Bay Hill is the venue for this week’s Arnold Palmer Invitational where Tyrrell Hatton is the defending champion and Rory McIlory the 8/1 favourite in the absence of most of the world’s top-10 players because of next week’s Players’ Championship.
Tough, windy conditions meant Hatton won with a closing two-over-par 74 to finish one shot clear of Marc Leishman on four under 12 months ago.
The weather forecast this week looks reasonably benign at this par-72 course where the last five winners have come from outside the United States.
Tournament information
When is the Arnold Palmer Invitational? Thursday-Sunday, March 4-7
What time does the Arnold Palmer Invitational start? 12:00
Where is it being played? Bay Hill, Orlando, Florida
Which channel is the Arnold Palmer Invitational on? Sky Sports
Arnold Palmer Invitational betting tips
[All odds correct at time of publication]
We kick off our Arnold Palmer Invitational betting tips with a player who has missed the cut here in his last two visits, but that hasn’t put us off selecting Louis Oosthuizen at 33/1.
The 2010 Open champion has looked in very good nick lately with his last three tournaments reading 29-11-6, so if he continues to improve like that the likeable South African won’t be far away from the winner’s circle.
Bay Hill is a course which tests the all-round game of competitors, although a hot putter certainly helps round here and that’s one of Oosthuizen’s strengths.
“Should have worn a better outfit … I look like a Christmas tree.” 😂 pic.twitter.com/uexv6cTPR9
— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) March 2, 2021
Francesco Molinari won here two years ago when he ranked third for driving accuracy and while that hasn’t always been a factor in succeeding here, the lengthened and widened fairways resulted in the rough being trimmed to prevent players from using it as a backstop, so the water which is in play on half the holes will require a straight hitter this week.
Oosthuizen has been striking it extremely well off the tee and he ranks high in scrambling compared with the rest of the field, so a maiden win on American soil does not look too far away.
Australians have fared well here, none more so than Leishman who is second in the all-time earnings at Bay Hill behind eight-time champion Tiger Woods, sadly unavailable following a serious car crash.
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Leishman won this event in 2017, was seventh the following year and runner-up 12 months ago when the wind was blowing, and his form looks solid since the start of the year, finishing inside the top 40 in all five tournaments, including fourth at the Sony Open in Hawaii.
Last week’s T39 at The Concession Golf Club was his worst performance of the year, but his putting has been strong and his strokes gained on approach stats are amongst the best in the field, so we’ll take the 40/1 on offer for Leishman to challenge once again.
Im Sung-jae is a player who seems to love it at Bay Hill having finished third in his two appearances in 2019 and last year.
Birdie on 18 to win …
2001 ✔️
2008 ✔️
2009 ✔️@TigerWoods lives for these moments. 🐅 pic.twitter.com/uzmfQI9PCY— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) March 3, 2021
The South Korean also won the Honda Classic last year, so clearly has a liking for Florida where he has gained strokes in 22 of his 27 rounds at an average of +1.91 per round, the most of any player in the last six years.
Im has finished in the top 30 in four of his six events in 2021, which gives us cause for optimism even though his odds of 20/1 look a bit on the skinny side.
Emiliano Grillo and Luke List wrap up our Arnold Invitational betting tips at 100/1.
NEW POD: As this year’s @APinv host, Arnold Palmer’s grandson Sam Saunders will do so with a broken leg and a crutch due to his January skiing accident in Colorado.
But he’s upbeat and shares a lot of fun stories about Arnie in the full pod.
Apple:https://t.co/DzwZJs2Vm6#API pic.twitter.com/6HTEQo26qK
— Garrett Johnston (@JohnstonGarrett) March 3, 2021
Grillo’s ball-striking is exemplary and he ranks fifth for greens in regulation, so if he can get the putter working then the Argentinian, disqualified last year after signing an incorrect card after the second round, stands a chance of adding to his previous efforts of 17-7-26.
We thought we’d better have one American in our field and List certainly stands out at a triple-figure price having finished 17-7-10 in his only three appearances at Bay Hill.
List missed the cut at Riviera in his last outing, but was in the top 30 in his three previous tournaments at PGA West, Torrey Pines and Scottsdale, which included a top-10 at the Phoenix Open.
Groupings and starting times for the first and second rounds of the Arnold Palmer Invitational presented by Mastercard@PGATOUR | @APinv pic.twitter.com/BeLZChOqEt
— PGA TOUR Communications (@PGATOURComms) March 2, 2021
The 36-year-old from Seattle hits enough greens to make him competitive and he is solid off the tee, but his putting has proved to be an Achilles heel.
Hopefully, the good memories of his previous appearances at Arnie’s place will fire up the flat stick and help produce another excellent week.
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