– Last Updated on November 20, 2022 10:10 pm
2017 PGA Arnold Palmer Invitational Prediction and Picks
Ready to bet this weeks on the 2017 PGA Arnold Palmer Invitational Odds? The 2017 Arnold Palmer Invitational is on tap this week from Bay Hill Club & Lodge in Florida. A strong field of 120 will tee it up this week in the first installment of this regular TOUR feature since the namesake’s unfortunate death in September.
2017 Arnold Palmer Invitational
When: March 16-19, 2017
Where: Bay Hill Club and Lodge, Bay Hill, Florida
Format: 72 holes – Stroke Play
Purse: $8,700,000
Defending Champion: Jason Day
Updated Sportsbook Bonuses For Today
Bay Hill measures 7,419 yards and is a tough par 72 that will have many of the best players in the world dreaming of better days. Bunkers, water and typically slick greens will welcome the pros on what has shockingly been an easier track that advertised the last few years.
Bombers will have an advantage on the four par 5s while those same players should be able to make hay on the three par 3s – all of which measure over 200 yards.
Strong iron work will be essential this week – both long and short – and a hot putter will obviously help as well.
Some key stats to focus on this week are Strokes Gained: Approach The Green, Birdies or Better 200+ Yards, Strokes Gained: Around The Green, Par 3 Efficiency 200-225 Yards and Par 5 Birdies or Better.
So with all of that in mind who should we be keeping a special eye on this week? Let’s break it down.
2017 Arnold Palmer Invitational Favorites:
Rory McIlroy +750
Hasn’t played much the last four months but has looked good despite a cracked rib and some time off. He was last seen a couple of weeks ago when he finished seventh in Mexico – an event he led at the half-way point.
His only other action recently was a playoff loss in January. That makes five straight top 10s worldwide for Rory. His track history here isn’t long and storied but he did have a T11 here in 2015 and has finished inside the top 15 every time he’s played here.
Rory is a threat every time he tees it up – no surprise here!
Henrik Stenson +1000
Stenson has battled some injuries too. That said he has finished inside the top 10 in seven of his last eight starts overall – the only blemish over that span was WD in Mexico after illness.
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He has been money on this track in the past – he has top 10 finishes here in his last four appearances – an impressive T8-T5-2nd-T3 run here.
Stenson is simply the best all-around ball striker on the planet right now and with his putter looking very good at the moment, Henrik will be awfully tough to overlook.
Jason Day +1400
Day has yet to find his footing in 2017 but he does enter this week as the defending champ when he won in wire-to-wire fashion!
Despite the “questionable form” Day has finished inside the top 15 in two of his four starts and is still the #2 player on the planet – he shouldn’t be discounted. Day is rested and ready to go this week although I’m a tad turned off by his recent play.
Hideki Matsuyama +1400
Hideki has been a boon for me! He may have slowed the last month but HE HAD TO! In fact, he has just one top 10 in his last five starts after six wins in his previous five months.
He was last seen finishing T25 in Mexico in an event he played just OK. His record here is just OK as well – T21 in 2015 and T6 in 2016. A few months ago, Matsuyama would have been my run-away choice – his current form has me shying away this week however.
2017 Arnold Palmer Invitational Contenders:
Rickie Fowler +1800
Enters this week off a T16 in Mexico which followed a terrific win at the Honda – an event that saw his putter come alive and his iron game hit a new level. Fowler is definitely feeling it right now.
He leads the TOUR in scoring average and should be able to make some noise on a track he finished T3 on in 2013. Fowler is a streaky guy who looks poised to be a factor this week and for the foreseeable future.
Justin Rose +2000
Has done very well on this track – four top 15s including a solo second in 2013 in his last five appearances and enters in decent form – he leads the TOUR in strokes gained: off-the-tee and is fifth in adjusted scoring.
Unfortunately for Rose his putter hasn’t been great – he is in the 70s on TOUR in most putting categories.
Rose already has three top 5s in five events played this season including a solo second at the Sony Open in Hawaii and a T4 at the Genesis Open – great form to snap a two year losing streak on TOUR. Rose WILL win sooner than later – why not this week?
Brandt Snedeker +3300
Sneds has been knocking on the door lately – three top 10s in his last four starts, including a solo fourth at Pebble Beach and a T7 in Mexico. He finished inside the top 15 in this tournament in 2015 and 2016 – they are two of five his top 25s in 10 appearances.
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Sneds is a putting machine who has shown some serious touch around the green – perfect attributes for this track this week.
Wesley Bryan +4500
Enters this week on streak of three straight top 10s on TOUR – fourth place finishes in the Genesis Open and Honda Classic, followed by his T7 at Innisbrook last week.
The hottest rookie on TOUR has never played here but that hasn’t slowed him yet. It may be prudent to ride Bryan while he HOT.
2017 Arnold Palmer Invitational Sleepers (+5000 or higher):
Francesco Molinari +5000
Has been on my radar for some time now – he has finished inside the top 20 in eight of his last nine starts including a win in Italy in September. His course history here is very good – three straight top 20s including a T5 in 2014 and a T9 in 2016.
His stats point to another good finish this week – he is fourth on TOUR in strokes gained: approach-the-green and third in driving accuracy.
Zach Johnson +6000
Has been relatively quiet this season but +6000 is very appealing for a guy that finished inside the top 10 in his last two appearances at this event. He is a fixture here and should be motivated for a good result in his prep for the Masters.
2017 Arnold Palmer Invitational Picks:
I went to the Henrik Stenson at +1000 well last week and I am doing it again hoping for a bit more success. He has gone T3, second, T5, and T8 in his last three starts in this event and has shot 50 under par in his last five appearances here – yes please!
My sleeper is Francesco Molinari at +5000. His history here and his track record are just too hard to ignore!
Golf handicapper DAVE B weighs in each week with his top selections. Including top picks and sleepers!
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