ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) – Sam Saunders started the tribute with a drive from the spot on the Bay Hill range where his grandfather, Arnold Palmer, used to practice.
Sixty more players followed, one after the other, ending with defending champion Jason Day.
As soon as one player hit his tee shot, the player next to him began his swing. Thwack! Thwack! Thwack! From right to left down the range, the balls soared against a blue sky. The sequence was golf’s version of a 21-gun salute.
The opening ceremony was a new tradition at the Arnold Palmer Invitational, the first without its tournament host and golf’s most beloved figure.
“Let’s make him proud and hit this one hard,” Saunders said.