The Arnold Palmer Invitationalnext tournament on the calendar PGA Tourwhich will begin this coming Thursday, has its origins in the Florida Citrus Open Internationalwhich began to be played in 1966 in the Rio Pinar Country Cluba first edition that won Lionel Hubert and in which, for example, a young Jack Nicklaus finished in second position. That tournament is the root of the current one, which has been changing its name and also changed its venue to settle in 1979 at the Bay Hill Club & Lodge from Orlandostage until today of the test for 43 consecutive editions.
As well, only nine spanish players have participated in this event to date. Only nine in 56 years. The first was Manuel of the TowerAmerican by adoption, but born in Madrid in October 1921, son of the legendary Angel of the Tower, the first Spaniard to play a Grande (The Open in 1920). Manuel precisely played that first edition in 1966. Since then, only eight more players have been added to the list: Manuel Pinero he played it once in 1982 and Seve Ballesteros did it seven times; Jose Maria Olazabal adds eight participations; Miguel Angel Jimeneza; Sergio Garcia it is the one that gathers the most presences, with a total of twelve (this week it reaches its thirteenth, although it had been nine years since it had been played); Paul Martin Benavides played it once; Gonzalo Fernandez Castano did it three times and Rafa Cabrera Bello has been present in two.
So, Jon Rahm, callaway signature icon first Number 1 in the world in the history of the prestigious material firm, will be the tenth man from the Spanish Navy to make his debut, because he debuts in the Arnold Palmer this very week. The tenth cartridge, which comes from the hand of a leader of the OWGRa position he has held continuously since July of last year.
Spanish golf has not yet sung victory in this classic and prestigious tournament of the PGA Tour and it should be noted that the two best results to date have been achieved by Fernández Castaño and Cabrera Bello, as both managed to finish in third position in 2013 and 2019, respectively. Seve was 5th in 1983, Olazábal was 7th in 2002 and Sergio finished 4th in 2001, as previous best results.
Of these nine players who to date have represented Spanish golf at this event, eight did so in Bay Hill and only Manuel de la Torre on the first stage, Rio Pinar. Rahmobviously, he will also do it in Bay Hill, the home of the sadly missing Arnold Palmer.
