4th Mar 2019 | Arnold Palmer Invitational
Arnold Palmer Invitational: Rory McIlroy
Looking to defend at Bay Hill and returns in much better form. Finished in top-5 on last four starts and putting much improved. Combine that with dynamic tee-to-green game and he's hard to beat.
In a stacked field it is really difficult to look beyond the front of the betting. Matt Every has found some form at the right time and it would be some feat if he were to win a third Arnold Palmer but course form is already heavily factored into his price.
My shortlist was rather uninspiring (in terms of price) with Rory McIlroy, Brooks Koepka and Tiger Woods the most likely winners. It’s hard to make a case to back Rory McIlroy at 8/1 but he is defending champion and returns to Bay Hill in better form than he was twelve months ago.
There seems to be a renewed focus with the Northern Irishman and his putting is much improved. He’s gained strokes on the field in his last two starts ranking 20th and 16th for putting, good without exactly lighting it up.
Tee-to-green he’s ranked third and first at the Genesis Open and WGC Mexico respectively and more of the same will see him go close again. This is a tournament he can win with just four ‘good’ rounds of putting and he is very much the man to beat.
Betfair are paying 8 places 1/5 odds.
Odds correct at time of publishing: 19:11 4th Mar, 2019 but subject to change