Ernie Els-Tiger Woods-Hunter Mahan: A must-watch group in the Arnold Palmer Invitational – Golf News
The 14-time major champion will formally make a return in the four-day event through Arnold Palmer Invitational at Bay Hill after he withdrew from the second World Golf Championship of the year, the Cadillac Championship, two weeks ago.
He also participated in the two-day Tavistock Cup exhibition event at Albany, Isleworth.
He played with Justin Rose as a partner in the match-play first round and stroke play round on the second day.
Just after the tournament finished on Tuesday, March 20, 2012, he went to Bay Hill to participate in the Arnold Invitational.
However, while he was playing the Pro-Am event on Wednesday, the injury issues again warned him about the probable rest days to come.
He pulled up his back on the sixth tee and said: "I guess one of the so-called professional photographers took a picture right in the middle of my downswing. I stopped it and then felt a pretty good twinge in my back".
He added, "I walked it off and then tried to hit one down there, hit it in the fairway, but it didn't feel very good. But after a couple of holes it loosened up and I'm good to go now".
In the event, he is grouped with the Hall of Famer, Ernie Els, and Hunter Mahan.
A victory in the event is necessary for Els if he wants to earn a place in the Masters Tournament scheduled two weeks from now.
Last week, he faltered on the final two holes of the Transitions Championship to hand over the lead to his rivals on the course.
A victory in the event would have confirmed a spot for the ‘Big Easy’ in the first major event of the year.
However, his tie for the fifth-place finish was not enough to improve his position in the Official World Golf Rankings.
Therefore, a victory in any of the two events that he is scheduled to play prior to the start of the Masters can give him a card to play in April.
On the other hand, Mahan is confirmed to play the Masters because of his 12th spot in the OWGR.
This year, his track record is impressive enough for him to be rated as a favourite for a win in the Arnold Palmer Invitational.
His best finish of the season came in the World Golf Championships – Accenture Match Play Championship when he defeated Rory McIlroy in the final.
The group featuring these players will be a must-watch in the tournament, as much is being expected from these players.
Each player will be looking forward to making a good start in the tournament in order to prepare for the Masters.
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