Hello, friends and degenerates! This week, the PGA Tour heads to Orlando for the second leg of the Florida swing — the Arnold Palmer Invitational.
So much of this event is about the memory of Arnold Palmer, the icon for whom the event is named. Besides the majors and the Players, this is the event the Tour’s best want to win, even if it no longer means a photo with the King. You can bet the big names will all be near the top of the leaderboard come Sunday.
But which one has the best chance of winning? Which long shot could pull a Keith Mitchell and break the hearts of Tour pros and gamblers alike?
After a week of utter disappointment, it’s time to get back in the saddle and back in the winner’s circle. Here’s a look at your can’t-miss, no-doubt, sure-fire, mortal locks for the Arnold Palmer Invitational:
Arnold Palmer Invitational
Bay Hill Club & Lodge – Orlando, Florida
March 7 – 10, 2019
(Courtesy: GolfOdds.com)
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ODDS to Win:
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| Rory McIlroy | 7/1 |
| Justin Rose | 10/1 |
| Brooks Koepka | 12/1 |
| Rickie Fowler | 12/1 |
| Jason Day | 14/1 |
| Bryson DeChambeau | 16/1 |
| Hideki Matsuyama | 25/1 |
| Francesco Molinari | 25/1 |
| Marc Leishman | 25/1 |
| Tommy Fleetwood | 25/1 |
| Patrick Reed | 30/1 |
| Phil Mickelson | 40/1 |
| Ian Poulter | 40/1 |
| Louis Oosthuizen | 40/1 |
| Charles Howell III | 40/1 |
| Bubba Watson | 40/1 |
| Billy Horschel | 40/1 |
| Keegan Bradley | 50/1 |
| Rafael Cabrera Bello | 50/1 |
| Henrik Stenson | 50/1 |
| Lucas Glover | 50/1 |
| Daniel Berger | 60/1 |
| Zach Johnson | 60/1 |
| Tyrrell Hatton | 60/1 |
| Si Woo Kim | 60/1 |
| Haotong Li | 60/1 |
| Jason Kokrak | 60/1 |
| Michael Thompson | 60/1 |
| J.B. Holmes | 80/1 |
| Brandt Snedeker | 80/1 |
| Byeong Hun An | 80/1 |
| Cameron Champ | 80/1 |
| Matthew Fitzpatrick | 80/1 |
| Luke List | 80/1 |
| Kevin Kisner | 80/1 |
| Adam Hadwin | 80/1 |
| Charl Schwartzel | WD |
| Matt Wallace | 80/1 |
| Keith Mitchell | 80/1 |
| Sungjae Im | 100/1 |
| Aaron Wise | 100/1 |
| Shane Lowry | 100/1 |
| Kevin Na | 100/1 |
| Scott Piercy | 100/1 |
| Ryan Moore | 100/1 |
| Talor Gooch | 100/1 |
| Matt Every | 100/1 |
| Charley Hoffman | 100/1 |
| Kiradech Aphibarnrat | 100/1 |
| Thorbjorn Olesen | 125/1 |
| Beau Hossler | 125/1 |
| Abraham Ancer | 125/1 |
| Danny Willett | 125/1 |
| Joaquin Niemann | 150/1 |
| Patrick Rodgers | 150/1 |
| Danny Lee | 150/1 |
| Jhonattan Vegas | 150/1 |
| Bud Cauley | 100/1 |
| J.T. Poston | 150/1 |
| Sung Kang | 150/1 |
| Martin Kaymer | 150/1 |
| Graeme McDowell | 150/1 |
| Martin Laird | 150/1 |
| Chesson Hadley | 150/1 |
| Austin Cook | 150/1 |
| C.T. Pan | 150/1 |
| Harold Varner III | 150/1 |
| Brian Gay | 150/1 |
| Bill Haas | 200/1 |
| Eddie Pepperell | 200/1 |
| Pat Perez | 200/1 |
| Brian Harman | 200/1 |
| Sam Burns | 200/1 |
| Jimmy Walker | 200/1 |
| Stewart Cink | 200/1 |
| Sam Horsfield | 200/1 |
| Steve Stricker | 200/1 |
| Vijay Singh | 200/1 |
| Jason Dufner | 200/1 |
| Field (all others) | 12/1 |
Mortal Locks
Rory McIlroy — It’s got to be tough to be Rory McIlroy. Well, professionally, at least. The poor guy has done nothing but play great golf this season and no one cares because he hasn’t won. That changes this week at Bay Hill. Last year, McIlroy won this event on the strength of a blazing hot flat stick. This year, the rest of his game has been carrying him. At 7/1, he’s the favorite for good reason.
Bryson DeChambeau — Some might say its a cop out to take the winner and runner-up from the 2018 edition of the AP Invitational, but the numbers don’t lie. Both McIlroy and Bryson DeChambeau are great bets this week. Take that second place finish here last year and pile that onto five wins in the last nine months world-wide and you’ve got the recipe for a mortal lock. At 16/1, you’d be foolish not to take the action on DeChambeau.
Best Bets
Ian Poulter — With all the great play from the big names early in 2019 it’s possible you’ve missed the momentum that Ian Poulter has been building. Coming into the AP Invitational, Poults has alternated T-6 and T-3 finishes in his last four starts. Couple that with a decent track record at Bay Hill and this could be the week Poulter returns to the winner’s circle. At 40/1, you’ll be glad when he does.
Zach Johnson — Two-time major champion Zach Johnson has fallen off the radar for most degenerates in recent months, but it’s time to pick him back up. Johnson has been less than stellar this year, but his track record at Bay Hill warrants a look. Since 2004, ZJ has missed just one cut and collected five top-10 finishes. At 60/1, the juice is worth the squeeze.
Fun Under $5
Matt Every — Perhaps the best long shot every year at the AP Invitational is Matt Every. Every won this event in 2014 and 2015 but has been abysmal since. He’s teeing it up this week with some good juju on his side, however. Every has finished in the top 20 in all four PGA Tour starts this year. When you consider he’s getting 100/1, you have to at least consider throwing a $5 on Every this week.
There you have it, friends and degenerates! Now if you’ll excuse me, Ol’ No. 1 is off to see the taxman. Thoughts and prayers are appreciated.
Until next time, go and choose wisely…
-Golfstradamus.
