New York, NY - (January 31, 2012) - Music fans will converge on Orlando this March to take part in a memorable concert event while supporting the battle against cancer.

The first-ever Music for Champions concert will take place on Monday, March 19, 2012 at Hard Rock Live Orlando. Proceeds from the concert will jointly benefit Arnold Palmer Hospital for Children and T.J. Martell Foundation for Leukemia, Cancer and AIDS Research. The concert will kick off the 2012 Arnold Palmer Invitational Presented by MasterCard.

Music for Champions is a high-profile, festive event that will feature a magical evening of performances. The concert will bring celebrities together with business, medical, music and sports industry executives to raise awareness and funds for innovative cancer research. The evening will also feature a live auction of unique, one-of-a-kind items.

The concert will begin at 7:30 P.M., with doors opening to general ticket holders at 6:30 P.M. Sponsorships are on sale now, with packages beginning at $1,500; individual tickets will start at $50, and will go on sale Friday, February 3 at 10:00 P.M. EST. Concert, ticket, and sponsorship information is available at www.MusicForChampions.com.

For more information, please contact the T.J. Martell Foundation at (646) 841-1394 or visit www.TJMartellFoundation.org.

ABOUT ARNOLD PALMER HOSPITAL FOR CHILDREN
In just over two decades, Arnold Palmer Hospital for Children has risen from a community hospital serving Central Florida to an internationally-known health care institution, now ranked as one of the country's "Best Children's Hospitals" by U.S. News & World Report. Arnold Palmer Hospital partners with MD Anderson Cancer Center Orlando to provide highly focused expertise and individual attention to critically ill children from around the state of Florida. Since 1995, our pediatric oncology and hematology doctors have cared for children diagnosed with a variety of cancer and blood disorders, including leukemia, central nervous system cancers, bone tumors, Hodgkin's Disease, lymphoma, sickle cell disease and hemophilia. Increasingly, our clinicians are joining forces with researchers around the country and here in Orlando to perform research and develop innovative cancer treatments and protocols. Arnold Palmer Hospital for Children is committed to the ongoing process of discovery and innovation and proud to be the newest member of the T.J. Martell Foundation family.

ABOUT THE T.J. MARTELL FOUNDATION
Founded in 1975, the T. J. Martell Foundation is the music industry's largest foundation that funds innovative medical research focused on finding cures for leukemia, cancer and AIDS. The Foundation supports creative early-stage research projects aimed at developing more effective clinical treatments for patients, which otherwise might not be funded.

The Foundation began with a promise music industry executive Tony Martell made to his son, T.J. who was diagnosed with leukemia in 1973. T.J. asked his father to raise a million dollars so no one else would have to experience suffering as he did; his father agreed. Two years later, T.J. died and Tony honored his promise to his beloved son. A fundraising event in T.J.'s memory raised $50,000 towards that promise. With the help of friends in the music industry, Tony Martell founded the T.J. Martell Foundation for Leukemia, Cancer and AIDS research in 1975. Since then, the Foundation has raised over $250 million. In 2012 the Foundation will fund research projects at 11 institutions around the country including Arnold Palmer Hospital for Children.

ABOUT ARNOLD PALMER INVITATIONAL PRESENTED BY MASTERCARD
The Arnold Palmer Invitational Presented by MasterCard will hold its 34th annual tournament March 19-25, 2012. The Arnold Palmer Invitational Presented by MasterCard is one of Central Florida's signature events, a premier sporting event and a highlight of the PGA TOUR, attracting some of the greatest talent in golf. The entire event is overseen and directed by one of the game's all-time greats – Arnold Palmer. Proceeds from the tournament benefit Arnold Palmer Medical Center, including Arnold Palmer Hospital for Children and Winnie Palmer Hospital for Women & Babies.

ABOUT RASCAL FLATTS
Rascal Flatts debuted their last studio album, Nothing Like This, on Big Machine Records in the fall of 2010 at #1 on the Country album sales chart and became one of only four country acts to debut six consecutive studio albums at #1. Since their musical debut in 2000, the band has sold over 20 million albums and 25 million digital downloads and delivered 13 #1 singles to the top of the charts. The band is the most awarded country group of the past decade with over 40 trophies from the American Country Awards, Academy of Country Music Awards, American Music Awards, Country Music Association Awards, People's Choice Awards and more. In 2011, they were the most played country group at country radio.

As part of this multi-year agreement, Moore will exclusively wear Arnie during all competitions, display the logo on his shirts, make appearances on behalf of the company and be featured in its marketing initiatives.

"Mr. Palmer is among my all-time idols as a golfer and a person, so competing in these clothes and being so closely associated with his style legacy is a dream come true," says Moore. "The research that went into each piece is really evident and when you combine those timeless elements with advanced technical fabrics you've got something great."

"When we discussed the guy to become the modern face of Arnie, Ryan was No. 1 on everyone's list," says Geoff Tait, Creative Director for Arnie and Quagmire. "He truly gets our vision and is a dapper guy who's always moving mainstream menswear trends onto the fairways."

Recently ranked one of "The 25 Coolest Athletes of All Time" by GQ, which previously named him one of the "50 Most Stylish Men of the Past 50 Years," Mr. Palmer was also honored as one of "The 75 Best Dressed Men of All Time" by Esquire. The Arnie collection was developed through countless hours researching primary source material - including Mr. Palmer's personal library of photographs and archive of historically significant garments. It is set for three deliveries in 2012, each with a distinct aesthetic:

1950s (February) - During this period, Mr. Palmer showcased slim, clean-fitting clothes. He preferred fitted pants and tops with short plackets, small collars and shorter sleeves. Red was a prominent color in his wardrobe and is exclusively found in the 1950s collection.

1960s (April) - While dominating the competition, Mr. Palmer was also looking the part. Wider legged pants, wider collars and longer shirt plackets were the style of the day. No golfer of the era looked as naturally cool as Mr. Palmer, especially in his staple color of blue, which is exclusively found in the 1960s collection.

1970s (July) - While piloting his own plane around the world, Mr. Palmer's wardrobe continued to evolve and set trends. He chose shirts with slightly wider collars and long plackets, but the fit of his pants more closely resembled a modern boot cut. His color palette also became more subdued, hence grey being the signature color exclusive to the 1970s collection.

For more information: www.arniewear.com, www.facebook.com/ArnieWear or 800.652.9839.

Behind Arnie

Two buddies who met on a golf trip, Geoff Tait and Bobby Pasternak founded Quagmire in 2005 and were named "Canadian Executives of the Year" by ScoreGolf Magazine in 2011. The line - which includes men's, women's and kid's golf and lifestyle clothing - is available at hundreds of pro shops and off-course retailers throughout North America.

Quagmire's management partner is the 32-year-old Jaytex Group, the Canada licensee of famous brands Kenneth Cole Reaction, Tommy Bahama, Original Penguin, Gant, Union Bay and Ben Sherman.

Contact:
David Griffith
Buffalo Communications
703.891.3391
dgriffith@buffalocommunications.com
twitter.com/buffalocomm
www.buffalocommunications.com

"We are extremely proud to partner with Publix this year as a new outlet for our fans to purchase tournament tickets and by doing so raise money for our hospitals." said Tournament Director Scott Wellington.

Tickets available at Publix Super Markets include all Any One Day tickets ($45), Youth Tickets ($15) and Weekly Grounds badges ($100). For each ticket sold at Publix, $2 will go directly to the Alexander Center for Neonatology at Winnie Palmer Hospital for Women and Babies. Additional tickets, such as the week long Bay Hill badge ($300) and the Palmer Pavilion badge ($200) can be purchased online at ArnoldPalmerInvitational.com, by phone at 866-764-4843 or 407-876-7774, or in person at the Ticket Office at Arnold Palmer's Bay Hill Club & Lodge. Visit ArnoldPalmerInvitational.com for additional information on this offer and the 2012 tournament.

About the Arnold Palmer Invitational Presented by MasterCard
The Arnold Palmer Invitational Presented by MasterCard will hold its 34th annual tournament March 19-25, 2012. The Arnold Palmer Invitational Presented by MasterCard is one of Central Florida's signature events, a premier sporting event and a highlight of the PGA TOUR, attracting some of the greatest talent in golf. The entire event is overseen and directed by one of the game's all-time greats – Arnold Palmer. Proceeds from the tournament benefit the Arnold Palmer Medical Center, including Arnold Palmer Hospital for Children and Winnie Palmer Hospital for Women & Babies.

About Arnold Palmer Hospital for Children
Arnold Palmer Hospital for Children, supported by the Arnold Palmer Medical Center Foundation, is a 158-bed facility dedicated exclusively to the needs of children. Located in Orlando, Arnold Palmer Hospital provides expertise in pediatric specialties such as cardiac care, craniomaxillofacial surgery, emergency and trauma care, gastroenterology, nephrology, neurology, oncology, orthopedics, pulmonology and sports medicine. Visit www.arnoldpalmerhospital.com to learn more about all of our specialties.

Publix
Publix is privately owned and operated by its 151,000 employees, with 2010 sales of $25.1 billion. Currently Publix has 1,046 stores in Florida, Georgia, South Carolina, Alabama and Tennessee. The company has been named one of FORTUNE'S "100 Best Companies to Work For in America" for 14 consecutive years. In addition, Publix's dedication to superior quality and customer service is recognized as tops in the grocery business, most recently by an American Customer Satisfaction Index survey. For more information, visit the company's website, www.publix.com.

The Palmer Pavilion ticket is an upgraded Weekly Badge which includes access to tournament grounds, Palmer Pavilion Hospitality venue, and on-site parking when space is available. The Palmer Pavilion tent is an indoor/outdoor venue on the 18th Fairway providing great golf viewing in a comfortable and unique environment that is themed throughout with Arnold Palmer memorabilia. The outside patio faces the fairway and is a perfect spot to have lunch or a drink and enjoy the golf.

"We are pleased to introduce this tremendous opportunity to purchase Palmer Pavilion tickets. The Palmer Pavilion week-long experience will make the perfect gift for the holidays and this is the only time it will be offered at such a significant savings," said Tournament Director Scott Wellington.

Additional ticket options are available. They include Any One Day tickets ($45), Youth Tickets ($15), Bay Hill badges ($300), Weekly Grounds ($100) badges. Also included with every ticket purchased with a MasterCard card is access to the MasterCard Club, an air-conditioned fan enhancement venue located behind the driving range. Tickets can now be purchased online at ArnoldPalmerInvitational.com, by phone at 866-764-4843 or 407-876-7774, or in person at the Ticket Office at Arnold Palmer's Bay Hill Club & Lodge. Visit ArnoldPalmerInvitational.com for additional information on this offer and the 2012 tournament.

About the Arnold Palmer Invitational Presented by MasterCard
The Arnold Palmer Invitational Presented by MasterCard will hold its 34th annual tournament March 19-25, 2012. The Arnold Palmer Invitational Presented by MasterCard is one of Central Florida's signature events, a premier sporting event and a highlight of the PGA TOUR, attracting some of the greatest talent in golf. The entire event is overseen and directed by one of the game's all-time greats - Arnold Palmer. Proceeds from the tournament benefit Arnold Palmer Medical Center, including Arnold Palmer Hospital for Children and Winnie Palmer Hospital for Women & Babies.

About Arnold Palmer Hospital for Children
Arnold Palmer Hospital for Children, supported by the Arnold Palmer Medical Center Foundation, is a 158-bed facility dedicated exclusively to the needs of children. Located in Orlando, Arnold Palmer Hospital provides expertise in pediatric specialties such as cardiac care, craniomaxillofacial surgery, emergency and trauma care, gastroenterology, nephrology, neurology, oncology, orthopedics, pulmonology and sports medicine. Visit www.arnoldpalmerhospital.com to learn more about all of our specialties.

Palmer, 82, was playing a friendly round with Dick Ferris, Bill Damron, Bruce Walters and Will Carey.

The Callaway staff pro icon teed up on the 163-yard hole with a brand new Callaway Razr XF 5-iron, the first time he used that set of clubs.

"Wow, that felt good!" said Palmer.

"It was into a cross-wind from the left. The ball landed 10 feet short and politely rolled up into the hole," Palmer explained. "I enjoyed the new irons very much. It was the first time I used them and I made a hole-in-one, so it was quite a surprise. I'm actually going out to hit some more balls today because I'm excited to play with this new equipment."

The hole-in-one was part of an impressive round of golf. Palmer carded a 79-going out in 40 and coming home in 39-to best his age by three shots, but said the hole-in-one put a dent in his wallet. "It cost me quite a lot of money (at the 19th hole)...and I didn't mind one bit," Palmer quipped.

The golf legend then posed the question, "I wonder how many aces we've all had?"

They have made 50 aces among them.

In a recent review of Bay Hill Club & Lodge, Jason Scott Deegan wrote

"Playing the 27 holes of Bay Hill without a tour card requires an invitation from a member or a stay in its 64-room lodge. The added expense of spending the night is well worth the chance to tee it up at a place so steeped in history. Tennis courts, a health club, a luxury spa and the Arnold Palmer Golf Academy make Bay Hill feel more like a resort getaway than just a private club.

Playing where the pros play is no marketing sham. It's a thrill to tee it up at PGA Tour stops, especially dynamic layouts like Bay Hill. The course features arguably the second-best three-hole finish in Florida (behind the TPC of Sawgrass Stadium course). The chance to run into 'Mr. Palmer' and shake his hand just adds to the allure."

For more information about Bay Hill Club & Lodge, click here.

About OrlandoGolf.com
OrlandoGolf.com, part of GolfChannel's TravelGolf network of sites, offers golfers a complete online guide to the best in Orlando golf. Golfers can book Orlando tee times, plan an Orlando golf vacation, book a room in central Florida's top resorts, learn about the best golf courses in the area, plan a corporate golf outing, and more.

About Golf Channel
Golf Channel is a multimedia, golf entertainment and services company based in Orlando, Fla. The Golf Channel cable network, co-founded by Arnold Palmer and a subsidiary of Comcast Corporation (NASDAQ: CMCSA, CMCSK), is available in more than 120 million homes worldwide through cable, satellite and wireless companies. Exclusive partnerships with the world's top tours allow Golf Channel to feature more live golf coverage than all other networks combined, added to a programming schedule distinguished by golf's best news, instruction and original programming. Golf Channel's digital platform of businesses is led by www.GolfChannel.com, a leading golf destination on the Internet, delivering unmatched coverage of the world of golf, as well as services that help the recreational player with how to play, what to play and where to play golf.

T.J., Tony Martell's son for whom the Foundation is named, was an avid golfer in high school with a single-digit handicap. Before passing away, he considered Arnold Palmer to be one of his greatest heroes. He followed Palmer with great interest and should be considered a member of Arnie's Army, if not in body then surely in spirit.

"For a short time, engrossed in Arnie's book, I had T.J. back with me - excited as the golf loving teenager he was. Being a music company executive I had the opportunity to introduce T.J. to many rock stars, but his idol, throughout all his high school and college years was always Arnie Palmer." said Tony Martell, Chairman & Founder. "Mr. Palmer embodies the spirit, generosity, and hope of my beloved T.J., making November 3rd the high point of all our past Gala honorees."

For nearly a half century, Arnold Palmer's charismatic personality, swashbuckling style of golf and unfailing sense of kindness and thoughtfulness have endeared him to millions throughout the world.

Palmer and his late wife Winnie have supported numerous philanthropic causes, including serving as honorary national chairman of the March of Dimes Birth Defects Foundation for 20 years, nature conservation, cancer prevention and women's and children's health. He has founded the Arnold Palmer Pavilion at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center and the Arnold Palmer Medical Center in Orlando, Florida where the Arnold Palmer Hospital for Children and the Winnie Palmer Hospital for Women and Babies are located, which in just over two decades has risen from a community hospital serving Central Florida to an internationally-known health care institution, now ranked as one of the country's "Best Children's Hospitals" by U.S. News & World Report.

"This is a wonderful honor to receive from an organization that so generously gives to such an admirable cause." said Palmer. "I am so pleased, especially for the relationship our hospital and community hope to establish with the T.J. Martell Foundation."

ORLANDO, Fla. -- Even two years later, the renovation of the Bay Hill Club & Lodge continues to be praised and cherished.

Critics have blasted changes at some other high-profile tournament courses -- notably Dubsdread at Cog Hill Golf & Country Club near Chicago and the West Course at the Wentworth Club in England -- but not Bay Hill.

Members, guests, managers and, most important, the PGA Tour pros who tee it up every March in the Arnold Palmer Invitational, have embraced Palmer's thoughtful work to the bunkers and green complexes. The new grass on the greens, Emerald Bermuda, has been deemed "the right fit" by all. The renovation, which was completed Sept. 10, 2009, gives the King another reason to celebrate his birthday each year.

Bay Hill's tournament-quality greens

With the new grass, members and guests enjoy tournament-quality greens almost year-round. Matt Beaver, Bay Hill's superintendent, said today's greens require less off-season maintenance, reducing the number of annual aerifications from three or four down to two.

Bay Hill General Manager Ray Easler said the greens receive shots better. He also noted their more-subtle slopes are a fairer test of golf.

"It takes a couple years for new greens to take hold, so you can manicure them how you like," he said. "This grass has done a great job the past couple years. We are really pleased with the choice.

It is a strong grass. It takes the heat and maintenance well. It takes over-seeding extremely well, and it comes back. That's all in the plus column."

Rewind to 2010 during the first Arnold Palmer Invitational, where players were immediately smitten with the changes.

Phil Mickelson, normally quite outspoken, said "everything was changed for the better." Mickelson was especially happy the fourth and 16th holes transitioned back into the risk-reward par 5s of the past.

Ernie Els, the 2010 champion who has taken heat for his work as a designer at Wentworth Club, was especially kind, calling the course brilliant.

"The shaping is different," Els said then. "The bigger bunkers, you know, they have the edges that flow through the bunkers. I think it's very well designed. Some of the new green complexes are good. They (create) really tough pin positions. I mean, 11-under won. I know I was 14-under through 67 holes, but, you know, for a par 72, 11-under winning, that's pretty good.

"That's where, as a designer, that's where you want the winning score to be."

Bay Hill Club & Lodge: The verdict

Scott Wellington, the tournament director of the Invitational, admits he was surprised to hear such glowing reviews so early.

Flash-faced bunkers provide definition that may have been lacking. And the newly shaved areas around the greens, at holes 1-6 and 10-18, add a whole new dimension of shot-making that is easier for amateurs but requires more precision and thinking from pros.

Wellington said the revamped version of Bay Hill isn't necessarily tougher, even though the course throws more sand than ever at players. He indicated Palmer isn't looking at other changes, but added, "You never know."

"Mr. Palmer is always looking to do subtle tweaking, but to do anything significant, (I think) the golf course stands up on its own," Wellington said. "To add a tee or lengthen a tee where we have room to do that, I think those are the kinds of things Mr. Palmer looks at year in and year out."

"For over 20 years, the tournament and Arnold Palmer Medical Center have been a big part of Arnold Palmer's legacy here in Central Florida. The impact from the Invitational has helped us grow from Orlando's first community hospital dedicated to pediatrics to one of the nation’s largest medical centers focused on care for children, women and babies." Chad Phillips, Vice President, Arnold Palmer Medical Center Foundation.

Additional ticket options are available during this pre-sale at a 10% discounted price. This includes the Bay Hill ($300), Palmer Pavilion ($200) and Weekly Grounds ($100) badges. Also included with every ticket purchased with a MasterCard card is access to the MasterCard Club, an air-conditioned fan enhancement venue located behind the driving range. Tickets can now be purchased online at ArnoldPalmerInvitational.com, by phone at 866-764-4843 or 407-876-7774, or in person at the Ticket Office at Arnold Palmer's Bay Hill Club & Lodge. Visit ArnoldPalmerInvitational.com for additional information on this offer and the 2012 tournament.

About the Arnold Palmer Invitational Presented by MasterCard
The Arnold Palmer Invitational Presented by MasterCard will hold its 34th annual tournament March 19-25, 2012. The Arnold Palmer Invitational Presented by MasterCard is one of Central Florida's signature events, a premier sporting event and a highlight of the PGA TOUR, attracting some of the greatest talent in golf. The entire event is overseen and directed by one of the game's all-time greats — Arnold Palmer. Proceeds from the tournament benefit Arnold Palmer Medical Center, including Arnold Palmer Hospital for Children and Winnie Palmer Hospital for Women & Babies.

About Arnold Palmer Hospital for Children
Arnold Palmer Hospital for Children, supported by the Arnold Palmer Medical Center Foundation, is a 158-bed facility dedicated exclusively to the needs of children. Located in Orlando, Arnold Palmer Hospital provides expertise in pediatric specialties such as cardiac care, craniomaxillofacial surgery, emergency and trauma care, gastroenterology, nephrology, neurology, oncology, orthopedics, pulmonology and sports medicine. Visit www.arnoldpalmerhospital.com to learn more about all of our specialties.

Golf offering the lengthy competitive window (for many) that it does, a couple of generations of younger PGA Tour pros got the opportunity not only to see Arnold Palmer play, but to play with or against one of the sport's most magnetic figures in a tournament. It's striking, though, that two of the brightest lights in today's landscape, Rory Mcllroy and Rickie Fowler, both 22, weren't born when Palmer won for the last time on the Champions Tour, at the 1988 Crestar Classic. Palmer celebrated his 82nd birthday Saturday, and while this one passed much more quietly than his 80th, which was appropriately feted in 2009, it still offers another occasion to remember Palmer and his relevance to those golfers who have come after him. It is comforting to see players such as Mcllroy and Fowler (above, with Palmer), who are gallery favorites because they don't forget that the fans are there, that the fans make their lives possible, that the fans deserve a smile or a wink, that the fans like to see a golfer enjoying his work. That was something Palmer never forgot. The graciousness that came so naturally to Palmer on the course-and still does, in his life as businessman, tournament host, grandfather, elder statesman-is something any tour pro, man or woman, can aspire to. That was Palmer's present to them all.

The show was taped early in the week of the Arnold Palmer Invitational at Bay Hill last month. It includes a conversation with Gay and his wife Kimberly at their home in Orlando and footage from a rollicking performance by Rascal Flatts at the Palmer Invitational pro-am party.

Rascal Flatts is one of the most celebrated bands in country music, with more than 40 national awards in its 11-year history. Gary LeVox, Jay DeMarcus and Joe Don Rooney debuted their first album on Big Machine Records, Nothing Like This, last November at No. 1 on the country album sales chart and became one of only four country acts to debut six consecutive studio albums at No. 1.

"I've known Joe Don for several years now," said Gay, "and he's almost as excited about golf as he is about his music. We were thrilled when the band agreed to spend the day and evening at Bay Hill and I think they were, too."

Inside the PGA Tour runs twice on Tuesday and five more times Wednesday. Check local listings for times in your area.

Orlando, Fla. - Talk about a reversal of fortunes.

Trailing by three shots with four to play, Martin Laird picked up a pair of birdies and two clutch pars to claim the Arnold Palmer Invitational on Sunday, becoming the first European to win the tournament in its 33-year history.

Laird, who led the field by two strokes heading into the final round, struggled mightily for most of the round, giving up the lead to Steve Marino on the back nine. Laird hit into the water on No. 11 for double bogey and a bogey on No. 14 put him three shots behind.

Laird started to climb back with birdies on Nos. 15 and 16, and made clutch pars on Nos. 17 and 18 to secure his second PGA Tour victory. Meanwhile, an ill-timed double bogey from Marino on No. 17 gave Laird a chance to win the tournament with a par on No. 18.

The Scot followed through with a two-putt from just inside 90 feet to seal the victory.

"That was a hell of a day," Laird said. "That was a tough fight out there. It was a battle out there, but you know, it makes it even sweeter at the end when I got this trophy."

Meanwhile, Marino was left wondering what could have been.

"You just cannot afford to (waste) shots in the final round — really, at any point in the tournament — if you want to win," Marino said. "Unfortunately on 17, that's exactly what I did. It came back to bite me."

Laird's 75 is the worst final-round score by a champion in Bay Hill history. 

Bay Hill was rough on much of the leaderboard, with Rickie Fowler and Bubba Watson both carding 6-over 78, while second-round leader Spencer Levin shot a final-round 76.

No one in the last three groups broke par.

Justin Rose closed with a 68 to tie with David Toms and Marc Leishman for third place.

Tiger Woods, who has won six times at Bay Hill, fired an even-par 72 and finished at 1 under, good for T-24. Phil Mickelson was one of those tied with Woods, after a 1-over 73.

"The back-nine pins, they are all bogey and double-bogey pins — they are not birdie pins," Mickelson said when he finished. "The last eight holes are holes that you have to play 50 feet away if you're playing smart."

Woods, being followed by a large crowd, was bogey-free through 16 holes, but finished bogey-double bogey to slip down the leaderboard.

Woods' focus is now on the Masters, and felt that Bay Hill was a sign of progress.

"(It was a) very good week, and a week I needed to see."

Link for more from golfweek.com: http://www.golfweek.com/news/2011/mar/27/rapid-reaction-lairds-win-bay-hill/

And photos from golfweek.com: http://www.golfweek.com/photos/galleries/2011/mar/26/weekend-arnold-palmer-invitational/

After a 2-under 70 Saturday on the Championship Course at the Bay Hill Club & Lodge, Laird will begin the final round here with a two-shot lead over Californian Spencer Levin, giving him a chance to become the first European winner of this tournament, now in its 33rd year.  Ernie Els, Vijay Singh and Rod Pampling are the only international champions here.

In pursuit are a host of Americans – none of them Tiger Woods, who began the third round in contention but couldn’t get anything going in his bid for his seventh professional victory at Bay Hill.

Levin, the first-round leader, shot 71 for a 207 aggregate total. Bubba Watson and Steve Marino are two more strokes adrift after 68 and 71, respectively, while former PGA champion David Toms and last year’s Rookie of the Year Rickie Fowler, were another shot back at 210. Toms had a 69, Fowler 70.

Fowler and Marino also seek their breakthrough victory on the TOUR. The long-hitting lefty Watson won earlier this year at the Farmer’s Insurance Open.

Laird, who attended Colorado State University and has stayed in America to make it his “home for golf,” won his first TOUR title in 2009 in Las Vegas, but was twice a playoff hard-luck loser last year, the second while trying to repeat at the Justin Timberlake Shriner’s Hospital for Children Open. Jonathan Byrd beat him with an ace.

“I get the question all the time …  you must hate that. But actually looking back, I'd rather lose to that than me hitting a bad tee shot and making bogey or something,” said Laird, who leads the field in total driving this week. “I didn't feel I really made a mistake to lose those tournaments.”

Following a 65 Friday, Laird stretched his lead to as many as four strokes early Saturday thanks to three straight birdies starting at the fourth. He had hiccups in between, and Levin eventually caught him at 10 under. A two-shot swing at the 16th, when Laird birdied from 5 feet and Levin bogeyed, accounted for the gap between the two and gave Laird his third 54-hole lead.

“I said after I won, I believed that I was good enough to win, but I actually really didn't know it. I mean, you really don't know it until you do it,” said Laird, who also owns a Nationwide Tour victory. “It’s tough. Even after I won (in Las Vegas), I've had three or four chances where I've had really good chances to win and not done it. You ask anyone; it's very, very tough to win a golf tournament. Doesn't matter where it is. I know that going into tomorrow.”

Levin, 26, isn’t just bidding for his first win, but also trying to become the first player since Robert Gamez in 1990 to win in his first Bay Hill appearance since. Oh, and also at stake is an invitation to the Masters. “That’s in the back of my mind for sure,” he admitted. “I’m sure it is for everybody who is in my position and needs a win to get there. But that’s cool. That’s a nice problem, a nice thing to be thinking about.”

Marino, who has never missed the cut in his five starts here, fought back into the picture when he holed out from a greenside bunker for birdie on the arduous par-3 17th. He was asked if it might be his time to win.

“I don’t know. When it happens, I’ll tell you,” he replied. “I’m just trying to do the same things I’ve been doing.”

Though the greens dried out Saturday, scoring on the Championship Course was the best of the week with the field averaging 71.863. Three men shared low round of the day at 6-under 66, and they were all out early: Charlie Wi, Kyle Stanley and Marc Leishman. Leishman is in a four-way tie for seventh at 211.

Woods, meanwhile, couldn’t get anything going. He began the day six behind Laird but struggled to a 74 and tumbled to a tie for 29th.

Today’s weather forecast calls for freshening winds, which should make the firm major championship-type setup more demanding.

Fowler, who has made 15 birdies and an eagle this week, couldn’t wait. “The game feels really good right now. I’ve been hitting a lot of good golf shots. Anything can happen once the wind starts blowing.”

On another sun-splashed day at Bay Hill, Mickelson fired a 3-under-par 69, and he will enter today’s final round of the Arnold Palmer Invitational Presented by MasterCard in a tie for 20th place at 2-under 214. The 1997 winner of Palmer’s prestigious invitational, Mickelson carded six birdies against three bogeys on the Championship Course.

Mickelson hit 12 fairways and 14 greens, both highs through three rounds, and needed just 27 putts on the slick Bay Hill greens. He was particularly pleased on Saturday with his tee shot on the par-3 14th that set up a kick-in birdie from 18 inches.

“I hit a 5-iron shot on 14 was the best iron shot I hit all year as far as it flying exactly how I wanted with a slight cut and landing soft, and those are the kind of shots I’m going to need at Augusta,” said the popular left-hander, who spent extra time on the range Friday night after struggling to a second-round 75. He’d struck some better shots coming home, and he wanted to groove the swing for Saturday’s round with Heath Slocum, who fired 68.

“It kind of happened late in yesterday’s round, which is why I hit balls after the round,” Mickelson said. “I don’t normally do that, but I wanted to spend some time on it while I was fresh. It was just a matter of shallowing out the angle of attack and I was able to hit a better fade.

“I need to get better each round,” he added. “I will come out tomorrow and shoot a better round that I did (Saturday). My goal is to progress a little bit more.”

“I hit the ball great, and I’ve hit the ball great all week,” said Saunders, 23, the grandson of the tournament host. “It was actually a pretty easy round; not a lot of drama.”

Well, not a lot of drama if you don’t count the 11th hole, where Saunders hit a 3-wood off the tee and into the right side of the fairway. The ball traveled 278 yards. The clubhead went 60 yards. It seems the epoxy holding the clubhead to the shaft gave out. It ended up near the rope line in the left rough.

Saunders’ round enabled him to rise in the standings. He still has a top-10 finish on his radar. “I’m not getting all I can out of a round. I’ve got to get a few more putts to drop. Need a low one (today),” he said.

ROSE BOUNCING  BACK

England’s Justin Rose led going into the final round of last week’s Transitions Championship, hit the ball as well as he had during second- and third-round 65s, and got nothing out of it as Gary Woodland rallied for his first PGA TOUR win.

Rose, who shot a 2-under 70 Saturday and is tied for 24th at 214, has been fighting through the disappointment this week. “I’ve been mad thinking about it,” said Rose, who has a home in Orlando. “It’s been really hard, because I played very well. Had one of those rounds where there wasn’t instance where I could build some momentum.

“I have a process that I’m trying to stick to, and I’m really battling this week,” he added. “I just hope I’m saving them up for two weeks’ time (at the Masters) is the only positive I can draw.”

TIGER ‘PAYS THE PRICE’

Six-time Bay Hill champion Tiger Woods found himself spinning his wheels Saturday on the course he practically owns, but he was still within striking distance of the leaders until a double-bogey at the par-4 13th hole.

Woods, winless since 2009, knocked his second shot into the water from the middle of the fairway, and after a drop needed three more shots to hole out.

“I made a few mistakes out there,” Woods conceded. “There was a point in the round I had to get more aggressive on 13 and paid the price for it. I figured I needed to shoot 3‑ or 4‑under, and backfired on me a little bit.”