Players Still Getting in Trouble for Missing Arnold Palmer Invitational

A couple weeks ago I touched on the fact that Tour pro's are still getting the business for choosing to pass on their invitations to the Arnold Palmer Invitational at Bay Hill. I'm still never going to understand this. Yes, I get it, Arnie is largely responsible for the golf business beginning its modern evolution, but for the love of god, everyone needs to relax about this. I mean, this literally comes up EVERY YEAR from someone getting up in arms over the list of absences. Tour pro's are essentially self-employed independent contractors of professional golf. This means they have full rights to set their schedules (as far as they're qualified) as they see fit. Does anyone really think Arnold Palmer would not understand some of these guys putting their family, health, or professional success ahead of one tournament? I'm guessing no. Golfworld published an interesting article here with some interesting insight as well as comments from Ernie Els.

Despite the accolades that rolled in following his death, many looked at this year's Arnold Palmer Invitational as the tour's unofficial tribute to the King. But with the entry deadline days away, only 10 of the world's top 25 players are scheduled to compete. Among those not playing are Dustin Johnson, Jordan Spieth, Phil Mickelson, Adam Scott, and Justin Thomas (although Thomas said he cannot attend due to a friend's wedding). As former FedEx Cup champ Billy Horschel summed up, it's a disappointment showing, and one that's called the tournament's long-term viability into question. However, as Ernie Els pointed out to the Golf Channel at the Valspar Championship, blame the tour schedule, not the players, for the API no-shows. ‰ÛÏThe purse is up, but then the tour has put in a World Golf Championship event last week, and guys need to rest,‰Û Els told Will Gray at Innisbrook. ‰ÛÏThen there‰Ûªs a WGC event after API, and then two weeks later you‰Ûªve got the Masters. So all of a sudden, you‰Ûªve got all these big events, and if they don‰Ûªt play the world events then all hell breaks loose." To Els, a simple move in the schedule could adjust this issue, which isn't out of the question: the API was played in February for 16 years and made a March appearance in 2015. "We all absolutely respect what Mr. Palmer did, but I get the guys that just can‰Ûªt play that week,‰Û Els continued. ‰ÛÏYou‰Ûªve got certain priorities that you have to try to meet, and some of the guys just can‰Ûªt do that. So you‰Ûªve got to take that for what it is. It‰Ûªs no disrespect to Mr. Palmer."