ARNOLD PALMER may have passed away last year but the Arnold Palmer Invitational lives on.
The tournament returns to the Bay Hill Club and Lodge where it has been held since 1979. The course has 84 bunkers and water is in play on half the holes but land in the right area and low scores are possible here. I think Strokes Gained:Putting, GIR and Par 5 Scoring could be the relevant statistics.
Henrik Stenson was on fire until he withdrew from the Mexican Championship with a stomach complaint. He made his return in the Valspar Championship last week and finished T7. Bay Hill holds no fear for the big Swede having finished T8, T5, 2nd and T3 in the last four years.
Since winning The Open last year he seems to be more relaxed and looks more assured on the course. This could be another great year for Stenson following on from 2016. His Strokes Gained:Putting is 1.227, with a GIR of 70.14% and Par 5 Scoring of 4.47.
Rickie Fowler is looking like his old self at the moment. He won the Honda Classic in February and although he finished T16 in the WGC-Mexico Championship he had three solid rounds. He’s no stranger to Bay Hill after five straight appearances from 2011 with a T3 the best in 2013. He has a SG:P of 0.659, GIR 72.84% and Par 5 scoring of 4.59.
It’s hard to believe Justin Rose hasn’t won on the PGA Tour for two years. With three top fours in five outings he looks good this year. He plays well here with four top 15s in his last five trips. His one flaw is his putter but his SG:P is much better than the last two years at 0.148. WIth GIR of 71.39% and Par 5 Scoring of 4.53 he should be in the mix come Sunday.
After winning the Waste Management Phoenix Open in February the wheels have come off for Hideki Matsuyama with a missed cut at the Genesis Open and a T25 in the WGC-Mexico Championship. In his last two tournaments he has been inconsistent but you know what they say “cream always rises to the top”.
He has played here the last two seasons with a T21 and a T6 last year. Since winning the WMPO his putting has been poor but hopefully he’ll have got over that, His SG:P is only 0.393 but with a GIR of 72.59% and a Par 5 Scoring of 4.38 he has the talent to win this one.
Recommended Bets
2pts Henrik Stenson (Paddy Power, 9-1)
1.5pts ew Rickie Fowler (Betfred, 18-1)
1.5pts ew Justin Rose (Betfair, 20-1)
1.5pts ew Hideki Matsuyama (Bet365, 14-1)
Ace Venturer
Resident football tipster at Scotland's most read newspaper, the Daily Record, for over 20 years and proud host of one the best betting communities on the web with daily betting tips.
Picks look good Ace I’m on
Henrik Stenson 8/1
Justin rose 18/1
Ew Charles Howell 70/1
ONE OF THESE DAYS- had a treble on rory mcilroy, Bernhard langer, Ariya Jutanugarn
all placed, could have been that one bet of the year, heho,
ACE I know you like to stick with the European and uspga it was to see if you had any thoughts
on the other tournaments that are on most weeks ie, senior and lpga .
cheers