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Palmer criticises McIlroy & Donald for absence

Arnold Palmer is not happy Rory McIlroy and Luke Donald are not playing in his tournament this week © Getty Images

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Arnold Palmer is disappointed that Rory McIlroy and Luke Donald have chosen not to play in his tournament this week - suggesting European golfers owe him for their current status within the world game.

Donald and McIlroy currently occupy the top two spots in the world rankings, with the Northern Irishman one of the biggest names in the sport after his breakthrough major victory at last year's US Open.

Neither man will tee it up in Florida this week as they prepare for the Masters at the start of April, however, and Palmer did not conceal his frustration with the snub. Palmer, considered one of the forefathers of modern American golf, has formally hosted the tournament at Bay Hill since 2007.

"I'm disappointed that they are not here, no question about it," Palmer said. "They are the top players on tour right now in the positions that they are in. And I'm disappointed."

McIlroy also opted to skip the event last year in order to prepare for Augusta National, although this time he wrote a letter to Palmer explaining his absence and pledging to play the event more in future. "And of course, that made me feel great," the 82-year-old seven-time major champion joked.

Donald, meanwhile, has rarely played the tournament - with the course at Bay Hill believed to favour big hitters, the Englishman has often preferred to stay away.

Palmer, however, believes both men owe him their attendance - citing his decision to regularly play the Open Championship at the height of his popularity during the 1960s as one of the reasons British and European golf was able to emerge from a post-war slump to move into the position of strength it enjoys today.

"When I think back over the years, I went to the British Open to kind of enhance or to create additional interest in international golf," he said. "And to think that those people are now the top international players in the world, we like to have them here.

"We have a wonderful field and we are very proud of our field, but to have a couple of the top players internationally and U.S. not here, I'm kind of sorry for that."

Palmer appeared willing to give McIlroy the benefit of the doubt, however, with the 22-year-old attempting to arrange a date for the pair to meet and discuss their golfing experiences. McIlroy has previously enjoyed a similar sit-down with Jack Nicklaus, although Palmer is unsure what he can add.

"I had a letter from him ... about coming up and having a talk with me," Palmer said. "I'm not sure that I know exactly what he wants me to tell him or what he wants to hear from me, but I look forward to seeing him and talking to him.

"And of course, as I said, I'm sorry that he isn't here. But he also mentioned in the letter that he will be here to play in the years to come."

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.