“I don’t want to say anything that I’ll regret,” Rory McIlroy said after scoring 4 out of 76 in the third round of the Arnold Palmer Invitational.
McIlroy was frustrated with how difficult Bay Hill was playing. He didn’t want to call the course setting unfair, but after another 76 on Sunday, he called it “crazy golf.”
“Honestly, I feel drunk on the punch,” he said after completing his last round. Weekends are like crazy golf. You just don’t get rewarded for good shots. It’s like I’m out of breath here, I’m frustrated and all. I also think the disappointment is that this is a replica of what has happened here over the past three years.”
This time McIlroy led after 18 holes, opening 65. He then hit 72-76-76 for 13th.
In 2021, he went 66-71-72-76. In 2020, he went 66-73-73-76.
Full results at the Arnold Palmer Invitational
Many players get tougher at the weekend to some degree, but McIlroy thinks the Bay Hill team is doing more than just up a notch.
“I think it’s just a problem with the set up of the golf course and maybe just an attempt to make it a little less punishing when you miss, I guess. Or even no less penalties when you miss. I don’t mind penalties on golf courses when you miss, but it doesn’t reward good shots. I think that’s where it starts to cross the line,” he said.
McIlroy was not alone in his irritation.
“I’m glad I got off the golf course. I’m glad I finished,” said Gary Woodland, who completed the Eagle Double Ghost race and moved from a straight lead to T-5.
“We know the weekend is pretty brutal here,” said Tyrrell Hatton, the 2020 API champion, who went one of four under par rounds on Sunday to finish T-2.
“I think the green sometimes gets so fast that the pin positions just seem brutal. And just like I said, you have to play defensively and try your best to get the ball as close as possible.
McIlroy added: “They need to do something about it. There are a lot of guys who don’t show up this week to prepare for next.”
The Players Championship and his $20 million purse are coming up. All of the aforementioned said they feel confident in their games despite any problems over the weekend (Hatton hit 78 in the 3rd round ahead of his final 69). Big opportunities await at TPC Sawgrass.
We don’t have much time to recover from the Bay Hill beating, but that’s all it takes.
“I just need a day off tomorrow to forget what happened this week,” said McIlroy, Players 2019 champion, “and then just focus on next week.”