Last week: Shane Lowry broke our hearts and our wallets as we had him for the win at +1600 at the Cognizant. However we made up for that with Brooks Koepka placing in the top 10 at +450.
This Week: The King is looking down on this week’s Arnold Palmer Invitational, another signature event and the first for the big boys on the East Coast. The course is familiar to most with some lengthy holes and greens that are reportedly pretty firm at the moment. The course ranked as the 10th most difficult on the PGA Tour last year.
To win
Rory McIlroy +1000
McIlroy has had a great run at Bay Hill with six top 10s, including a win, in his last nine starts here. And he leads the SG: Tee To Green category albeit with just the eight rounds so far.
Tommy Fleetwood +2000
One of the key stats in the past at this event according to Golfstats.com is Strokes Gained: Tee to Green. Right now, Fleetwood sits fourth in that category. He has just two starts on the PGA Tour this season but both are top 10s.
Top 10
Corey Conners +550
This is a nice number for the Canadian who finished third here a year ago. While his results so far this year haven’t been great, he has never loved playing on the West Coast so this is the time of year when he should start to shine.
Collin Morikawa +220
Finally broke the winless streak at Pebble Beach so that should overload him with confidence. Has two top-10s here including last year’s runner-up finish.
Top 20
Russel Henley +115
Three top-20s this year before a missed cut in his last start at the Genesis. He comes in as the defending champion and appears confident he can get in the hunt for another cardigan
Matt Fitzpatrick +200
He hits it long enough and straight enough that this should be a great layout for the Englishman. Five top-20 finishes in his last seven starts at Bay Hill.
Other Plays
Top Canadian
Corey Conners +130
See above
Number of Birdies or Better Rd 1 – Justin Thomas
3.5 – we’ll take the over at +100 as JT returns to the PGA Tour
