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Nick Dunlap completed in just below 4 hours on the Arnold Palmer Invitational on Thursday, which might have made it seem to be some other spherical at Bay Hill with one exception.
ORLANDO, Fla.: Nick Dunlap completed in just below 4 hours on the Arnold Palmer Invitational on Thursday, which might have made it seem to be some other spherical at Bay Hill with one exception.
He was taking part in alone. He had the primary tee time. All the course was in entrance of him. The one firm he stored was his caddie.
“Just a little bizarre,” Dunlap stated with a smile after a birdie-birdie end led to an even-par 72.
The Arnold Palmer Invitational is a signature occasion, which together with a $20 million purse has a small area comprised of solely the highest gamers and people with current good play. That may have added to 70 for Bay Hill, besides Tony Finau selected to not play.
And with PGA Tour pledging to make use of twosomes for signature occasions, a 69-man area meant one participant needed to go off by himself. That’s common on the weekend within the Japanese time zone, when an odd-number of gamers make the minimize.
However the first spherical?
Dunlap didn’t appear to thoughts. He discovered himself taking part in extra intentionally than regular. When he first stepped on the tee on the par-3 second — his caddie just a few paces behind him — it was simply over two minutes earlier than he hit his shot. He used that point to determine the wind and different components. It’s sometimes the toughest par 3 on the course.
“I nonetheless caught to my routine,” he stated. “A few instances if we didn’t know what the wind was going to do or it was a tough putt, we have been in a position to take somewhat extra time.”
Friday may be more durable. Seventeen twosomes will likely be in entrance of him, and Dunlap will likely be in the course of the sector on his personal.
However then, Dunlap has a unique perspective than most at Bay Hill. Solely two months in the past, the U.S. Novice champion was a 20-year-old sophomore at Alabama when he gained The American Categorical, the primary beginner in 33 years to win on the PGA Tour. A giant a part of him is simply joyful to be right here, taking part in for $20 million purses seven instances this season.
“Actually, to place it in perspective, I used to be taking part in foursomes in school,” he stated. “And it’s rather a lot higher taking part in as a single.”
There normally is an choice for a single to play with a non-competing marker — it’s obligatory on the Masters — besides the PGA Tour is transferring away from that. Dunlap stated he actually didn’t have the choice of getting a head professional or beginner play with him, and he didn’t essentially need one.
And this wasn’t a random determination to place him out first. Dunlap was the one participant in his class (present season PGA Tour winners), so he was the only. The opposite winners this 12 months have been eligible by means of the present FedEx Cup checklist.
Oddly sufficient, Dunlap did play with a non-competing marker at The American Categorical, however solely as a result of it was a pro-am format and the opposite tour professional, Wilson Furr, needed to withdraw. Somebody needed to fill in because the beginner’s accomplice.
Dunlap shot 60 that day, and carried that to a shocking PGA Tour win.
Bay Hill isn’t any La Quinta, nevertheless. This is likely one of the stronger exams on the PGA Tour. Dunlap stated the additional time he had over pictures got here in useful.
What didn’t assist was the beginning. His tee shot didn’t clear the water on No. 3. After a drop, his 6-iron hit off the rocks and into the water. One other drop. He did nicely to flee with triple bogey, after which wanted to regroup whereas taking part in as a single.
“While you’re taking part in nicely, it may be helpful,” he stated. “It’s somewhat harder after I bought off to a tricky begin. You needed to gradual your self down.”
He managed nicely, going out in 40 and coming again for a 72, a decent rating at Bay Hill. One other good spherical and he gained’t must play as a single on Saturday.
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AP golf: https://apnews.com/hub/golf
(This story has not been edited by News18 workers and is revealed from a syndicated information company feed – Related Press)
