Round 4, Arnold Palmer Invitational

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Mar. 29, 2009
By PGATOUR.COM staff

ON THE RANGE (12:25 p.m.): The range at the Bay Hill Lodge and Club has been opened so players can begin warming up for the final round of the Bay Hill Invitational. The first groups are set to tee of Nos. 1 and 10 at 12:43 p.m. ET with Sean O'Hair, Tiger Woods and Zach Johnson set to tee off at 2:49 p.m.

One other interesting note -- the final round will NOT be contested under lift, clean and place rules. The pros will be playing the ball down. -- Helen Ross

UPDATE (11:40 a.m.): The start of the final round at Bay Hill has just moved into its third delay this morning, making it 1 hour, 50 minutes now. The last threesome of Sean O'Hair, Tiger Woods and Zach Johnson are now expected to tee off at 2:49 p.m.

WEATHER ALERT (11:30 a.m.): The start of the final round now has been delayed twice -- for a total of 90 minutes -- due to the triple threat of rain, thunder and lightning in the area.

The storms arrived later than forecasters anticipated and are hanging around longer, as a result. Barring any more delays the first threesomes on Nos. 1 and 10 will now tee off at 12:23 p.m. while the leaders -- Sean O'Hair, Tiger Woods and Zach Johnson -- have a 2:35 p.m. date.

Some of the heaviest rain of the day arrived just before 11 a.m., which would have corresponded with the original 10:53 a.m. kickoff. This would be the time to get out those brightly colored umbrellas that are part of the logo for the Arnold Palmer Invitational presented by MasterCard. -- Helen Ross

The first groups are ready to tee off in today's final round of the Arnold Palmer Invitational presented by MasterCard. Here's how it sets up:

Groups We're Watching

Tee time	Players
12:21 pm ET No. 1		Daniel Chopra, Padraig Harrington, Lee Janzen Harrington's bid for a third straight major crown is just over the horizon. Is his game ready for mighty Augusta?
12:54 pm ET No. 1		Ryuji Imada, Jason Gore, Brandt Snedeker After a tough start to 2009, Snedeker is starting to heat up. Can he follow up his Saturday 67 with another strong round?
1:05 pm ET No. 1		Sean O'Hair, Tiger Woods, Zach Johnson Can Woods make up a five-shot deficit? Can O'Hair put away the world No. 1? The answer's blowin' in the wind.

EXPERT PREVIEW: PGA TOUR Network on-site correspondent Mark Carnevale previews Sunday's final round:

Sunday's forecast

Partly Cloudy
Temp: 75 high/55 low
The morning is likely to see scattered storms, but they should pass through by the early afternoon. The winds will whip in out of the west-southwest at 15-25 mph.

What a tough day for the players on Saturday. Only four players broke par, and only five remain under par for the tournament. With rains overnight, the Bay Hill Club and Lodge course could soften up today, allowing for some good rounds. Unlike most final rounds, all the players will be on the course at the same time, not giving an advantage to anyone. It could get very interesting to say the least.

Kudos to the play of Sean O'Hair. Even though he posted a 1-over-par 71 Saturday, he maintained his five-shot lead. Sean was tied with Tiger Woods going into the final round a year ago and ended up finishing three shots behind the victorious Woods.

With a five-shot lead, I would expect Sean to continue his good play, and not give it to anyone. Someone is going to have to come and get it from him. Certainly with Tiger in the final group, there will be pressure, but I think Sean will handle it well.

Ultimately, the golf course has been the winner this week. The organizers and the King himself have to be very pleased. It has been tough, but entertaining golf. To me, that is the epitome of a successful event. I know there are talk of some changes but, Mr. Palmer, if you are listening to a lowly radio announcer, don't do to much to an event that I think is close to perfection.

Stat of the day

Only four players broke par Saturday, but Brandt Snedeker fired a 3-under 67 to move from a tie for 48th to a tie for sixth. The 67 matched his season-best score, and his round was also the days only bogey-free round.

NOTEWORTHY NUGGETS:
• Sean O'Hair has held the third-round lead/co-lead three other times in his PGA TOUR career, including right here last year (he finished tied for third). He also led in 2007 at THE PLAYERS Championship (finished 11th) and at the 2005 EDS Byron Nelson Championship (finished second).

• O'Hair is one of seven United States natives under the age of 30 with multiple PGA TOUR victories (J.B. Holmes, D.J. Trahan, Anthony Kim, Nick Watney, Charles Howell III and Dustin Johnson are the others). With a victory on Sunday, he would be the first in this group with three victories.

• The tournament record for largest 54-hole lead is six strokes, which is held by Mike Nicolette (1983) and Fred Couples (1992). Nicolette ended up winning a playoff with Greg Norman.

• The scoring average at Bay Hill soared in the difficult conditions on Saturday. The average on Thursday was 72.118, and 72.068 on Friday. On Saturday, it was 73.459, giving the tournament a cumulative average of 72.418 through 54 holes.

Thus far at Bay Hill

Round	Leader	Low round (par 70)	Key links
	Jason Gore (-5)	65: Jason Gore	Daily Wrap-Up \| Live Report Helen Ross column \| Notebook
	Sean O'Hair (-8)	65: Sean O'Hair, Robert Allenby	Daily Wrap-Up \| Live Report Helen Ross column \| Notebook
	Sean O'Hair (-7)	67: Brandt Snedeker	Daily Wrap-Up \| Live Report Helen Ross column \| Notebook

The Film Room

	PGA TOUR Today Win McMurry updates action from the third round of the 2009 Arnold Palmer Invitational presented by MasterCard and previews what to watch for in the final round. Watch it
	Shot of the day Tiger Woods saves bogey on the 18th hole at Bay Hill with this clutch 25-foot putt. Watch it
	Tiger in the hunt Tiger Woods' third-round 71 was enough to get him in the final group for Sunday. Mark Carnevale from the PGA TOUR Network on SIRIUS XM Radio had the call, and spoke with Woods afterward. Watch it