ORLANDO, Florida – Before starting Sunday’s final round at Bay Hill, Bryson DeChambeau received a message from a certain Arnold Palmer Invitational champion eight times.
Yes, Tiger Woods, who is still recovering from serious injuries sustained in a car accident less than two weeks ago in Los Angeles, sent DeChambeau some words of encouragement.
“Out of nowhere and I didn’t expect anything,” said DeChambeau. “When I got the message, I thought, ‘Wow, it’s amazing that he thinks of me when he’s going through difficult times.'”
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During the exchange, Woods apparently told DeChambeau to “keep fighting” and “play as boldly as Mr. Palmer”.
“One of the things we talked about was, it’s not about how many times you’re kicked to the curb or knocked over, it’s about how many times you can get up and move on,” said DeChambeau, who just did a bogey on a brutally difficult Sunday, he shot 71 and beat Lee Westwood by one shot. “And I think this red cardigan is not just for Mr. Palmer, but I would say it’s a little bit for Tiger too, knowing where he is now.”
DeChambeau also returned the best wishes: “I said, ‘Keep going, keep going. You will get through this. You are the most hardworking person I have ever met and you will persevere in that. “