Despite an unfortunate exit from the Arnold Palmer Invitational after missing the cut, Billy Horschel had nothing but admiration for his compatriot’s performance on the golf course. Witnessing a truly extraordinary round of golf, Horschel was left in awe of the 13-time PGA Tour victor, Jason Day.
The American golfer, Horschel, didn’t have the best start to the tournament, scoring a dismal first-round 79, seven over par, which paved the way for his early exit. Even his commendable shot of 74 on the second day was insufficient to bring him back within the cut line. This came after his remarkable triumph in the 2024 BMW PGA Championship.
The Bay Hill course, the venue for the Invitational, has been showing its formidable side over the past couple of days. Golfing stalwarts like Scottie Scheffler and Rory McIlroy have found it particularly challenging, emphasizing the difficulties posed by the greens and the crosswinds respectively. The course, affectionately known as Arnie’s track, has certainly lived up to its intimidating reputation.
The severity of the Bay Hill course was even recognized by Keegan Bradley, the USA Ryder Cup captain, who went on to dub it as the most arduous course on the PGA Tour. However, Australian golfing virtuoso Jason Day was unfazed by its daunting demeanor.
While the majority of the golfers grappled with the course, Day crafted an impressive round, shooting an eight-under 64, propelling himself up the leaderboard. Beginning the day at four over, Day skillfully navigated the course, making seven birdies and an eagle, placing him firmly in the running for the title. The Australian golfer now stands at four under for the tournament, sharing the fifth spot with McIlroy and Russell Henley.
Horschel, who had the privilege of playing alongside Day, was nothing short of impressed. He took to social media to express his admiration for Day’s performance, terming it as one of the finest rounds he’d witnessed in a long time.
As the Arnold Palmer Invitational proceeds into the weekend, Shane Lowry holds a four-shot lead over Day. The Irish golfer continued his streak of strong performances at Bay Hill, shooting a 67 on Friday. Lowry’s game, which emphasizes finding fairways and lowering ball flight, seemed well-suited to the challenging set-up at Bay Hill, qualities that the 2019 Open Championship winner has mastered.
Meanwhile, controversy struck the tournament as 2023 US Open champion, Wyndham Clark, currently in second place after shooting a 71 on Friday, was accused of cheating. Clark faced allegations after he removed his ball from a plugged lie, which then appeared to roll into a divot instead of stopping dead. The American golfer maintains that his tee shot was indeed plugged immediately upon landing.