It’s Wine & Dine on 9 day as Morgan Hoffman extends lead on Day 2 at Arnold Palmer Invitational
Friday at the Arnold Palmer Invitational is always a day that the locals look forward to as it’s their opportunity to take in some great golf and to eat like a king. Some of the top restaurants in Orlando visit the tournament to serve up a gourmet experience alongside the ninth fairway.
Popular restaurants such as Dragonfly, Morton’s, Vines, Anthony’s, Emeril’s Tchoup Chop, Maggiano’s, Cuba Libre, The Palm, Roy’s, Dexter’s, Spencer’s, Rocco’s, Bravo Brio, Stefano’s and Blue Zoo provide exquisite appetizers with fine wine samples provided by Beringer Napa Valley.
It’s a terrific occasion and one matched by some great golf on the King of golf’s course. Day two ended with Morgan Hoffman charging away from the field with a remarkable round of 65 with nine birdies to back up his opening day 66.
Low scores piled up like tourists waiting to get on rides at Magic Kingdom as defending champion Matt Every shot 32 on the back nine to get to 10 under par, three behind Hoffmann at 131, 13 under par. Danny Lee fired 64 and tied for fourth with world number one, Rory McIlroy, who birdied five holes in a row on the front side, his second nine.
So far this week scores have been low due to the soft, receptive greens at the Bay Hill course. Unlike previous years, the weather has been hot and humid and the players have enjoyed the fact that the strong Florida breezes have stayed away for now.
“It’s nice to hit some greens for a change,” said Hoffmann, who admitted he wasn’t even thinking about winning this tournament yet. “This year hasn’t been all that great, and it’s a good change. I’m just trying to birdie every hole out there.”
Leaderboard – Close of Day 2
1. Morgan Hoffman -13
T2. Henrik Stenson -10
T2. Matt Every -10
T2. Harris English -10
5. Ben Martin -9
T6. Rory McIlroy -8
T6. Danny Lee -8
T6. David Lingmerth -8
