Would you rather be stuck on a plane full of families heading to Disney World or a plane full of bachelor and bachelorette parties heading to Las Vegas?

A week for the sickos

Although the Happiest Place on Earth is just down the road, this weekend’s PGA Tour event may not be all that joyful for most players. That’s Bay Hill for you! Four of the top 10 and 10 of the top 25 players in the world are in attendance at the Arnold Palmer Invitational.

The API was once defined by Tiger Woods’s dramatics, but in recent editions of the tournament, the course—or more precisely, the course setup—has been the star. Over the past few years, Bay Hill’s thick rough and firm conditions have provided a serious examination of the top players’ skills. While it’s not our favorite type of golf, there’s no doubt it’s tough and, on occasion, must-see television.

So if you’re tired of benign PGA Tour venues, or you just enjoy seeing the pros suffer, this weekend is for you.

Shelved again

Bryson DeChambeau will not defend his title at the Arnold Palmer Invitational this weekend. On Monday, DeChambeau released a video announcing his withdrawal from the tournament. His last start came at the Saudi International in early February.

No matter how many updates he gives or how many “false reports” he tries to discredit, Bryson won’t be able to dispel the perception that he has a very serious wrist injury. He was seen grimacing at the Farmers Insurance Open, and he withdrew from the Saudi International after one round. He also claims to have fallen and hurt his hip in Saudi Arabia. Let’s hope he gets healthy soon; we’d prefer to watch him playing golf than making awkward explanations for his absence.

The Latest from The Fried Egg

TFE Events: The Cheesesteak – Registrations are open for The Cheesesteak at Huntingdon Valley on August 8! A brilliant William Flynn design north of Philadelphia, Huntingdon Valley is a place that every golfer will enjoy.

Slow Down, You’re Moving Too Fast – Green speeds at many golf courses have gotten too fast. Andy Johnson discusses why that hurts the game.

Paulie’s Picks: Arnold Palmer Invitational – It’s tough to pick winners at Bay Hill, but Paulie makes it a bit easier.

The Fried Egg Podcast, Superintendent Series: Joshua C.F. Smith – Joshua C.F. Smith, superintendent at Orinda Country Club and co-founder of FlagBag Golf Co., joins Andy to tell stories about his wide-ranging career in golf. Listen on iTunes and Spotify.

The Shotgun Start – What’s ailing the Thicc Boi? Who are these guys in the Puerto Rico Open? These important questions and more are discussed on this Wednesday episode. Listen on iTunes and Spotify.

Tee Times

The defending champion is unable to attend, but the Arnold Palmer Invitational field is still stacked with the likes of Jon Rahm, Viktor Hovland, and Rory McIlroy.

The LPGA Tour is back in action at the HSBC Women’s World Championship in Singapore, with Jin Young Ko, Lydia Ko, Inbee Park, and Danielle Kang headlining the field.

You’ll recognize a decent number of names at this weekend’s Puerto Rico Open, but we promise there will be more than a few you’ve never heard.

The Magical Kenya Open, which obviously has one of the best tournament names in golf, gets underway on Thursday on the DP World Tour.

Quick Hooks

2023 U.S. Ryder Cup Captain Zach Johnson announced that he will keep the current qualifying system in place. The top six point-getters will automatically qualify, leaving Johnson with six captain’s picks.

The final round of the Darius Rucker Intercollegiate, a women’s event at Long Cove Club on Hilton Head Island, will be televised on Golf Channel today at 2:30 p.m. ET.

Vanderbilt’s Cole Sherwood fired a blistering final-round 61 to win the Cabo Collegiate Invitational.

Patrick Cantlay and Mark Flaherty won the gross division of the Seminole Pro-Member while Jessica Korda and Mike Troy took home the the net title.