The Arnold Palmer Invitational has been nothing short of a riveting golf spectacle, with Michael Kim’s stellar performance stealing the limelight. The fan-favorite American continues to delight, standing five under and only five strokes behind the lead as we gear up for the final round.
Kim’s remarkable consistency has been a highlight since his second-place finish at the WM Phoenix Open. A testament to his form is the three top 15 finishes and a noteworthy sixth place at the recent Cognizant Classic.
Contributing significantly to his rise is his enhanced short game, thanks to his collaboration with coach Joe Mayo. The 31-year-old Kim has witnessed a marked improvement, currently ranking sixth in scrambling on the PGA Tour and 20th for strokes gained around the greens.
As we approach the apex of the Arnold Palmer Invitational, Kim finds himself in a position to catapult his career into the realm of the world’s elite players. However, this necessitates him to outshine the tournament leader, Collin Morikawa, who is ten under at Bay Hill. Morikawa is on the hunt for his first victory since 2023.
The challenging greens of Bay Hill have been a stern test for all players throughout the week. Kim, in particular, has found the tenth green to be a formidable adversary. In his words, “These greens are pretty crazy. They are crusty. I feel like the tenth green might be dead just the fertilizer’s the only thing that’s keeping it alive, but barely.”
Kim and Scottish sensation Bob MacIntyre, his companion on Saturday, experienced first-hand the difficulty of the greens. Their putts went eight feet by rather swiftly, highlighting the tricky nature of the playing field. Maintaining a conservative approach on the greens was the strategy that seemed to work best, according to Kim.
MacIntyre, the European Ryder Cup star, also stands a good chance heading into the final round. Having picked up three shots on the front nine and an extra one on the back, he ended up with a scorecard of 68 (four under). Given the windy conditions predicted for Sunday, MacIntyre could prove to be an excellent match for the challenge.
In other news, USA Presidents Cup star, Russell Henley, is hot on Morikawa’s heels, trailing by just one shot. A string of four consecutive birdies on the back nine has propelled him up the leaderboard.
Meanwhile, Tony Finau matches Kim at five under, with Jason Day at seven under, three shots behind. On the flip side, world number three Xander Schauffele has found himself at the bottom of the leaderboard. The two-time major winner, making only his second appearance of the season, is still finding his footing.
As the Arnold Palmer Invitational heads towards an exciting conclusion, the stage is set for high-stakes golf, where skill, strategy, and a touch of luck will determine the ultimate victor.
