaps the biggest storyline is the return of world No. 3 Xander Schauffele, who hasn't teed it up since The Sentry in January while nursing an injury. Schauffele finished T25 at Bay Hill last year but has historically struggled at the venue, breaking 70 just once in 12 career rounds.
Rory McIlroy, currently ranked No. 2 in the world, returns to a venue where he's enjoyed tremendous success. The 2018 champion has an impressive Bay Hill resume – since 2017, he's had just one finish outside the top 13, and he finished as runner-up in 2023. McIlroy already has a win this season at the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am.
Another player to watch is Ludvig Åberg, who's coming off a victory at the last Signature Event, The Genesis Invitational. The young Swede has two top-five finishes this season and back-to-back top-25s at Bay Hill.
My personal connection to Bay Hill runs deep. I've been fortunate enough to play the course a dozen times over the years, and each visit reminds me why this place holds such a special place in my heart. The course demands precision off the tee, creative shot-making around the greens, and nerves of steel on the putting surfaces – especially on the weekend when they typically firm up to lightning-fast speeds.
I had the honor of meeting Mr. Palmer on four occasions, and those memories remain some of my most cherished in golf. His genuine warmth, down-to-earth nature, and passion for the game left an indelible impression. He had a way of making you feel like you were the most important person in the room, even though he was undoubtedly the legend in any gathering.
The course itself has evolved into one of the TOUR's most demanding tests. As Patrick Cantlay noted, "There's a premium on driving the golf ball in the fairway, and I think you have to play really smart around this place." With an extra inch of overseeded rough this year (now 4 inches), accuracy will be even more crucial.
Bay Hill has earned a reputation for weekend carnage, with the course typically starting green on Thursday and browning out by Sunday.
Will Zalatoris summed it up perfectly: "We joke about how the week gets harder and harder, and by Sunday, Arnie's smiling from heaven watching the carnage."
The winning scores reflect this challenge – three of the last five years have seen single-digit under-par totals hoist the trophy and don the iconic red cardigan. When Scheffler won in 2022, he did so with a 5-under total, a stark contrast to his 15-under winning score last year.
Puerto Rico Open: Opportunities Abound
While the game's elite battle at Bay Hill, another PGA TOUR event unfolds at Grand Reserve Golf Club in Rio Grande – the Puerto Rico Open. This marks the first Additional Event of the season and the first stop that feeds into the Aon Swing 5 for the RBC Heritage.
One notable absence this year is Puerto Rico's own Rafael Campos, who received a sponsor exemption to play in the Arnold Palmer Invitational. Campos, who joined Chi Chi Rodriguez as the only Puerto Ricans with a PGA TOUR victory when he won the Butterfield Bermuda Championship last fall, typically serves as an unofficial ambassador for this event.
The field is headlined by defending champion Brice Garnett, who has an impressive record at Grand Reserve with eight paydays in as many starts. Ryan Gerard tops the Power Rankings, having made all five cuts this season with three top-25 finishes.
An interesting wrinkle this year is that the nines have been reversed for competition for the first time. Instead of a par-5-3-4-5 close, the tournament will finish with respective pars of 3, 4, 3, and 4, which could significantly impact strategy down the stretch.
The winner will be among the last qualifiers into THE PLAYERS Championship next week at TPC Sawgrass.
TGL Regular Season Wraps Up
The inaugural regular season of TGL presented by SoFi concluded this week, with the playoff picture now set after two exciting matches.
In Monday's first match, Los Angeles Golf Club secured the No. 1 seed with an impressive comeback victory over previously undefeated The Bay Golf Club. Trailing 3-0 through eight holes, LAGC stormed back to win 5-3, sparked by Sahith Theegala's chip-in birdie at the 12th hole that sent his father into a celebratory dance in the crowd.
The second Monday match saw New York Golf Club defeat Boston Common Golf 10-6, eliminating the Ballfrogs from playoff contention and securing the No. 4 seed. New York Yankees legend Derek Jeter was in attendance to witness Rickie Fowler nearly ace the par-3 14th hole. The match also marked Xander Schauffele's return to the lineup after missing several matches with a rib injury.
Tuesday's regular-season finale featured Atlanta Drive GC defeating Jupiter Links Golf Club 9-1. Atlanta had a new look lineup with 2023 U.S. Amateur champion Nick Dunlap joining Billy Horschel and Lucas Glover. Despite the loss, Jupiter Links – featuring Tiger Woods, Max Homa, Tom Kim, and Kevin Kisner – provided plenty of entertainment throughout the season.
The semifinal matchups are now set: No. 1 Los Angeles will face No. 4 New York on March 17, while No. 2 The Bay takes on No. 3 Atlanta on March 18.
LPGA Tour Heads to China
The LPGA Tour continues its early-season Asian swing with the Blue Bay LPGA in China. While details about the event are limited, it represents another opportunity for the world's best women golfers to compete on the global stage.
The tournament returns to the LPGA schedule after a hiatus, adding to the tour's strong international presence. As the women's game continues to grow worldwide, events like the Blue Bay LPGA play a crucial role in expanding the sport's reach and developing new fans across different markets.
As we look ahead to a packed week of golf across multiple tours and formats, the game continues to evolve and captivate fans worldwide. From the traditional test at Bay Hill that would make Arnie proud to the innovative team format of TGL, golf's broad appeal has never been more evident.
Brendon Elliott, a distinguished PGA Professional, is best known for his dedication to the growth and development of junior golf. With nearly three decades of experience, Elliott has been recognized multiple times as one of the best instructors, both regionally and nationally.
Elliott's crowning achievement was being named the 2017 PGA of America National Youth Player Development Award Winner, a testament to his exceptional skills and dedication. He is the founder of Little Linksters, an award-winning youth golf academy and nonprofit that works with kids of all abilities to help them develop a passion for golf. His innovative teaching methods and love for the game have made significant impacts on students and the broader golfing community.
Additionally, Brendon, a Golf Writers Association of America member, has become a renowned freelance golf writer, further solidifying his position as a top professional in the industry.
