2017 Arnold Palmer Invitational Golf – Tournament Outright Betting Preview

It will be a poignant and emotional week in Orlando as the Arnold Palmer Invitational takes place for the first time since the sad passing of ‘The King’. A strong field will compete to give the week a fitting feel but the focus won’t just be on the golf that is for sure.

One man who hopes to build on his own legacy here is Jason Day. He won the tournament 12 months ago and he is back to defend his title.

Recent Winners

2016 – Jason Day

2015 – Matt Every

2014 – Matt Every

2013 – Tiger Woods

2012 – Tiger Woods

2011 – Martin Laird

2010 – Ernie Els

2009 – Tiger Woods

2008 – Tiger Woods

2007 – Vijay Singh

The Course

Bay Hill Golf Club and Lodge is one of the easier courses on the PGA Tour which is in keeping with the ‘having fun’ mantra that Mr Palmer himself used to adopt. Scoring here is generally low and we’re by and large looking for players to make a lot of birdies this week.

The course is a par 72 which measures 7,419 yards. The fairways were widened a few years ago to turn this golf course into largely a second shot one. The greens have been made easier to hit with the wider fairways so there is every chance the event could become a putting contest.

The Field

Usually the focus for the field in a tournament is on the players who are teeing it up but this week there is as much focus on those who aren’t teeing it up. This is an invitation tournament and a worryingly large percentage of the top names have declined their invite into the 120 man field which given what Arnold Palmer did for the game doesn’t sit right.

As it is four of the top five in the world are here in Rory McIlroy, Jason Day, Hideki Matsuyama and Henrik Stenson with Rickie Fowler and Justin Rose also on show. A mixture of international players compliment the field nicely.

Market Leaders

Rory McIlroy is the 7/1 favourite this week which after his run in Mexico looks fair enough. McIlroy rarely shirks his duties in the game even if they are not official ones so it is good to see him here and it would be no surprise if he runs off with the title.

Henrik Stenson has a good record here. He has done everything but win the tournament and it would be fitting if such a classy guy won this year of all years. He is 17/2 to win the tournament with the defending champion Jason Day at 14/1. Day isn’t playing anything like he was this time last year though so he is easy to pass over.

Hideki Matsuyama was on fire around the turn of the year but he has cooled off somewhat recently which makes the 14/1 on him less appealing especially when the recent Honda Classic winner Rickie Fowler is two points bigger at 16/1. Justin Rose is an 18/1 shot and it is 35/1 bar.

Main Bets

I’m going with a couple of main bets this week in what I expect to be an extremely competitive tournament. Brandt Snedeker is the subject of my first one. He has finished in the top 10 in three of his last four outings without really going too heavily noticed. If it is a putter we want on side we have one in the American who is as good as they come with the short stick when on form. He has a couple of solid finishes here in the past too and I expect him to go very well this week.

Paul Casey is another one who is improving in recent times. I remember an interview with him here before where he said he loves the course and that it suits his eye and Casey is no stranger to going low in golf tournaments. He has never been one to take too much from the tee which is perfect and with a putter that is getting hotter he shouldn’t be far away here.

Outsiders

I’m going to throw in three at bigger prices too in the hope we can get a couple into the mix. Russell Henley was very good last week and he stats fairly well for this tournament. He would be even stronger statistically if his one putt percentage was better but the putter was much improved last week. If it remains hot for one more week, and it generally is hot in Florida, then the American should be in the mix.

He might not be the biggest name in the world but Tommy Fleetwood is red hot at the minute. He won in Abu Dhabi at the beginning of the year and took the confidence from that to Mexico where he was second and with his ball striking ability he should set up plenty of chances this week. How well he putts will determine how strong his finish is but I’ll pay to see if there is another good week from the Englishman.

Marc Leishman is a solid all-round player and I often like him on courses like this where there is freedom from the tee for his technique to come into play. He is one of the best putters on tour this season and scores well too. Horrific holes have cost him some rounds this year but on this easier layout that might not happen here so he looks a big price to me.

Tips

Back B.Snedeker to win Arnold Palmer Invitational (e/w) for a 1/10 stake at 41.00 with Boylesports (1/5 1-6)

Back P.Casey to win Arnold Palmer Invitational (e/w) for a 1/10 stake at 41.00 with Boylesports (1/5 1-6)

Back them here:

Back T.Fleetwood to win Arnold Palmer Invitational (e/w) for a 0.5/10 stake at 67.00 with William Hill (1/5 1-6)

Back him here:

Back R.Henley to win Arnold Palmer Invitational (e/w) for a 0.5/10 stake at 67.00 with Paddy Power (1/5 1-7)

Back him here:

WON – Back M.Leishman to win Arnold Palmer Invitational (e/w) for a 0.5/10 stake at 101.00 with Coral (1/5 1-7)

Back him here:

Copyright secured by Digiprove © 2017