The ‘Big 3’ of world men’s golf will clash again in two weeks.
World rankings No. 1 to 3, John Rahm (Spain), Scottie Scheffler (USA), and Rory McIlroy (Northern Ireland), will play for four days from March 3 (Korean time) at Bayhill Club & Lodge (par 72) in Orlando, Florida, USA. ) in the US Professional Golf (PGA) Tour Arnold Palmer Invitational (total prize money of 20 million dollars).
This is the third ‘Big 3’ match this year following the Genesis Invitational, which ended on the 20th.
The reason why these ‘Big 3’ confrontations are attracting attention is that the world ranking may change depending on the results of the competition this time.
At the start of the year, McIlroy was world number one. Schaeffler was second and Lahm was third.
McIlroy seemed to solidify his first place by winning the DP World Tour Dubai Desert Classic, which is not a PGA Tour event, but he was pushed back to third place in the fierce pursuit of Schaeffler and Ram.
Schaeffler rose to No. 1 in the world rankings by winning the WM Phoenix Open, but Ram pushed Schaeffler to the top by reaching the top of the Genesis Invitational.
At this Arnold Palmer Invitational, Schaeffler and McIlroy can bring down Ram and regain the world No. 1 ranking. This means that depending on the results of the tournament, the number one in the world rankings may change again.
Ram’s plan is to lay the foundation for a long-term reign by winning this tournament.
Since Ram has been on a terrifying rise, there is a pretty high chance that this conspiracy will become a reality.
He competed 5 times this year and won 3 times, and placed 3rd and 7th the other two times.
If he wins this time, it will be his second consecutive victory following the Genesis Invitational, and he will set a new record by winning all three PGA Tour Invitationals.
Last year’s champion, Schaeffler, is on the hunt for two rabbits: a second consecutive victory in the tournament and a recapture of the world’s No. 1 ranking.
As he is the defending champion, he is more confident than anyone else in attacking the course.
Following the WM Phoenix Open, Schaeffler is also aiming for a different record of success in two consecutive title defenses this season.
McIlroy, who was pushed back by Ram and Schaeffler due to sluggish performance in two PGA Tour tournaments this year, where he failed to rank within the top 20, is aiming for a rebound.
McIlroy is the 2018 Arnold Palmer Invitational Champion.
Originally, it is a competition where star players gather, but starting this year, the list of players participating in this competition has become more colorful thanks to the designation as a ‘special competition’ that must participate in order to receive the Player Impact Index bonus.
44 players within the top 50 in the world rankings will participate. The remaining six players are all members of LIV Golf, which is banned from the PGA Tour. 메이저놀이터
All 19 winners of this season, which started in September last year, will sortie.
Patrick Cantley, Xander Chopley, Justin Thomas, Colin Morikawa, Max Homar (Above USA), Viktor Hoblan (Norway), etc. are lined up for the championship.
Six Korean players, including Kim Joo-hyung (21), Lim Seong-jae (25), Lee Gyeong-hun (32), Kim Si-woo (28), An Byeong-hun (32), and Kim Seong-hyun (25), will also participate.
During the same period, the Puerto Rico Open (total prize money of $3.8 million) will be held at the Grand Reserve Golf Club (par 72) in Puerto Rico.
Low-ranking players who did not qualify for the Arnold Palmer Invitational are aiming for a turnaround in this tournament.
Although the prize money and FedEx Cup ranking points are less than other tournaments, the winner enjoys all the honors of a PGA Tour event champion, such as receiving a two-year tour card.
Choi Kyung-joo (53), the eternal eldest brother of the PGA Tour’Korean Brothers’, Bae Sang-moon (37), who was pushed out of the Asian Pro Golf Tour, Kang Seong-hoon (36), and Noh Seung-yeol (32), who are not ranked in the PGA Tour, also participated and challenged the ‘resurrection shot’. do.