PGATOUR.coms Rob Bolton recaps and previews every tournament from numerous perspectives. A string of solid performances at the Corales Puntacana that read 14th (2020), 22nd (2021) and runner-up last year, and a top-12 (2021) at the Bermuda Championship are signs that Smalley has a liking to these tropical locations. Its clear the Englishman loves the firm conditions and high winds that are often present in Orlando. In fact, a field has beaten par in a round just twice since PGA National assumed its role as the host in 2007. Payne Stewart in 1987 was the only player to go 20-under when he won by three. On a track that can reach 7,506 yards and with primary rough at a standard two inches in height, shorter hitters are influenced to just play their game, but like all proper tests, Grand Reserve rewards all archetypes. He joins Luke List (Farmers Insurance Open) and Tom Hoge (AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am) as new champions. 8. Sure, its been 10 years since Woods last won at Bay Hill, but he collected eight victories here across 14 editions, including the last two of three consecutive when the course routed as a par 70 through 2009. So, course management and accepting par as a great score at times will be key. Xander Schauffele : Schauffele has been a bit lost since he tied the lead in Phoenix on Saturday, as he dropped to 10th there on Sunday and had a strange week at Riviera. MONDAY: Power Rankings TUESDAY*: Sleepers WEDNESDAY: Golfbet Insider SUNDAY: Payouts and Points, Medical Extensions, Qualifiers, Reshuffle * - Rob is a member of the panel for PGATOUR.COM's. PGA TOUR, PGA TOUR Champions, and the Swinging Golfer design are registered trademarks. Yeah, you might want to move those next year. @StewartCink is already rocking a @KDTrey5 jersey pic.twitter.com/FQLxm4tuo8. All of them are reachable for longer players and allow eagle chances throughout the round. Some of the top golfers on the PGA Tour have kick-started their careers with wins in Puerto Rico, including Tony Finau in 2016 and Viktor Hovland in 2019. The greens tend to not be too difficult to roll putts in on, especially for guys based in the Southeast U.S. used to Bermuda. You can bet on the Arnold Palmer Invitational at DraftKings Sportsbook. The Spanish player is about to begin his 38th week ranked No. In addition to the aforementioned rewards, clutching the silver trophy and slipping on the iconic red sweater, the winner will be exempt into THE PLAYERS Championship through 2025 and his PGA TOUR membership will be extended through at least 2026. Tyrrell Hatton : With some solid form building and a trip back to Florida, Hatton has to be in good spirits going to Bay Hill. It was during the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am three weeks ago when the expectation surfaced that top 10s at Pebble wouldnt pay forward for entry into the WM Phoenix Open. He was 3-under after 36 holes and trailed by 9 shots. An entertaining run on the west coast headlined the PGA Tour during the January and February months, but now the golfers have headed east with the Masters on the horizon in early April. Previous rank: 18 He tied for 11th at the Farmers Insurance Open and tied for sixth in Phoenix. Spieth followed up his near-miss at Pebble Beach with a rather ordinary start at TPC Scottsdale, a tie for 60th at even par. 1 in the Official World Golf Ranking. It had chased a couple of grumbles on the Korn Ferry Tour just before that. Kevin Yu and Joseph Bramlett both finished T7 at Pebble and didnt get into the WM as predicted, but only Bramlett is committed to the Honda (as of Monday). Ultimately, his top-10 exemption wasnt necessary, anyway, as the entire. By Friday, thatll be the sustained average for the prevailing push from the southwest, while gusts will reach 35 mph. * - Rob is a member of the panel for PGATOUR.COMs Expert Picks for PGA TOUR Fantasy Golf, which also publishes on Tuesday. Finished 3rd and 11th here last two years. *: Power Rankings (Puerto Rico), Sleepers (API), Payouts and Points (API), Payouts and Points (Puerto Rico), Medical Extensions, Qualifiers, Reshuffle, Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information. When looking at players who can perform at difficult courses, Zalatoris name has to be in the conversation. Previous rank: 12 His fortune turned late in the year when a solo third at the Acciona Open de Espana Presented by Madrid sparked a run of eight straight top-13s. He had three victories in his previous eight worldwide starts. Brutally difficult conditions led to Scottie Scheffler persevering to win at 5-under last year. Ranks 7th in SG: OTT and 7th in SG: APP. He was just four off the winning pace on a crowded, talented leaderboard. His best finish in three starts this year was a tie for 13th at the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am. The PGA TOUR heads to Detroit this week for the fourth edition of the Rocket Mortgage Classic. Lets get down to the top 10 players to get it done at PGA National: Min Woo Lee, 150th Open Championship, St. Andrews, Mandatory Credit: Rob Schumacher-USA TODAY Sports. Unlike, PGA National last week, Bay Hill isnt a complete second-shot course. Those rarities occurred in the third round (69.85) in 2014 and the second round (69.61) in 2017. Previous rank: 5 PGA TOUR, PGA TOUR Champions, and the Swinging Golfer design are registered trademarks. Bet with your head, not over it. "High praise from Michael Greller on @JordanSpieth's ridiculous shot on 17 @WMPhoenixOpen. The four par 3s, including the two that bracket The Bear Trap Nos. Morikawa showed a lot of backbone by finishing third at the Farmers Insurance Open, his first start after blowing a 6-shot lead in the final round of the Tournament of Champions. Weve seen high winds at Bay Hill in the past, and the course plays outrageously hard when thats the case. Previous rank: 10 Harry Hall Until he showcases his talent outside of Las Vegas, hell remain typecast as a no-brainer to give it a proper run at the Shriners. As always, Ill prefer distance, but you can get around here in a variety of ways. Zalatoris was sidelined due to injury for the latter part of 2022, but he placed in a tie for fourth last month at Riviera, and that clearly shows he is back in business. The Norwegian went into Phoenix as one of the hottest golfers on the planet, having won in three of his past five starts on the PGA Tour and DP World Tour. 17 took a bad bounce and went into the water, resulting in a bogey. Michael Kim Hes a living, breathing example of the power of the additional event. He was sixth on the DP World Tour last year in driving distance (322.07). Previous rank: 9 That elevated status brings a purse of $20 million. Cantlay has six straight top-10s dating to his back-to-back victories in the FedEx Cup playoffs at the end of last season. He has 10 top-10s in 14 starts there, including a victory in 2020. Both made their way into the PGA Tour Power Rankings, which had quite a few adjustments from a week ago. Jon Rahm, Scottie Scheffler and Xander Schauffele are among them, and Scheffler comes in as the defending champion. With a win, each also would qualify for the 2024 editions of the API. RECORDS: A player's won-lost-tied record, based on head-to-head competition, in each category. Burns ranks 16th in strokes gained per round putting (.723) and is 16th in driving distance (312.0). FREE Picks Contest For the Arnold Palmer Invitational: Win An Amazon Gift Card Instantly! In 2022, Lee struggled early on with one top-10 in his first 20 starts. Bay Hill plays as a 7,400-yard par 72 featuring Bermuda greens and much thicker rough than weve seen all year and usually see around Florida. The Los Angeles native hasn't finished better than 26th in two starts at the Genesis Invitational. Schauffele made more than 89 feet of putts -- on the first five holes Sunday. Jason Sobel Updated: May 18, 2022, 11:21 AM EDT Download App Click arrow to expand 2022 PGA Championship odds via BetMGM Bet the PGA Championship risk-free up to $1,000. During a 12-hole stretch in the second round, Im needed only 14 putts. Will Zalatoris : It was good to see him play well at Riviera with a 4th place finish and nearly 8 strokes gained with his ball striking. Will Zalatoris Get Up to $1,000 Paid Back in Bonus Bets1 //logo version 1.0.3 - Jun 2022 BetMGM .cls-BMGM-base-1a-svg-logo-1 { fill: #000001; } .cls-BMGM-base-1a-svg-logo-2 { fill: #beaa79; } Visit BETMGM SportsbookUp To $1,000In Bonus BetsBETMGM Sportsbook Review$1,000 Paid Back in Bonus BetsFree Live Streaming - Watch Live GamesUse Bonus Code: PLAYBONUSPLAY NOW. Sam Burns, Arnold Palmer Invitational, Mandatory Credit: Reinhold Matay-USA TODAY Sports. When asked about being ranked No. Hes also 18th in scrambling (67.86%) and seventh in successfully going for the green (64.81%). Still, the last two winners of Scottie Scheffler and Bryson DeChambeau make it clear that elite drivers win around here. Cameron Smith 18. Corey Conners : Conners will be happy hes off the West Coast considering his usual struggles there. Previous rank: 20 Has only one start at Bay Hill. The 24-year-old has two-career DP World Tour wins at the 2020 ISPS Handa Vic Open and the 2021 abrdn Scottish Open. It was his ninth consecutive top-10 finish worldwide; he was in the top five in seven of his past nine events. 12. He's coming. Even with a playoff loss Sunday, one can argue that the reigning PGA Tour Player of the Year is playing better than anyone right now -- even world No. Tom Kim : Going through his first mini-slump here since getting his PGA Tour card, but theres not too much to be concerned about. How Arnold Palmers Bay Hill Club & Lodge will present itself, what Mother Nature has planned and more can be found below. Morikawa missed the cut at the WM Phoenix Open, his first missed weekend since the 150th Open Championship at St. Andrews in July. All five dozen bunkers on the property also are equipped with new drainage and sand. He finished T16. All four Par 3s, all four Par 5s and a few Par 4s will likely require a long iron this week at Bay Hill. Schauffele called on his former Long Beach State teammate, Kevin "Tech" Techakanokboon, to carry his bag this weekend. *All stats are from a players last 24 rounds. Stream on ESPN+. Previous rank: 22 1, a loaded LPGA field and more to watch in golf this week, Here's everything you missed this week in professional golf, Jin Young Ko up by 2 in Singapore title defense, Quigley fires 65 for early lead in PGA Champions, Kitayama handles windy Bay Hill as Rahm falters, Tiger not part of field for next week's Players, Young stretches lead to 4 in Puerto Rico Open, Rahm stays hot, finishes strong for Bay Hill lead, Rookie Young captures Puerto Rico lead with 63. Putting can give you some real success at Bay Hill. It was the largest 36-hole comeback at the WM Phoenix Open since it moved to TPC Scottsdale in 1987, according to ESPN Stats & Information research. Rickie Fowler. Previous rank: 15 4. Theegala is the first player this season to hold at least a share of two 54-hole leads. But this trip to Florida will be an interesting challenge for him, as just two of his 22 Top 10s have come here. Itd be dumb to ignore him at a course that requires elite driving, and he gained 4.6 OTT here in a 13th last year. One of those was at Bay Hill in 2021, and hes been solid here in three starts. Young, the 2022 PGA Tour Rookie of the Year, had quite the week. Scheffler is atop the OWGR for the second time in his career, after spending 30 weeks at No. Also recorded a T11 at Pebble Beach four weeks ago. He tied for third at the American Express and 13th at the Farmers Insurance Open, followed by a tie for 10th at the Phoenix Open. The driver has been very consistent lately, so hell just need a colder than usual putter to get rolling. While hes been a menace at events like the Valspar Championship and Sanderson Farms Championship, the Arnold Palmer Invitational is one hed like to pick off next. 11. 1, a loaded LPGA field and more to watch in golf this week Of course, he remains indefinitely beholden to when his extended recovery will allow him to play in accordance with a chosen schedule. He finished 10th in the Genesis Invitational last season, after claiming his second PGA Tour win in the event in 2021. It guarantees that someone else will be holding the trophy. Bay Hill has been a stock par 72 since 2010. Scheffler, who entered the week ranked No. 6. Ranks 3rd in Proximity: 200+ Yards and 5th in the model. PGA TOUR Rob Bolton's fantasy golf preview for the 2023 Arnold Palmer Invitational ROB BOLTON'S SCHEDULE PGATOUR.com's Rob Bolton recaps and previews every tournament from numerous perspectives.. While golf may not have money lines, you can check out your wide variety of options while locking in our Arnold Palmer Invitational predictions. Follow your favorite players throughout the 2023 season. Free Kentucky Derby Contest! Too bad we didn't get to see Rickie Fowler in action this past week at the Northern Trust Open. Highest-Owned Golfers. Daytime temperatures will eclipse 80 degrees and the threat for rain is relegated to a passing shower at worst. Previous rank: 19 Its in a tough spot on the schedule with back-to-back designated events coming right before and another one to immediately follow at next weeks Arnold Palmer Invitational. 5. He was unable to earn his card through Korn Ferry Tour Finals last year, but he can redeem himself by going low at PGA National. Bay Hill has been a stock par 72 since 2010. Previous rank: 21 Just because you know what to do doesnt make it an easy task. Bay Hill gives players more approaches from 200 or more yards than any other course on Tour. He tied for 32nd at the Genesis in 2021. It's difficult to believe that it has been 456 days since DJ last won a PGA Tour event -- the 2020 Masters that was played in November. Viktor Hovland The strongest that the invisible force will get is approximately 20 mph, but the positive spin, as it were, is that it'll be consistent throughout the tournament. The 28-year-old seeks his first win since the 2022 Charles Schwab Challenge, his third win in the 2021-22 season. He carded a 7-under 64 in the third round of the WM Phoenix Open, his 15th such round of 64 or better since 2021. 3 will tee it up at a place hes won at and has finished worse than 13th just once in eight tries. 1 last season, following his victory at the WGC Dell Technologies Match Play. Hell bank 300 FedExCup points and $684,000 of a record prize fund of $3.8 million. Get ESPN+ here | Download the app | WatchESPN. Just a friendly reminder that these aren't necessarily the 25 most talented players in . PGATOUR.coms Rob Bolton recaps and previews every tournament from numerous perspectives. Bermuda grass is in play as is the case throughout much of the Sunshine State. He's as hot as they come entering the Honda Classic, having won in Abu Dhabi a month ago (for a European Tour event) then finishing as the runner-up in Phoenix earlier this month. Bet Now TULSA, Okla. Day climbed from No. 17. "These are the days that we were dreaming about." Details of the variables of the week are below. HOLE-IN-ONE for @RickieFowler from 216 yards! J.T. You may call them opposite events, but to the 120 in pursuit of a boatload of benefits, Puerto Rico is the island of opportunity. TUESDAY*: Power Rankings (Puerto Rico), Sleepers (API), SUNDAY: Payouts and Points (API), Payouts and Points (Puerto Rico), Medical Extensions, Qualifiers, Reshuffle. Previous rank: 14 1, LIV Golf's debut on The CW scores low ratings, How to watch PGA Tour's Arnold Palmer Invitational on ESPN+, Kirk wins Honda in playoff; 1st title since 2015, Howell (63) wins in Mexico for 1st title in LIV, Nicklaus: '24 schedule likely to aid Honda field, Siem ends 8-year wait for another Euro Tour title, Vu overcomes 6-shot deficit to win 1st LPGA title, Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information, Author of seven books on college football. Patrick Cantlay With primary rough at least 3 inches high, distance and accuracy off the tee plays up all week. The goal will be to hit shorter irons into challenging targets with invisible forces poised to smack even properly executed strikes out of the sky. Previous rank: 16 Look for his following contributions as scheduled. That means a $10 bet returns $65 of profit if the red-hot Spaniard does in fact win the tournament. Arnold Palmer Invitational 2023 odds available at DraftKings Sportsbook . PGA Championship Fantasy Golf Power Rankings (odds via DraftKings as of May 12) 1. Rory McIlroy is not human. No one is exactly sure why, considering Im likes to play -- a lot. 7. All you have to do is place a bet of at least $5 bet on any pre-game money line, and you wont even need a DraftKings promo code. Its going to be hot and humid this week but little to no rain is expected. The Arnold Palmer Invitational at Bay Hillbrings out many of the best players in the world due to its rich history and the new elevated status it holds on the PGA Tour. The tee-to-green play was still there, and now the World No. Patrick Cantlay, Justin Thomas, Sam Burns, Jordan Spieth and Hideki Matsuyama will be among the notables considered in Golfbet Insider. Trusting that greens will be adjusted accordingly, its a plan that likely will extend into Saturdays third round for which the elements will mimic the opener, albeit with a slight risk of inclement weather. 6. Bay Hill already is one of if not the hardest par 72 in a non-major in every season last years scoring average of 73.886 easily set the mark among its peers but consider that, in relatively docile conditions a year ago, the opening-round scoring average still was 72.292! Cantlay ranks 127th on tour in shots gained: approach (-.117). 7 in the world last week, JT said, "I tried to stop looking because, yeah, it pisses me off, too. HV3 is probably still celebrating his big victory in Saudi Arabia, even after missing the cut in Phoenix. Daytime highs could hit 90 degrees until the wind shifts. PGATOUR.coms Rob Bolton recaps and previews every tournament from numerous perspectives. Keegan Bradley : I always think of Bradley when I hear about potentially brutal conditions on a course. If your first wager is a winner, not only will you receive the profits, but $150 worth of bonus bets will also be yours. Unlike the last two tournaments that exceeded the allotted reservation to make room for all automatically eligible PGA TOUR members both were designated events the cap of 144 at PGA National is the field size as advertised. Hovland won the Hero World Challenge, an unofficial event that Woods hosted in the Bahamas in December, but he hasn't done anything spectacular in official tournaments so far in 2023. 3. On cue, the wind steps forward as the primary defense to a course that surrendered a scoring average of 71.339 last year, which essentially is the expectation. The good news is that the worst of the wind in early forecasting is moderate and kicking up only on Thursday and Sunday. The Australian is still searching for his first PGA Tour victory since the 2018 Wells Fargo Championship, but there are plenty signs of hope. The course is infamous for the Bear Trap closing stretch of holes 16-18 where thousands of wayward shots have gone to a watery grave in past years. In his defense, he might have needed a week to calm his nerves after his cliff-hanger shot in the third round at Pebble Beach. Scheffler is the defending champion at Bay Hill, as he edged out Viktor Hovland, Tyrrell Hatton and Billy Horschel by a single stroke. 19. 1 Jon Rahm. Those only resulted in an 11th, 10th and 20th thanks to other areas failing him, but this is a course he has plenty of experience on and has finished 3rd in the past. What weve seen more often that not lately is Bermuda history continues to very relevant on Florida courses. MEN -- 10 needed to qualify on nine worldwide tours: PGA Tour, PGA European Tour, Nationwide Tour, Japan Golf Tour, Southern Africa Tour, PGA Tour of AustralAsia . Ranks 17th in the model. On Sunday, Scottie Scheffler reminded everyone in the sport who was ranked No. Going into Round 3 . It's probably only a matter of time before Burns starts heating up again, after a relatively quiet start to 2023. Schauffele was right in the mix again in Phoenix, even after a run-in with a cactus and losing his regular caddie, Austin Kaiser, who tested positive for COVID-19 on Wednesday. Collin Morikawa : Morikawa grades out exceptionally in every category this week except putting, and that will be the obvious spot that determines his finish this week. Unlike last week, none of the top-10 golfers in the world are in attendance this week; only 12 of the top-50 in the world are making their way to PGA National for The Honda Classic. Both of his top 25s on the PGA TOUR have occurred in his transplanted hometown event, and both are top-15 finishes. Ranks 2nd in GIRs Gained and 4th in Proximity: 200+ Yards. Shortest in odds and claiming top honor is Sungjae Im. He should be well rested after taking last week off following a missed cut at the Genesis Invitational. TifEagle bermuda greens are larger than average in size (and not overseeded), but theyre equipped to flirt with and exceed 13 feet on the Stimpmeter. Copyright 2023 PGA TOUR, Inc. All rights reserved. Hideki Matsuyama The weather forecast for the week appears to be warm, dry, and windy, so expect the course to play fiery once again. 10. It should also be noted that Zalatoris was in the top 10 at the Arnold Palmer Invitational in 2021. Scoring will be the name of the game this week. 57 in the OWGR, moving him closer to the top 50 for an invitation to the Masters in April. One prize fight after another. Its an event dating back to 1972 thats been held at its current venue, PGA National Resort and Spa in Palm Beach Gardens, since 2007. Thats enough of an intro. As it has throughout the FedExCup era, PGA National Resorts Champion Course in Palm Beach Gardens is the host. In addition to fully exempt status in the winners category through 2025, the champion will earn exemptions into THE PLAYERS Championship next week, the PGA Championship in May and the Sentry Tournament of Champions in 2024. It guarantees that someone else will be holding the trophy. Just like his new world ranking, the Spaniard cant seem to do anything wrong currently, and hell be looking for his 4th win of the year this week. He hadn't missed the weekend since the 2021 Masters. PGA Tour Power Rankings: Cameron rises, Rory surges and LIV players exit 220d Mark Schlabach A battle for No. pic.twitter.com/xwhDvl8Wrn, "The best bunker shot Jordan has ever hit. . The Honda Classic leads off a month of competitions in the Sunshine State. He'll take you inside the world of golf with exclusive looks at some of the top courses, feature stories, celebrity guests and interviews with the biggest stars in golf. Finau has (barely) cooled off from his sizzling stretch last season, in which he won in back-to-back starts and was ninth at the Tour Championship. Jon Rahm is a +650 favorite to triumph at Bay Hill. Scottie Scheffler : The World No. Hes found success on the Australasian Tour, Asian Tour, DP World Tour, etc. "I think when guys are playing as well as Nick [Taylor] was today, it really did put a lot of pressure on me and I responded very well," Scheffler said. : Payouts and Points, Medical Extensions, Qualifiers, Reshuffle, Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information. Stewart Cink knew how to win over the Phoenix fans. "I'm gonna say exactly what 99.99 percent of fans said about players leaving . If you want more Arnold Palmer Invitational predictions at even longer odds, our experts suggest looking at Jason Day (+3000), Billy Horschel (+10000) and Tom Hoge (+12500). He'll have a chance to get things right at Riviera, where he tied for second, 2 strokes behind Joaquin Niemann, last season. Brett White, who had to relearn how to walk and talk after battling a brain infection six years ago, made his PGA Tour debut. Rory McIlroy : Lets not overreact to a very cold putter from McIlroy in mediocre results at Phoenix and Riviera. Ranks 4th in High Winds and 8th in SG: APP. PGA TOUR, PGA TOUR Champions, and the Swinging Golfer design are registered trademarks. Theres usually rain during at least some point in the event and water lurks around many corners. He would have become only the fifth player to win it three times, joining Phil Mickelson, Mark Calcavecchia, Gene Littler and Arnold Palmer. 2 ranked player in the world. They took their cuts and delivered. It started to come together at TPC Scottsdale. In his first start at the Genesis last year, he tied for 15th at 4-under, 8 strokes behind winner Max Homa. The Korn Ferry trademark is also a registered trademark, and is used in the Korn Ferry Tour logo with permission. Maybe Bay Hill can sort him out, where he finished 2nd last year and struck it well in four starts. The field gets a primer on Thursday when gusts might touch 20 mph. Copyright 2023 PGA TOUR, Inc. All rights reserved. His PGA TOUR Horse for the Course for daily fantasy golf based on course history. Bermuda grass is where he tends to thrive. 13. 21. He finished in a tie for third at 15-under. Max Homa : Continued his incredible run in California with a 2nd at Riviera, and its safe to say hes being respected as one of the best in the world at this point. In five starts, Burns has made a respectable four cuts, but last year's T-9th (72-69-75-71) was his first top-10 at Bay Hill. 1, a loaded LPGA field and more to watch in golf this week, Here's everything you missed this week in professional golf, Jin Young Ko up by 2 in Singapore title defense, Quigley fires 65 for early lead in PGA Champions, Kitayama handles windy Bay Hill as Rahm falters, Tiger not part of field for next week's Players, Young stretches lead to 4 in Puerto Rico Open, Rahm stays hot, finishes strong for Bay Hill lead, Rookie Young captures Puerto Rico lead with 63.