An unusually large number of players survived the cut at the Arnold Palmer Invitational. Out of a field of 120 players, 78 will continue on this weekend with a chance to take home the title. It took a 36-hole aggregate of 3-over 147 to tie for 63rd place. Among those to squeak through include newly named U.S. Ryder Cup captain Zach Johnson, 2021 European Ryder Cup captain Padraig Harrington and Tommy Fleetwood.
Those who weren’t so lucky include Patrick Reed, Brandt Snedeker, Justin Rose and Kevin Na, who shot a disastrous 81 on Thursday. Both of the amateurs in the field in Texas A&M star Sam Bennett, who ranks first in PGA Tour U, and U.S. Amateur champion James Piot, were sent packing.
Patrick Reed’s swoon continues. The World No. 28 missed his third cut in a row. This time he signed for one stroke too many after rounds of 72 and 76.
Two doubles on his opening nine on Friday – at Nos. 13 and 17 – did him in. He made three double bogeys in all for the week and just a combined five birdies for his two days of work. His approach game was particularly off as he lost nearly 3 ½ shots to the field on Friday and hit just 10 of 18 greens.
Patrick Reed walks off of the first tee box during the second round of the Arnold Palmer Invitational golf tournament. (Photo: Reinhold Matay-USA TODAY Sports)
Kevin Na had a week he’ll like to forget. Rounds of 81-77 were uncharacteristic of the World No. 29, who missed his second straight cut. Na’s driver did him in. He only hit five fairways each round and didn’t do much better with his approach game, hitting just 13 of 36 greens. Na, who finished T-2 here in 2010, this time finished 118th out of the field of 120.
Kevin Na of the United States reacts on the eighth green during the first round of the Arnold Palmer Invitational presented by Mastercard at Arnold Palmer Bay Hill Golf Course on March 03, 2022 in Orlando, Florida. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)
Justin Rose missed his first cut of the season in seven starts. He shot rounds of 74-75—149. On Friday, five bogeys were the result of a poor ballstriking week. He ranked 89th in Strokes Gained: Tee to Green. It’s just the fourth time in 17 career starts that Rose has had the weekend off at Bay Hill, but the second in the last three years.
Mar 4, 2022; Orlando, Florida, USA; Justin Rose hits his bunker shot onto the sixth green during the second round of the Arnold Palmer Invitational golf tournament. Mandatory Credit: Reinhold Matay-USA TODAY Sports
Both of the amateurs in the field this week are headed back to school after Friday’s cut. U.S. Amateur champion James Piot shot a pair of 78s. The Michigan State senior ranked 119 out of 120 in Strokes Gained: Putting on Thursday while on Friday it was his approach game that let him down (118th out of 120).
Texas A&M’s Sam Bennett opened with 74 on Thursday but the wheels came off on Friday as he skied to a 13-over 85 at Bay Hill. The round included four double bogeys, including back to back at Nos. 4 and 5.
James Piot of the United States plays his shot from the 11th tee during the second round of the Arnold Palmer Invitational presented by Mastercard at Arnold Palmer Bay Hill Golf Course on March 04, 2022 in Orlando, Florida. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)
Brandt Snedeker missed his fourth straight cut with rounds of 73-76 at Bay Hill. The longtime MasterCard ambassador has just one top-25 finish this season in 11 starts. It’s just his fourth missed cut here in 12 starts and just his second since 2014. Snedeker struggled to find fairways, missed too many greens and compounded his errors by managing to scramble just 5 out of 14 attempts through 36 holes. That was a recipe for too many bogeys on the card and thus a weekend off.
Mar 3, 2022; Orlando, Florida, USA; Brandt Snedeker hits his tee shot on the ninth hole during the first round of the Arnold Palmer Invitational golf tournament. Mandatory Credit: Reinhold Matay-USA TODAY Sports
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