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28th Feb 2022 | Arnold Palmer Invitational

Arnold Palmer Invitational Trends

Arnold Palmer Invitational Trends

The PGA Tour makes its regular stop in Orlando to play Bay Hill. We look at the trends of past winners.

For the last three years Bay Hill has played tough with a winning score of 4-under in 2020 and only 25 players under par in 2021. It’s always worth checking the wind on the forecast but this year conditions look more benign.

Bay Hill is a ‘second-shot’ course with greens difficult to hit. Tee-shots aren’t quite so demanding, wide fairways giving plenty of leeway.

Matt Every, Ernie Els, Tiger Woods and Vijay Singh have all won this tournament in years where they ranked outside the top-100 on tour for driving accuracy.

Let’s look at trends of the last 15 winners for further clues:

Top-60 on tour for birdie average
Bay Hill is a tough course and players are guaranteed to make bogeys, it is whether they can compensate for these. Martin Laird led the field in birdies in 2011 as did Matt Every on his way to victory in 2015. Recent champions Tyrrell Hatton and Bryson DeChambeau ranked second and third on tour respectively for birdie average. 13 of the last 15 winners have ranked inside the top-60 on tour for birdie average.

Top-60 on tour for strokes gained tee to green
There are bogey threats on almost every hole.  Avoiding them is a priority as they undo all the hard work.  12 of the last 15 winners ranked in the top-60 on tour for this metric.

Top-60 on tour for par-5 scoring average
All four of the par-5s measure under 575-yards. They are short by modern standards and can all be reached in two shots, although there is an element of risk. 12 of the last 15 winners ranked inside the top-60 on tour for par-5 scoring average.

Top-60 on tour for approaches over 200-yards
With the par-5s reachable in two, those with an excellent long game have thrived. 12 of the last 15 winners ranked inside the top-60 on tour for approach accuracy from 200+ yards.

Players that fit all four trends:
Hideki Matsuyama
Jon Rahm
Keith Mitchell
Matt Fitzpatrick
Maverick McNealy
Max Homa
Sungjae Im
Talor Gooch

Odds correct at time of publishing: 16:49 28th Feb, 2022 but subject to change

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