Arnold's Place

Orlando, Fl (WFAN)  -- Arnold Palmer, I’ve always said, has the most charismatic smile in sports. And the living legend, at 80 years of age, continues to give the Arnold Palmer Invitational at his home course in Orlando – Bay Hill – that charming ‘Arnold Palmer’ personal, down-to-earth touch, at what has become one of the most popular PGA Tour stops on the schedule.

Why? First off, the course is spectacular, especially after the renovations that took place after the 2009 tournament. They enlarged the greens and made them flatter and installed Emerald Bermuda grass, making the greens almost perfect and easier to maintain. They added bunkers, reshaped others and cut the rough around the greens, creating run-off areas that allow for more short game creativity.

They returned the course to a par 72 and the fourth and sixteenth holes were played as par fives instead of par fours. The new bunkering added to better visual definition from both the tee and approach shots. The players raved about the improvements and when you walk the course, aesthetically, it’s gorgeous. It is one of those courses that looks so exciting that you just can’t wait to play it!

Secondly, Arnold’s presence is felt everywhere as he lives at Bay Hill and plays the course. He personally rides a cart around during tournament week and visits with players and spectators and can be seen dining there and hanging out. The clubhouse is truly Arnold’s place. It houses some of Arnold’s memorabilia and pictures but it is not ostentatious. The members and guests enjoy quite a friendly, social atmosphere. It’s a cozy place—not stuffy at all as many private clubs tend to be. Arnold still comes around and shakes hands with golfers and will play golf, unexpectantly joining a group, much to the delight of those visiting. He signs autographs, shakes hands with people – converses with the guests. Where else can a golfer go and hang out with a golf legend, the likes of Arnold Palmer? And when you walk around Bay Hill, you don’t get the feeling that it is Arnold’s ‘shrine.’ You do appreciate his presence there and legacy but it is not over done and pretentious.

Tom Kopplin, a former executive with Cooper Tires, has been a member at Bay Hill for 30 years. He has known Arnie for a long time and signed him as a spokesperson for Cooper Tires. They were also a sponsor of the tournament for many years. “Arnold is a better guy in person than even his image,” says Kopplin. “Once you meet him, you soon understand how special he is. He is so gracious. He does so many nice things off the course you never hear about. He makes people feel so special. I’ve got hundreds of stories about Arnie doing something special for someone…Most everyone has a personal story about Arnold, about how he has touched them in a personal way.”

“Arnold loves to sign personal autographs for people. He once told me that his dad taught him to sign autographs for everyone because you never know who you are going to meet…and his Dad taught him if you are going to sign an autograph for someone, sign it so they can read it! Arnold has since taught his grandson Sam the same thing.”

Arnold could teach Tiger a thing or two about embracing his fans, fellow golfers and the media. He has handled so much of his life and career in such a positive way and has surrounded himself with an excellent team, particularly Doc Giffin, his long-time assistant and Bev Norwood, who works with International Management Group and is Arnold’s personal writer.

Good thing I booked a flight, months ago, to Augusta, Georgia on Easter Sunday! I normally travel to Major tournaments on Monday to give myself Monday afternoon and then all of Tuesday and Wednesday to walk the course, talk to the players and prepare for my broadcast coverage of the tournament which starts on Thursday.

Months ago, guessing that Tiger’s first tournament back would be The Masters, I figured it would be hectic and I would need an extra day. So I am glad I booked my flight down to Augusta on Sunday as Tiger decided to conduct his first news conference on Monday, April 5 and the travel plans of hundreds of other accredited media have been quickly revised!

There’s Tiger again, ‘controlling’ the situation. Each year, the players address the media on the Tuesday of Masters week. But Tiger has decided to get it done and over with on Monday. Perhaps then, he can focus just on golf the rest of the week!

Woods has scheduled a 2pm press conference on that Monday and Fred Couples said he and Woods will play a practice round at some point that day.

Couples, the former Masters champ and 15 time PGA tour winner, won his third straight start on the Champions tour this past Sunday. The Champions Tour is for professionals who are 50 years old and-over. Couples shot a course-record 10-under 62! They played at the Jack Nicklaus-designed Punta Espada course in the Cap Cana Championship and Couples won with a two-stroke victory over Corey Pavin.

Couples is playing so well and with so much confidence, maybe he can win another Green Jacket! Wouldn’t that be a great story?! And who better to play a practice round with Tiger than Freddie, who is as cool as a cucumber!

And Freddie is no stranger to controversy in his personal life, going through two divorces. His first former wife, Deborah, committed suicide in 2001. They were married for 12 years and got divorced in 1993. He and his second wife, Thais Baker, also divorced. She died of breast cancer in February of 2009. They were estranged from each other at the time.

In the past Tiger has spoken about how easy it is to play with Freddie. Perhaps Couples will provide some advice to Tiger about the best way to handle his comeback and deal with his own personal turmoil and the distractions.

And speaking of easy, the ‘Big Easy,’ Ernie Els, won the rain delayed Arnold Palmer Invitational at Bay Hill despite letting a five shot lead evaporate to two before play was suspended on Sunday. On Monday, he resumed with four holes to play, sank nerve racking six footers on the 15th and 17th greens and beat Italian Edoardo Molinari and American Kevin Na by two shots.

This is Els’ second straight victory. He won the WGC-CA Championship in Miami by four shots two weeks ago. He has greatly improved his putting and is working with putting guru Marius Filmalter.

Get ready for an intriguing Masters! With Ernie putting so well and Freddie playing like it’s 1992 and with the top golfer in the world back, get ready for a wild and exciting week!

Ann will be reporting all week from The Masters for WFAN Radio and will be blogging on www.wfan.com. For more information on Ann, visit her web site at www.annliguori.com.