The Arnold Palmer Invitational attracts a strong field with many of the best golfers in the world assembling in Orlando to pay tribute to the tournament’s namesake. One notable player missing from the lineup, however, is eight-time winner Tiger Woods. Still, five of the top-10 in the world are scheduled to peg it up at Bay Hill Club and Lodge, which has hosted since 1979 when Palmer lobbied the PGA Tour to bring an official event to his course. World No. 1 Rory McIlroy is the betting favorite at online sportsbooks with the past four winners included in the field. That makes for some interesting tournament matchups. Visit BookMaker.eu for a complete list of matchup betting odds when you’re ready to place a wager.
Scottie Scheffler -132 vs. Joaquin Niemann +102
Charl Schwartzel +139 vs. Ian Poulter -175
Ryan Moore -104 vs. JT Poston -126
Kevin Na -118 vs. Wyndham Clark -112
Bud Cauley -110 vs. Charles Howell III -120
Max Homa +100 vs. Kevin Kisner -130
Matthew Fitzpatrick -115 vs. Bubba Watson -115
Lee Westwood -142 vs. Phil Mickelson +112
Sungjae Im -118 vs. Brooks Koepka -112
Harris English -110 vs. Jason Kokrak -120
Rory McIlroy -199 vs. Tommy Fleetwood +157
Marc Leishman +122 vs. Collin Morikawa -152
Patrick Reed -117 vs. Brooks Koepka -113
Tony Finau -123 vs. Jason Day -107
Hideki Matsuyama -122 vs. Xander Schauffele -108
Rickie Fowler -127 vs. Justin Rose -103
Sungjae Im -117 vs. Patrick Reed -113
Adam Scott +106 vs. Xander Schauffele -136
Henrik Stenson +122 vs. Byeong Hun An -153
Tyrrell Hatton -103 vs. Billy Horschel -127
Tommy Fleetwood -127 vs. Bryson Dechambeau -103
Viktor Hovland +105 vs. Abraham Ancer -135
Rory McIlroy -224 vs. Bryson Dechambeau +175
Hideki Matsuyama -144 vs. Adam Scott +114
Rafael Cabrera Bello -130 vs. Brendan Steele +100
Need to Know
Bay Hill has hosted since 1979 and there have been few changes since that first playing. The adjustments that were made were designed to increase the appeal to amateurs and the public while remaining a challenge to the Tour pros. A recent renovation added close to 50 yards putting the scorecard distance at 7,454 yards. It plays long but is inviting with wide fairways. However, thick rough puts accuracy at a premium and brings into play long irons. The par 4s don’t typically yield a lot of birdies so making up strokes will be done on the four par 5s that average 557 yards. Being in Florida there is plenty of water and wind always seems to be a factor. I had an even week on matchup picks at the Honda Classic going 2-2-1. Who would’ve thought both Brooks Koepka and Rickie Fowler would miss the cut? They’re back to give it another go this week, and so am I.
Arnold Palmer Invitational Matchup Picks
Rory McIlroy -224 vs. Bryson Dechambeau
Is it too much of a cliché to go with the favorite? Well, when that top dog is McIlroy, probably not. He comes at a steep price, but getting something in return is better than the alternative. Maybe McIlroy will lose his footing. He hasn’t so for with top-5 showings in each of his last six starts worldwide. He’s also seen the best and worst of Bay Hill and conquered the course masterfully with a win two years ago in between a T4 and T6 and a lifetime scoring average of 69.40 in 20 rounds. Sounds good to me.
Marc Leishman +122 vs. Collin Morikawa
With the exception of a WD at the Greenbrier, Leishman has played all four rounds of every event this season. Some of those were no-cut tournaments, but still it’s an impressive run. He claimed victory here in 2017 and defended his title valiantly with a T7 12 months later. Half of his career starts at Bay Hill have yielded a top-25 and he recently tamed another tough course to win the Farmers Insurance Open at Torrey Pines.
Henrik Stenson +122 vs. Byeong Hun An
There’s something to be said about a home game and Stenson only has to roll out of bed to be on the course. That doesn’t always mean success, though. But it has in Stenson’s case. He’s been a consistent performer at Bay Hill going 10 for 11 at the API with five finishes of T8 or better with four top-5s in the last six years. He hasn’t played on the PGA Tour since winning the Hero Challenge in December, but he’s been keeping the game sharp with stops on the Euro and Asian Tours in the meantime.
Xander Schauffele -136 vs. Adam Scott
Scott is on a heater which makes picking against him seem like gambling suicide. Two wins in his last three starts worldwide is impressive. And the X-man is making his debut at the API. What the hell am I thinking? Well, Schauffele’s recent stats fit nicely with the Bay Hill layout. He ranks second on Tour in strokes gained: tee-to-green and is top-7 in scrambling and adjusted scoring. He’s also a fine wind player and that’s an obstacle that is expected to be in play this week. His recent finishes aren’t as flashy with top-25s in his last three starts, but Scott has been inconsistent at Bay Hill.
Ian Poulter -175 vs. Charl Schwartzel
Poulter sure likes playing close to home and it shows in his recent form at Bay Hill. Since 2011 he’s a perfect 9 for 9 that includes six top-25s. He appeared on the PGA Tour for the first time this year with a T27 at the Honda Classic after securing a pair of top-20s on the backend of the Euro circuit’s desert swing.
BookMaker offers play-by-play betting odds for live sporting events every day! The user-friendly wagering interface on your smartphone provides an easy way to place bets on the go. Mobile betting lines are updated by the minute so click here to start gambling on thrilling live action at BookMaker.eu. The Arnold Palmer Invitational is scheduled for March 5-8, 2020, and can be seen on Golf Channel and NBC.
