Arnold Palmer Invitational
March 17th – 20th, 2016
Bay Hill Club
Orlando, Fla.
Par: 72 / Yardage:
Purse: $6.3 million
with $1,134,000 to the winner
Defending Champion:
Matt Every

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The most up to date information on the Arnold Palmer Invitational, looking the players to see if any have that special edge this week We also have our picks for Draft Kings and other items. In the days ahead we will also have a Facebook page that will be devoted to this subject and hopefully it can create a stir in which we can all help each other.
Hope you enjoy this, each week will have it’s own blog devoted to the tournament from that week.
Also, we will be updating this blog during the tournament on Thursday through Sunday, so join us during those days.
This week’s field includes:
The field includes 46 of the top 100 and 25 of the top 50 in the latest Official World Rankings, with five players from the top-ten: #2 Rory McIlroy, #3 Jason Day, #6 Adam Scott, #7 Henrik Stenson and #8 Justin Rose. The other top 50 players are #14 Hideki Matsuyama, #17 Brandt Snedeker, #20 Zach Johnson, #22 Kevin Kisner, #26 Paul Casey, #28 Matt Kuchar, #29 Marc Leishman, #30 Byeong Hun An, #32 Andy Sullivan, #35 Danny Lee, #36 Emiliano Grillo, #39 David Lingmerth, #41 Chris Wood, #43 Soren Kjeldsen, #44 Billy Horschel, #45 Ryan Moore, #46 Kiradech Aphibarnrat and #47 Matthew Fitzpatrick, #49 Robert Streb, #50 Smylie Kaufman.
Last year 21 of the top 50 players were in the field
The field includes 14 of the top 25 on the FedEx point standings for 2016. Those players are # 1 Adam Scott, # 2 Kevin Kisner, # 3 Brandt Snedeker, # 7 Kevin Na, # 8 Smylie Kaufman, # 9 Graeme McDowell, # 11 Hideki Matsuyama, # 12 Fabian Gomez, # 16 Emiliano Grillo, # 21 Charles Howell III, # 22 Vaughn Taylor, # 23 K.J. Choi, # 24 David Lingmerth and # 25 Ryan Moore.
The field includes 14 players in the top 25 on this year’s PGA Tour money list. Those players are # 1 Adam Scott, # 3 Kevin Kisner, # 4 Brandt Snedeker, # 7 Kevin Na, # 8 Graeme McDowell, # 9 Smylie Kaufman, # 10 Hideki Matsuyama, # 16 Fabian Gomez, # 18 Emiliano Grillo, # 19 Vaughn Taylor, #22 Peter Malnati, # 23 Charles Howell III, # 24 K.J. Choi and # 25 David Lingmerth.
The field includes 7 past champions: Matt Every (2015 & ’14), Martin Laird (2011), Ernie Els (2010 & 1998), Vijay Singh (2007), Chad Campbell (2004), Tim Herron (1999) and Robert Gamez (1990).
A perfect way for fantasy golfers to check on the past performance of all the players in the Arnold Palmer Invitational field is our performance chart listed by average finish. Another way to check who is the best is through a special formula worked out in Golfstats that gives us the best average performances at the Arnold Palmer Invitational in the last five years or check out our sortable 8-year glance at the Arnold Palmer Invitational.
A good cheat sheet is this list of odds from the top bookmakers in England.
Another cheat sheet is this list of odds from the top bookmaker in Las Vegas.
**NOTE**
One thing to look for is our new GOLFstats IQ. For those that play in fantasy golf it’s a perfect way to help you pick those players in Draft Kings and Victiv games. You can customize the list of those in the tournaments, to look back a couple or many years of tournament stats and you can go back a couple or ten weeks prior to the tournament. On top of that, all the stats are fully sortable to help you pick your six players, we even give you their value for the week to help you chose.
That’s GOLFstats IQ, give it a try and tell us what you think of it
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So check it out, just hit this link to get 24/7 GOLF:
Time to look at our who’s hot and who isn’t:
Who’s Hot in the field for the Arnold Palmer Invitational
Player | Valspar | Thailand Classic | WGC-Cadillac | Honda Classic | Handa Perth | Northern Trust | Malaysian Open | AT&T Pebble | Tshwane Open | Phoenix Open | Dubai Desert | Farmers | CareerBuilder Challenge |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Adam Scott (396.67 pts) |
DNP | DNP | Win (198) |
Win (132) |
DNP | T2 (66.67) |
DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP |
Rory McIlroy (185 pts) |
DNP | DNP | T3 (135) |
CUT (-10) |
DNP | T20 (20) |
DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | T6 (40) |
DNP | DNP |
Andy Sullivan (140.17 pts) |
DNP | DNP | T17 (49.5) |
T26 (24) |
DNP | T68 (0) |
DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | T2 (66.67) |
DNP | DNP |
Ryan Moore (136 pts) |
3 (90) |
DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | 10 (26.67) |
DNP | CUT (-6.67) |
DNP | T11 (26) |
DNP | DNP | DNP |
Hideki Matsuyama (128.17 pts) |
DNP | DNP | T35 (22.5) |
WD (-5) |
DNP | T11 (26) |
DNP | DNP | DNP | Win (88) |
DNP | CUT (-3.33) |
DNP |
Harris English (123.67 pts) |
CUT (-10) |
DNP | 10 (60) |
DNP | DNP | T39 (7.33) |
DNP | DNP | DNP | 3 (60) |
DNP | T31 (6.33) |
DNP |
John Huh (122.67 pts) |
T22 (28) |
DNP | DNP | T14 (36) |
DNP | CUT (-6.67) |
DNP | DNP | DNP | T6 (40) |
DNP | T8 (16.67) |
T24 (8.67) |
Henrik Stenson (112 pts) |
T11 (39) |
DNP | T28 (33) |
DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | T6 (40) |
DNP | DNP |
Justin Rose (108.83 pts) |
DNP | DNP | T17 (49.5) |
DNP | DNP | T16 (22.67) |
DNP | T6 (40) |
DNP | DNP | DNP | CUT (-3.33) |
DNP |
Matt Kuchar (105.67 pts) |
T11 (39) |
DNP | T28 (33) |
DNP | DNP | T8 (33.33) |
DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | T49 (0.33) |
Charles Howell III (101.67 pts) |
T5 (70) |
DNP | DNP | CUT (-10) |
DNP | 75 (0) |
DNP | DNP | DNP | T24 (17.33) |
DNP | T16 (11.33) |
T11 (13) |
Jonas Blixt (98.67 pts) |
T22 (28) |
DNP | DNP | CUT (-10) |
DNP | DNP | DNP | 3 (60) |
DNP | CUT (-6.67) |
DNP | T6 (20) |
T28 (7.33) |
K.J. Choi (95.33 pts) |
T62 (0) |
DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | T5 (46.67) |
DNP | CUT (-6.67) |
DNP | T17 (22) |
DNP | 2 (33.33) |
DNP |
Smylie Kaufman (95 pts) |
DNP | DNP | T8 (75) |
T37 (13) |
DNP | CUT (-6.67) |
DNP | DNP | DNP | CUT (-6.67) |
DNP | T25 (8.33) |
T14 (12) |
Billy Horschel (94.17 pts) |
DNP | DNP | 41 (13.5) |
T8 (50) |
DNP | T54 (0) |
DNP | DNP | DNP | T24 (17.33) |
DNP | T8 (16.67) |
CUT (-3.33) |
Paul Casey (93.5 pts) |
DNP | DNP | 7 (82.5) |
T43 (7) |
DNP | T39 (7.33) |
DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | CUT (-3.33) |
DNP |
Freddie Jacobson (87.33 pts) |
CUT (-10) |
DNP | DNP | T26 (24) |
DNP | CUT (-6.67) |
DNP | T4 (53.33) |
DNP | DNP | DNP | T4 (26.67) |
69 (0) |
Graeme McDowell (86.33 pts) |
CUT (-10) |
DNP | T28 (33) |
5 (70) |
DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | CUT (-6.67) |
DNP | DNP |
Scott Brown (86 pts) |
T7 (55) |
DNP | DNP | T10 (40) |
DNP | T39 (7.33) |
DNP | CUT (-6.67) |
DNP | CUT (-6.67) |
DNP | T49 (0.33) |
CUT (-3.33) |
Kevin Na (84.5 pts) |
T22 (28) |
DNP | T35 (22.5) |
DNP | DNP | CUT (-6.67) |
DNP | CUT (-6.67) |
DNP | T24 (17.33) |
DNP | DNP | T3 (30) |
Chez Reavie (81.67 pts) |
T22 (28) |
DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | 7 (36.67) |
DNP | T26 (16) |
DNP | CUT (-6.67) |
DNP | CUT (-3.33) |
T17 (11) |
William McGirt (77.33 pts) |
DNP | DNP | DNP | T8 (50) |
DNP | T20 (20) |
DNP | CUT (-6.67) |
DNP | T24 (17.33) |
DNP | DNP | CUT (-3.33) |
Thomas Pieters (76.67 pts) |
DNP | 3 (90) |
DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | CUT (-6.67) |
DNP | DNP | DNP | CUT (-6.67) |
DNP | DNP |
Marc Leishman (73 pts) |
DNP | DNP | T28 (33) |
DNP | DNP | T5 (46.67) |
DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | CUT (-3.33) |
CUT (-3.33) |
Vaughn Taylor (71.33 pts) |
CUT (-10) |
DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | CUT (-6.67) |
DNP | Win (88) |
DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP |
How Player Rankings are Computed
Who’s Not Hot in the field for the Arnold Palmer Invitational
Player | Valspar | Thailand Classic | WGC-Cadillac | Honda Classic | Handa Perth | Northern Trust | Malaysian Open | AT&T Pebble | Tshwane Open | Phoenix Open | Dubai Desert | Farmers | CareerBuilder Challenge |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Peter Malnati (-36.67 pts) |
CUT (-10) |
DNP | DNP | CUT (-10) |
DNP | CUT (-6.67) |
DNP | T66 (0) |
DNP | CUT (-6.67) |
DNP | DNP | CUT (-3.33) |
Brendon Todd (-36.67 pts) |
CUT (-10) |
DNP | DNP | CUT (-10) |
DNP | CUT (-6.67) |
DNP | CUT (-6.67) |
DNP | T56 (0) |
DNP | DNP | CUT (-3.33) |
Brendon De Jonge (-33.33 pts) |
CUT (-10) |
DNP | DNP | CUT (-10) |
DNP | CUT (-6.67) |
DNP | DNP | DNP | T51 (0) |
DNP | CUT (-3.33) |
CUT (-3.33) |
Russell Henley (-33 pts) |
CUT (-10) |
DNP | DNP | CUT (-10) |
DNP | DNP | DNP | CUT (-6.67) |
DNP | CUT (-6.67) |
DNP | DNP | T49 (0.33) |
Tony Finau (-26 pts) |
CUT (-10) |
DNP | DNP | CUT (-10) |
DNP | CUT (-6.67) |
DNP | DNP | DNP | CUT (-6.67) |
DNP | T18 (10.67) |
CUT (-3.33) |
Darren Clarke (-23.33 pts) |
CUT (-10) |
DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | CUT (-6.67) |
DNP | DNP | DNP | CUT (-6.67) |
DNP | DNP |
David Hearn (-23.33 pts) |
CUT (-10) |
DNP | DNP | CUT (-10) |
DNP | CUT (-6.67) |
DNP | T30 (13.33) |
DNP | CUT (-6.67) |
DNP | DNP | CUT (-3.33) |
Zac Blair (-22 pts) |
CUT (-10) |
DNP | DNP | CUT (-10) |
DNP | CUT (-6.67) |
DNP | T60 (0) |
DNP | T33 (11.33) |
DNP | CUT (-3.33) |
CUT (-3.33) |
Angel Cabrera (-20.67 pts) |
DNP | DNP | DNP | CUT (-10) |
DNP | CUT (-6.67) |
DNP | DNP | DNP | CUT (-6.67) |
DNP | 66 (0) |
T42 (2.67) |
Morgan Hoffmann (-20 pts) |
CUT (-10) |
DNP | DNP | T61 (0) |
DNP | T68 (0) |
DNP | DNP | DNP | CUT (-6.67) |
DNP | CUT (-3.33) |
DNP |
How Player Rankings are Computed
Who to watch for at the Arnold Palmer Invitational
Best Bets:
Henrik Stenson
2016 | ’15 | ’14 | ’13 | ’12 | ’11 | ’10 | ’09 | ’08 | ’07 | ’06 | ’05 | ’04 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
2 | T5 | T8 | T15 | T47 | T52 | T22 |
Tee to Green he is the best, but if he can get the putter rolling he won’t be stopped. Just look at his record in this event over his last four starts, pretty impressive.
Rory McIlroy
2016 | ’15 | ’14 | ’13 | ’12 | ’11 | ’10 | ’09 | ’08 | ’07 | ’06 | ’05 | ’04 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
T11 |
Got better at the Cadillac and think he will be even better this week.
Adam Scott
2016 | ’15 | ’14 | ’13 | ’12 | ’11 | ’10 | ’09 | ’08 | ’07 | ’06 | ’05 | ’04 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
T35 | 3 | CUT | CUT | T30 | T3 |
Looking for the Florida “hat-trick”, he can win for a third time. Has had some good experiences on this course back in 2014.
Best of the rest:
Ryan Moore
2016 | ’15 | ’14 | ’13 | ’12 | ’11 | ’10 | ’09 | ’08 | ’07 | ’06 | ’05 | ’04 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
T60 | CUT | T4 | T12 | T40 | CUT |
His game seems to be getting better, been in the top-11 in five of his last seven starts and finished 3rd at Valspar.
Matt Kuchar
2016 | ’15 | ’14 | ’13 | ’12 | ’11 | ’10 | ’09 | ’08 | ’07 | ’06 | ’05 | ’04 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
First start since finishing T-51st in 2003. Was T-28th in 2020, T-60th in 1999 and missed cut in 1998 |
More info:
Has been flying under the radar scoop the last year, but showing signs that he is ready to do well this week.
Kevin Na (Has withdrawn)
2016 | ’15 | ’14 | ’13 | ’12 | ’11 | ’10 | ’09 | ’08 | ’07 | ’06 | ’05 | ’04 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
T6 | T14 | T4 | T30 | T2 | T11 | CUT | CUT |
Coming out of a little mini-slump, plays well on this course and has found himself in contention numerous times.
Kevin Streelman
2016 | ’15 | ’14 | ’13 | ’12 | ’11 | ’10 | ’09 | ’08 | ’07 | ’06 | ’05 | ’04 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
T67 | T21 | T47 | T7 | T66 |
Has all of the key stats for the year to do well on this course.
Solid contenders
Jason Day
2016 | ’15 | ’14 | ’13 | ’12 | ’11 | ’10 | ’09 | ’08 | ’07 | ’06 | ’05 | ’04 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
T17 | T45 | T25 | WD | CUT |
Has never done well on this course, has not done well this year. So it may seem strange to pick him this week but it’s getting close to the Masters and he should be stepping it up a beat or two.
Brandt Snedeker
2016 | ’15 | ’14 | ’13 | ’12 | ’11 | ’10 | ’09 | ’08 | ’07 | ’06 | ’05 | ’04 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
T13 | T8 | CUT | T63 | CUT | T30 | T17 | T14 | T22 |
Know that he has been banged up with rib problems, but he has had some time off and playing a course he does well on.
Hideki Matsuyama
2016 | ’15 | ’14 | ’13 | ’12 | ’11 | ’10 | ’09 | ’08 | ’07 | ’06 | ’05 | ’04 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
T21 |
It could be time for him to shock us again this week.
Justin Rose
2016 | ’15 | ’14 | ’13 | ’12 | ’11 | ’10 | ’09 | ’08 | ’07 | ’06 | ’05 | ’04 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
CUT | 2 | T15 | T3 | CUT | T30 | T8 | 68 | T24 |
Another of those that hasn’t played very well this year and is due. Good course to do it on, has come close to winning on several occasions.
Vaughn Taylor
2016 | ’15 | ’14 | ’13 | ’12 | ’11 | ’10 | ’09 | ’08 | ’07 | ’06 | ’05 | ’04 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
T21 | T54 | CUT | T17 | T31 | 3 | CUT | T58 |
Watch him, is first in proximity to hole and Rough Proximity along with being 13th in Strokes Gained Tee-to-Green this year.
Long shots that could come through:
Scott Brown
2016 | ’15 | ’14 | ’13 | ’12 | ’11 | ’10 | ’09 | ’08 | ’07 | ’06 | ’05 | ’04 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
CUT | 13 |
Had a consistent week at Valspar and finished T-7th and it’s his second straight top-10 (was T10th at Honda). At Valspar he led the field in strokes gained putting (6.495 total for the four rounds) so he could be a very good sleeper pick.
Retief Goosen
2016 | ’15 | ’14 | ’13 | ’12 | ’11 | ’10 | ’09 | ’08 | ’07 | ’06 | ’05 | ’04 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
CUT | T31 | T27 | T4 | T36 | T14 | T18 | T48 | 4 | CUT |
Could be a person to watch at the Palmer. Other than a 6th in an opposite-field event, the 2015 Barracuda, his T-11th at the Valspar is his best finish since a T-8th at the 2015 Northern Trust more than a year ago. Goosen has two 4th place finishes in the Palmer.
Vijay Singh
2016 | ’15 | ’14 | ’13 | ’12 | ’11 | ’10 | ’09 | ’08 | ’07 | ’06 | ’05 | ’04 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
T57 | T20 | T57 | T24 | CUT | T59 | T3 | Win | 7 | T2 | T31 |
Watch him, played well on this Florida swing and he has done well at Bay Hill
Just don’t see lightning striking three times:
Matt Every
2016 | ’15 | ’14 | ’13 | ’12 | ’11 | ’10 | ’09 | ’08 | ’07 | ’06 | ’05 | ’04 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Win | Win | T34 | T24 | CUT | T52 |
Looking for his third straight title, gosh was surprised to see him win last year. His game is lost, he has deemed himself as being totally “uncoachable” in dropping Sean Foley. I see him struggling just to make the cut so winning is out of the question.
Kevin Na withdrew from the tourney yesterday in case anyone was looking to pick him.
James, thanks got it from the Tour this morning. Patton Kizzire also withdrew, problably because he is playing in the Match Play getting in at 65 in the world rankings.
Sal – which courses do you think match up well to Bay Hill. On the Florida Swing I would imagine Doral is close, maybe even Sawgrass? I hesitate to compare to Riveria where I’ve seen a number of others compare to given the grass differences. Thoughts?
Tim, that is a damn good question and one that takes some thought. I would say no to Sawgrass because that course has much different problems, one thing players don’t have to contend with is high rough like they do at Bay Hill. I can buy into Doral, but I think the courses that come close in my mind is TPC Louisiana which holds the Zurich Classic of New Orleans and TPC Southwind (this is the best example) which holds the FedEx St. Jude Classic in June.
My dark horse: Keegan Bradley – Bet on TOP 20 Finish @ 4.0 (Cuts 3/9 – but on that course he played very well).