GOLF: ARNOLD PALMER INVITATIONAL TIPS

VALSPAR was another high-scoring tournament last week but thankfully Luke Donald helped us out with a tied fourth.

We’re still in Florida this week with the Arnold Palmer Invitational at Bay Hill and tournament favourite Tiger Woods has pulled out with a back injury. It's a par-72 course and with conditions being almost perfect and temperatures in the 80s it could be a low-scoring event.

In 2011 Justin Rose was a T3 and second last year so he seems to like the course. He’s had three top-10 finishes out of six so far this season and last week at the Valspar was well up the field before finishing tied eighth.

His greens in regulation was over 65 per cent but driving accuracy only 57 per cent, although not brilliant, conditions might have had something to do with it.

One man really going well at the moment is Bubba Watson who is 12-1 joint tournament favourite with Rose after Woods' withdrawal which leaves him a doubt for next month's US Masters.

Buoyant Bubba's had five top-10 finishes from seven strokeplay starts this season, including one win, two seconds and a third.

He’s 62 under par through 28 rounds and although his GIR dropped to nearly 57 per cent in the WGC-Cadillac two weeks ago, from over 70 per cent, it didn’t stop him finishing T2. Definitely worth a bet.

Another player well up in the statistics is Zach Johnson. He’s 73 per cent in driving accuracy (4th), 72 per cent in GIR (8th) and 24th in putting.

He’s never won more than twice on the PGA Tour but has already won this season and I expect him to take a couple more titles as the year goes on. Although he’s not a big hitter he’s accurate so a good each-way bet.

Adam Scott’s playing quite a steady game at the moment. His 25th at the WGC was his worst this year with two top-10 finishes and a 12th. He’s nearly 58 per cent in driving accuracy and 68 per cent in GIR with a scoring average of 70.

The Aussie is such a steady player and seems mentally stronger since his Masters win. This could be a good season for him on the PGA Tour and in the Majors.

Gary Woodland has no top 25 in three starts here but was a credible T16 in the WGC and an eighth last week at the Valspar. In the stats he’s No.1 in total driving, drving accuracy nearly 62 per cent and GIR is 70 per cent.

His only bad round was a 78 in the second round of the WGC-Cadillac but then most of the field struggled with the wind that day.

20pts staking plan

Bubba Watson 2.5 pts ew (12-1, Betfred)

Justin Rose 2.5pts ew (12-1, Betfred)

Zach Johnson 2pts ew (22-1, Betfred)

Adam Scott 2pts ew (14-1, Betfred)

Gary Woodland 1pt ew (40-1, Betfred)

Ace Venturer

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