Arnold Palmer Invitational Preview
2020 Arnold Palmer Invitational
March 5 – March 8
Bay Hill
Par 72 – 7,454 yards | Bermuda Greens
Orlando, FL
Defending: Francesco Molinari (-12)
The Honda Classic was one of the best tournaments of the year, featuring the toughest non-major course and a solid leaderboard. The Bear Trap played as advertised and gave everyone a chance down the stretch. Some major miscues by Mackenzie Hughes and Tommy Fleetwood allowed Sungjae Im to pull off his first PGA victory with a great final round 66 (-5) to win the tourney at -6 ahead of Hughes (-5) and Fleetwood (-4).
This week we have the Arnold Palmer Invitational at Bay Hill, the second tournament of the Florida stretch. The course plays long at 7,400+ yards so big hitters can take advantage as long as they’re accurate off the tee. Bay Hill has some of the fastest greens on the tour and players will need to adjust to this difficult part of the course. As noted in the course layout below, players will rely on their mid to long irons often this week.
Top names (see odds below) in a very strong field at the 2020 Arnold Palmer include Jason Day, Bryson Dechambeau, Tony Finau, Tommy Fleetwood, Rickie Fowler, Sungjae Im, Brooks Koepka, Marc Leishman, Hideki Matsuyama, Rory McIlroy, Patrick Reed, Justin Rose, Xander Schauffele, and Adam Scott. No Tiger this week.
Check here for bets and DFS picks throughout the week.
Bay Hill Club & Lodge Course Layout
Par 72 – 7,454 yards | Bermuda Greens
Par 3s: 231, 199, 215, 221
Par 4s: 461, 434, 390, 460, 480, 400, 438, 370, 467, 458
Par 5s: 590, 555, 574, 511
Water, bunkers and dog-legs make it tough for players to hit driver off of every tee, but longer hitters can definitely take advantage of the four par 5s at Bay Hill (32 eagles between them last year). Can’t hurt to look at par 5 scoring 550-600 yards. Driving accuracyis an important stat for most of the top finishers at Bay Hill due to the thick rough around the fairways (think 65%+). Approach statsare huge again this week at a course where players need to get to double digit under par to contend for the victory. With the four longer par 3s, over 200+ yard proximity and SG numbers are big (200-225 par 3 scoring) and the 150-200 yard approach game will be a factor as always.
Scoring Holes: All 4 par 5s played under par last year with #16 (511 yards) the easiest at -.576 strokes under par. Beyond the par 5s, the 370 yard par 4 13th hole surrendered the most birdies (74) across par 4s and played a little under par (#3 also saw 74 birdies).
Problem Holes: While the par 5, 555 yard 6th hole played under par last year, it also saw the most double bogeys when players got too aggressive (see a long drive champion go for the green in one below). #8 and #9 are 460/480 yard par 4s that played the most difficult last year (.25 and .28 over par). The 18th is a great finishing hole that plays very challenging with water down the right side.
Past Winners and Runners-Up at the Arnold Palmer Invitational
2019 – Francesco Molinari (-12) over Matthew Fitzpatrick (-10)
2018 – Rory McIlroy (-18) over Bryson Dechambeau (-15)
2017 – March Leishman (-11) over Charley Hoffman and Kevin Kisner (-10)
2016 – Jason Day (-17) over Kevin Chappell (-16)
2015 – Matt Every (-19) over Henrik Stenson (-18)
2014 – Matt Every (-13) over Keegan Bradley (-12)
2013 – Tiger Woods (-13) over Justin Rose (-11)
2012 – Tiger Woods (-13) over Graeme McDowell (-8)
2011 – Martin Laird (-8) over Steve Marino (-7)
Arnold Palmer Invitational Opening Odds
Rory McIlroy +550
Bryson Dechambeau; Tommy Fleetwood +1800
Hideki Matsuyama +2000
Adam Scott; Brooks Koepka; Patrick Reed; Xander Schauffele +2500
Jason Day; Sungjae Im +2800
Rickie Fowler; Tony Finau +3300
Byeong-Hun An; Henrik Stenson; Justin Rose; Marc Leishman; Matthew Fitzpatrick +4000
Bubba Watson; Collin Morikawa; Terrell Hatton +5000