Dave Shedloski catches up with the King – Arnold Palmer – at the Arnold Palmer Invitational.
You have 5 of the top 10 players in the world here and a great mix of veterans and young players. Can you assess the field for this week’s tournament?
ARNOLD PALMER: We have a great field and I’m very happy about that. It’s a tough time of year as it gets closer to the Masters, but I’m appreciative of the players who are here, and I’m expecting a great week.
How do you like the new grasses on the golf course and how will it impact the competition?
ARNOLD PALMER: I am so pleased with my golf course. I can’t tell you how pleased I am to say that it’s the best I’ve ever seen it – without equivocation. We reseeded the entire golf course, and the results are fantastic. We closed the golf course for three months and made a commitment to really making the golf course the best it’s ever been.
This is the 38th year for the Arnold Palmer Invitational Presented by MasterCard. What do you think about when you reflect on the years hosting the tournament?
ARNOLD PALMER: Well, first and foremost is how pleased I am that the community has been great through the years in supporting this event. I’m very thankful for that. And I am thankful for the volunteers who have contributed so much to what we have tried to do here. This year, in fact, we are dedicating the event to our volunteers. We’ve had more than 1,400 volunteers through the years, some of whom will be wearing special T-shirts on Saturday in recognition of their commitment.
Finally, I just want to thank MasterCard for their support over the years. The people at MasterCard have been great partners.
