ORLANDO, FLORIDA – MARCH 07: Bryson DeChambeau of the United States celebrates with the trophy after winning the final round of the Arnold Palmer Invitational Presented by MasterCard at the Bay Hill Club and Lodge on March 07, 2021 in Orlando, Florida. (Photo by Sam Greenwood/Getty Images)
Orlando, US, March 8: Bryson DeChambeau, the US Open winner, admitted he was inspired by a Tiger Woods text as he grabbed Arnold Palmer International for his first win in 2021. In the morning before he teed off he got a message from the one and only Tiger Woods, who told im to fight and “play boldly like Mr. Palmer’ and DeChambeau did just that and beat 47-year-old Lee Westwood by a shot at Bay Hill, the home of Arnold Palmer.
India’s Anirban Lahiri had missed the halfway cut.
He said in TV interview, “I got a text from Tiger Woods this morning … We just talked about ‘Just keep fighting, no matter what happens’ and play boldly like Mr. Palmer.” Woods is currently recovering from serious leg injuries suffered in a accident near Los Angeles.
DeChambeau, who played this event as an amateur on Palmer’s invite, also received the champion’s red cardigan sweater in honour of Palmer. He said, “I came here as an amateur, he (Palmer) gave me an invitation and I loved this golf course the minute I arrived. I loved the atmosphere and I love the fans. I loved what Mr. Palmer did with this place and what he’s done and his legacy he’s left here.”
DeChambeau’s win was also studded with a memorable drive on Par-5 sixth over the 370-yard lake and he celebrated by pumping his arms. Players usually have to go around the lake at Bay Hill, Florida but DeChambeau attacked the obstacle head on, driving the ball 370 yards on Saturday. Then on Sunday he drove the ball 377 yards, leaving only 88 yards to the hole.
Read also:
Jazz holds Asian challenge aloft as 48-y-o Westwood leads Palmer Inv
Lahiri has an off day, misses cut at Palmer Invitational
Lahiri starts with modest 72, as McIlroy takes lead at Palmer. Invitational
