The PGA Tour continues its Florida Swing with a bang this week as gamers will descend upon Bay Hill Club & Lodge for the Arnold Palmer Invitational.
This would be the fourth Signature Event of the PGA Tour season, bringing with it the elevated $20,000,000 purse and extra FedEx Cup factors.
Granted, that is a type of tournaments that doesn’t want incentive to attract top-of-the-line fields of the season.
Many of the world’s prime gamers together with Scottie Scheffler, Viktor Hovland, Jordan Spieth and Rory McIlroy will tee it up looking for one other win.
So, let’s get to the Arnold Palmer Invitational odds, predictions and make a decide.
Arnold Palmer Invitational odds
The discipline at Arnie’s Place is about as stacked as you may get. Here are the present odds, per DraftKings:
- Scottie Scheffler +650
- Rory McIlroy +850
- Viktor Hovland +1600
- Xander Schauffele +1800
- Patrick Cantlay +1800
- Ludvig Aberg +2000
- Collin Morikawa +2200
- Tommy Fleetwood +2500
- Jordan Spieth +2500
- Sam Burns +2800
- Max Homa +2800
- Cameron Young +2800
- Justin Thomas +2800
- Matt Fitzpatrick +3000
As you’ll be able to see, it’s a who’s who of the PGA Tour. That makes choosing a winner a troublesome endeavor. However, there are some keys to be checked out.
:no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/25321881/Screenshot_2024_03_06_at_2.01.30_PM.png)
Arnold Palmer Invitational predictions
Bay Hill Club & Lodge is definitely probably the most troublesome programs on the PGA Tour yearly. After there have been modifications made across the greens 5 years in the past, this course has ranked prime 5 most troublesome every season when it comes to scoring.
But what does that imply?
Well, let’s break it down.
Rory McIlroy matches the course to supply worth, however to not win
The course will play simply over 7,400 yards. That’s fairly the observe and can clearly give gamers who’re lengthy off the tee considerably of a bonus.
However, the tough beside the green is, in some spots, three inches thick. That locations a premium not simply on driving it far, however driving it precisely.
Everyone is aware of that McIlroy is a bomber off the tee. But to this point this 12 months, he has additionally been lethal correct, rating 14th on tour at over 68% of fairways hit.
I don’t suppose his quick sport will likely be sturdy sufficient to hold him to a win. After all, Bay Hill is infamous for its wild inexperienced complexes and Rory ranks 132nd in putts per spherical this 12 months.
But he ought to have the ability to place himself properly sufficient off the tee that he will likely be in rivalry into the weekend.
For that cause, I like McIlroy and his -110 odds of a Top-10 end. You get even cash minus the juice on a observe he has carried out very properly at traditionally.
Cameron Young primed for a breakout efficiency
Another actually attention-grabbing guess is Cameron Young to complete Top-5. You’ll get +500 for a participant whose sport seems to be in prime kind proper now.
Young completed T4 on the Cognizant Classic, T16 on the Genesis Invitational and T8 on the Phoenix Open his final three tournaments.
This course has been the third most predictive based mostly on previous performances on tour, per the New York Times.
Well, Young has completed inside the highest 13 every of the 2 instances he has performed right here earlier than.
This course assessments each side of your sport. If there’s a obtrusive weak spot, Bay Hill will discover it. Yet, Young is center of the pack or higher in practically each statistical class this 12 months.
To get 5-to-1 odds that he finishes Top-5 right here, I like that guess.
Arnold Palmer Invitational lengthy shot
If you might be in search of some actually lengthy odds, look no additional than Min Woo Lee.
He is sort of clearly a budding star on tour and presents +4000 odds to win the event
Considering all the lengthy pictures which have gained this 12 months, that’s a strong worth for somebody as gifted as Lee.
It’s not a matter of if he breaks out, however when.
Lee completed his 2023 sturdy, gathering three Top-10s in his remaining 5 begins. He then completed T2 final week on the Cognizant.
Maybe that is his time to shine, and put Team USA’s Presidents Cup staff on discover.
Arnold Palmer Invitational decide
Speaking of breakout stars, I’m going to decide Ludvig Aberg to win at Arnie’s Place.
Aberg is each lengthy off the tee and correct. His quick sport has vastly improved in such a brief period of time and the 24-year-old has proven a propensity for enjoying large in large moments.
Just ask Team USA’s Ryder Cup staff who he helped emphatically embarrass.
He completed his 2023 season on hearth, gathering three Top-5s and 5 straight Top-15s to shut out the 12 months. That features a win on the RSM Classic, one other course within the Southeast U.S. that makes use of Bermuda grass.
He has continued that momentum into this 12 months and practically gained once more at Pebble Beach.
Aberg is at present going off at +2000. You’re telling me that I get 20-to-1 odds that this child’s ascent continues at a spot identified for making historical past. Sign me up.
For all different sports activities betting content material, take a look at SB Nation’s DraftKings web site.
Kendall Capps is the Senior Editor of SB Nation’s Playing Through. For extra golf protection, observe us @_PlayingThrough on all main social media platforms.