Arnold Palmer Invitational
March 16th – 19th, 2017
Bay Hill Club
Orlando, FL
Par: 72 / Yardage: 7,419
Purse: $6.3 million
with $1,134,000 to the winner
Defending Champion:
Jason Day

This week’s field includes:
The field includes 52 of the top 100 and 28 of the top 50 in the latest Official World Rankings, with five players from the top-ten: #2 Jason Day, #3 Rory McIlroy, #4 Hideki Matsuyama, #5 Henrik Stenson and #9 Rickie Fowler. The other top 50 players are #11 Alex Noren, #13 Justin Rose, #15 Paul Casey, #16 Tyrrell Hatton, #17 Bubba Watson, #19 Branden Grace, #23 Brooks Koepka, #24 Brandt Snedeker, #27 Charl Schwartzel, #28 Louis Oosthuizen, #29 Thomas Pieters, #30 Matthew Fitzpatrick, #32 Emiliano Grillo, #33 Francesco Molinari, #35 Tommy Fleetwood, #36 Ryan Moore, #40 Kevin Chappell, #42 Zach Johnson, #44 Martin Kaymer, #45 Jeunghun Wang, #46 Kevin Kisner, #47 Kevin Na and #48 Byeong Hun An.
Last year 26 of the top 50 players were in the field
The field includes 16 of the top 25 on the FedEx point standings for 2017. Those players are # 1 Hideki Matsuyama, # 5 Pat Perez, # 7 Adam Hadwin, # 10 Rickie Fowler, # 11 Mackenzie Hughes, # 12 Charles Howell III, # 13 Hudson Swafford, # 14 Rod Pampling, # 15 Justin Rose, # 16 Cody Gribble, # 18 Webb Simpson, # 20 Keegan Bradley, # 22 Luke List, #23 Francesco Molinari, #24 Tony Finau and # 25 Martin Laird.
The field includes 14 players in the top 25 on this year’s PGA Tour money list. Those players are # 1 Hideki Matsuyama, # 4 Adam Hadwin, # 6 Pat Perez, # 10 Rickie Fowler, # 11 Mackenzie Hughes, # 12 Charles Howell III, # 13 Rod Pampling, # 14 Hudson Swafford, # 15 Justin Rose, # 17 Cody Gribble, # 19 Webb Simpson, # 23 Keegan Bradley, # 24 Martin Laird and # 25 Luke List.
The field includes 9 past champions: Jason Day (2016), Matt Every (2015 & ’14), Martin Laird (2011), Ernie Els (2010 & 1998), Vijay Singh (2007), Rod Pampling (2006), 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.
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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 | WGC Mexico | Honda | Genesis Open | AT&T Pebble | Phoenix Open | Dubai | Farmers | Qatar | CareerBuilder | Abu Dhabi | Sony Open | SBS T. of Champions |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Rickie Fowler (234.33 pts) |
DNP | T16 (51) |
Win (132) |
DNP | DNP | T4 (53.33) |
DNP | CUT (-6.67) |
DNP | DNP | T36 (4.67) |
DNP | DNP |
Tyrrell Hatton (212.33 pts) |
DNP | 10 (60) |
T4 (80) |
DNP | DNP | DNP | T3 (60) |
DNP | DNP | DNP | T13 (12.33) |
DNP | DNP |
Adam Hadwin (209.33 pts) |
Win (132) |
DNP | DNP | T34 (10.67) |
T39 (7.33) |
T12 (25.33) |
DNP | T49 (0.67) |
DNP | 2 (33.33) |
DNP | DNP | DNP |
Tommy Fleetwood (184 pts) |
DNP | 2 (150) |
DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | CUT (-6.67) |
DNP | CUT (-3.33) |
DNP | Win (44) |
DNP | DNP |
Wesley Bryan (180.33 pts) |
T7 (55) |
DNP | T4 (80) |
T4 (53.33) |
DNP | T42 (5.33) |
DNP | CUT (-6.67) |
DNP | CUT (-3.33) |
DNP | CUT (-3.33) |
DNP |
Thomas Pieters (176.33 pts) |
DNP | T5 (105) |
CUT (-10) |
T2 (66.67) |
DNP | DNP | T23 (18) |
DNP | DNP | DNP | CUT (-3.33) |
DNP | DNP |
Hideki Matsuyama (171.17 pts) |
DNP | T25 (37.5) |
DNP | CUT (-6.67) |
DNP | Win (88) |
DNP | T33 (11.33) |
DNP | DNP | DNP | T27 (7.67) |
2 (33.33) |
Brandt Snedeker (167.83 pts) |
DNP | T7 (82.5) |
DNP | CUT (-6.67) |
4 (53.33) |
DNP | DNP | T9 (30) |
DNP | DNP | DNP | CUT (-3.33) |
T14 (12) |
Martin Kaymer (165.83 pts) |
DNP | T23 (40.5) |
T4 (80) |
DNP | DNP | DNP | T23 (18) |
DNP | T48 (0.67) |
DNP | T4 (26.67) |
DNP | DNP |
Justin Rose (165.33 pts) |
DNP | T38 (18) |
DNP | T4 (53.33) |
T39 (7.33) |
DNP | DNP | T4 (53.33) |
DNP | DNP | DNP | 2 (33.33) |
DNP |
Tony Finau (153 pts) |
5 (70) |
DNP | DNP | CUT (-6.67) |
T23 (18) |
CUT (-6.67) |
DNP | T4 (53.33) |
DNP | DNP | DNP | T20 (10) |
T9 (15) |
Pat Perez (136.67 pts) |
DNP | T38 (18) |
DNP | T28 (14.67) |
T14 (24) |
WD (-3.33) |
DNP | T4 (53.33) |
DNP | DNP | DNP | T69 (0) |
T3 (30) |
Henrik Stenson (130.83 pts) |
T7 (55) |
WD (-7.5) |
DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | 2 (66.67) |
DNP | DNP | DNP | T8 (16.67) |
DNP | DNP |
Kevin Kisner (122.17 pts) |
DNP | 11 (58.5) |
T48 (2) |
DNP | T10 (26.67) |
DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | T25 (8.33) |
DNP | T4 (26.67) |
DNP |
Charles Howell III (120.33 pts) |
T49 (1) |
DNP | T52 (0) |
T15 (23.33) |
DNP | DNP | DNP | T2 (66.67) |
DNP | T12 (12.67) |
DNP | T8 (16.67) |
DNP |
Jim Herman (119 pts) |
T3 (90) |
DNP | T27 (23) |
CUT (-6.67) |
CUT (-6.67) |
CUT (-6.67) |
DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | 10 (13.33) |
T12 (12.67) |
Graham Delaet (116.67 pts) |
T22 (28) |
DNP | 10 (40) |
T17 (22) |
DNP | T9 (30) |
DNP | T54 (0) |
DNP | CUT (-3.33) |
DNP | DNP | DNP |
Francesco Molinari (111 pts) |
DNP | T20 (45) |
T14 (36) |
CUT (-6.67) |
DNP | DNP | DNP | T14 (24) |
DNP | T12 (12.67) |
DNP | DNP | DNP |
Paul Casey (108.67 pts) |
DNP | T16 (51) |
T11 (39) |
T39 (7.33) |
DNP | DNP | DNP | T28 (14.67) |
DNP | T58 (0) |
DNP | CUT (-3.33) |
DNP |
Graeme McDowell (104 pts) |
T14 (36) |
DNP | T14 (36) |
67 (0) |
DNP | DNP | T13 (24.67) |
DNP | T28 (7.33) |
DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP |
Louis Oosthuizen (98 pts) |
DNP | T48 (3) |
T21 (29) |
DNP | DNP | 3 (60) |
DNP | T41 (6) |
DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP |
Matthew Fitzpatrick (94.33 pts) |
DNP | T16 (51) |
68 (0) |
DNP | DNP | DNP | T5 (46.67) |
DNP | DNP | DNP | CUT (-3.33) |
DNP | DNP |
J.J. Spaun (92.67 pts) |
CUT (-10) |
DNP | T21 (29) |
DNP | CUT (-6.67) |
T4 (53.33) |
DNP | T9 (30) |
DNP | T50 (0.33) |
DNP | CUT (-3.33) |
DNP |
Morgan Hoffmann (92.67 pts) |
T52 (0) |
DNP | T2 (100) |
CUT (-6.67) |
CUT (-6.67) |
T36 (9.33) |
DNP | T77 (0) |
DNP | DNP | DNP | CUT (-3.33) |
DNP |
Webb Simpson (88.67 pts) |
T41 (9) |
DNP | DNP | T39 (7.33) |
CUT (-6.67) |
2 (66.67) |
DNP | DNP | DNP | T66 (0) |
DNP | T13 (12.33) |
DNP |
Ryan Moore (88.33 pts) |
T18 (32) |
T28 (33) |
DNP | CUT (-6.67) |
DNP | T61 (0) |
DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | T3 (30) |
Lucas Glover (84.67 pts) |
T18 (32) |
DNP | T21 (29) |
DNP | DNP | T36 (9.33) |
DNP | T33 (11.33) |
DNP | T41 (3) |
DNP | DNP | DNP |
Russell Henley (83.67 pts) |
T9 (45) |
DNP | T43 (7) |
DNP | DNP | T16 (22.67) |
DNP | DNP | DNP | CUT (-3.33) |
DNP | T13 (12.33) |
DNP |
Rory McIlroy (82.5 pts) |
DNP | T7 (82.5) |
DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP |
Stewart Cink (82 pts) |
T27 (23) |
DNP | T27 (23) |
T28 (14.67) |
T55 (0) |
DNP | DNP | T20 (20) |
DNP | CUT (-3.33) |
DNP | T36 (4.67) |
DNP |
How Player Rankings are Computed
Who’s Not Hot in the field for the Arnold Palmer Invitational
Player | Valspar | WGC Mexico | Honda | Genesis Open | AT&T Pebble | Phoenix Open | Dubai | Farmers | Qatar | CareerBuilder | Abu Dhabi | Sony Open | SBS T. of Champions |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Steven Bowditch (-46.67 pts) |
CUT (-10) |
DNP | CUT (-10) |
CUT (-6.67) |
CUT (-6.67) |
CUT (-6.67) |
DNP | CUT (-6.67) |
DNP | T58 (0) |
DNP | T51 (0) |
DNP |
Matt Every (-41.67 pts) |
CUT (-10) |
DNP | WD (-5) |
CUT (-6.67) |
CUT (-6.67) |
CUT (-6.67) |
DNP | DNP | DNP | CUT (-3.33) |
DNP | CUT (-3.33) |
DNP |
Smylie Kaufman (-36.67 pts) |
CUT (-10) |
DNP | CUT (-10) |
DNP | CUT (-6.67) |
CUT (-6.67) |
DNP | DNP | DNP | T72 (0) |
DNP | CUT (-3.33) |
DNP |
Retief Goosen (-33.33 pts) |
CUT (-10) |
DNP | CUT (-10) |
DNP | DNP | CUT (-6.67) |
DNP | CUT (-6.67) |
DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP |
Greg Chalmers (-32.67 pts) |
CUT (-10) |
DNP | T57 (0) |
CUT (-6.67) |
CUT (-6.67) |
CUT (-6.67) |
DNP | CUT (-6.67) |
DNP | DNP | DNP | CUT (-3.33) |
28 (7.33) |
Si Woo Kim (-31.67 pts) |
WD (-5) |
T72 (0) |
CUT (-10) |
CUT (-6.67) |
CUT (-6.67) |
CUT (-6.67) |
DNP | WD (-3.33) |
DNP | DNP | DNP | T91 (0) |
T30 (6.67) |
Harold Varner III (-30 pts) |
CUT (-10) |
DNP | T57 (0) |
CUT (-6.67) |
DNP | T68 (0) |
DNP | CUT (-6.67) |
DNP | CUT (-3.33) |
DNP | CUT (-3.33) |
DNP |
Vijay Singh (-23.33 pts) |
CUT (-10) |
DNP | DNP | CUT (-6.67) |
CUT (-6.67) |
DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | T57 (0) |
DNP |
Kyle Reifers (-22.67 pts) |
67 (0) |
DNP | CUT (-10) |
CUT (-6.67) |
DNP | CUT (-6.67) |
DNP | T39 (7.33) |
DNP | CUT (-3.33) |
DNP | CUT (-3.33) |
DNP |
Aaron Baddeley (-21.67 pts) |
CUT (-10) |
DNP | DNP | CUT (-6.67) |
DNP | CUT (-6.67) |
DNP | CUT (-6.67) |
DNP | T75 (0) |
DNP | DNP | T25 (8.33) |
How Player Rankings are Computed
Who to watch for at the Arnold Palmer Invitational
Best Bets:
Henrik Stenson
2017 | ’16 | ’15 | ’14 | ’13 | ’12 | ’11 | ’10 | ’09 | ’08 | ’07 | ’06 | ’05 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
T3 | 2 | T5 | T8 | T15 | T47 | T52 | T22 |
Has played well in his last five starts, he is 50 under par in those rounds and for the last four years only been over par once in 16 rounds. He will be the man to beat this week.
Rory McIlroy
2017 | ’16 | ’15 | ’14 | ’13 | ’12 | ’11 | ’10 | ’09 | ’08 | ’07 | ’06 | ’05 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
T27 | T11 |
Showed at Mexico that his game has very little rust from resting his ribs from the injury. Course isn’t the best for him, but he is the type of player that can win on any course.
Justin Rose
2017 | ’16 | ’15 | ’14 | ’13 | ’12 | ’11 | ’10 | ’09 | ’08 | ’07 | ’06 | ’05 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
T9 | CUT | 2 | T15 | T3 | CUT | T30 | T8 | 68 |
He is overdue for another win, this course is a bit like the Olympic course he won the Gold Medal on. His game has been sharp and he can do well at Bay Hill.
Best of the rest:
Hideki Matsuyama
2017 | ’16 | ’15 | ’14 | ’13 | ’12 | ’11 | ’10 | ’09 | ’08 | ’07 | ’06 | ’05 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
T6 | T21 |
Coming to a course in which he has done well on, has been in a mini-slump look for him to break out this week.
Paul Casey
2017 | ’16 | ’15 | ’14 | ’13 | ’12 | ’11 | ’10 | ’09 | ’08 | ’07 | ’06 | ’05 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
T9 | CUT | T60 | CUT | T14 |
His game has been coming around slowly but should be ready to contend this week.
Brandt Snedeker
2017 | ’16 | ’15 | ’14 | ’13 | ’12 | ’11 | ’10 | ’09 | ’08 | ’07 | ’06 | ’05 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
T36 | T13 | T8 | CUT | T63 | CUT | T30 | T17 | T14 | T22 |
Guy has been sneaky good in this event, should watch him.
Rickie Fowler
2017 | ’16 | ’15 | ’14 | ’13 | ’12 | ’11 | ’10 | ’09 | ’08 | ’07 | ’06 | ’05 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
T29 | CUT | T3 | T30 | T50 |
Be interested to see which player shows up to the first tee on Thursday, the Rickie Fowler who made the Honda look like an easy victory or the Rickie Fowler who still seems to struggle.
Solid contenders
Francesco Molinari
2017 | ’16 | ’15 | ’14 | ’13 | ’12 | ’11 | ’10 | ’09 | ’08 | ’07 | ’06 | ’05 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
T9 | T17 | T5 | T34 |
His game has been very sharp and he does play well at Bay Hill.
Tyrrell Hatton
2017 | ’16 | ’15 | ’14 | ’13 | ’12 | ’11 | ’10 | ’09 | ’08 | ’07 | ’06 | ’05 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
First time playing in this event |
More info:
Playing in this event for the first time, has been spotless with his play the last two months.
Wesley Bryan
2017 | ’16 | ’15 | ’14 | ’13 | ’12 | ’11 | ’10 | ’09 | ’08 | ’07 | ’06 | ’05 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
First time playing in this event |
More info:
Another Palmer first-timer, just like with Hatton his game has been spotless as he has finished in the top-seven his last three starts.
Tommy Fleetwood
2017 | ’16 | ’15 | ’14 | ’13 | ’12 | ’11 | ’10 | ’09 | ’08 | ’07 | ’06 | ’05 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
First time playing in this event |
More info:
Talking about another first-timer with a very good record of late.
Long shots that could come through:
Ian Poulter
2017 | ’16 | ’15 | ’14 | ’13 | ’12 | ’11 | ’10 | ’09 | ’08 | ’07 | ’06 | ’05 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
T46 | T21 | T20 | T21 | 3 | T12 | CUT | T48 | CUT | CUT |
His game is still a work in progress but he plays well in Florida and he may take advantage in this Florida stop.
Thomas Pieters
2017 | ’16 | ’15 | ’14 | ’13 | ’12 | ’11 | ’10 | ’09 | ’08 | ’07 | ’06 | ’05 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
76 |
Can he pull off the upset, his game off the tee hasn’t been very sharp but he has scored well of late so maybe he can win this week.
Jason Kokrak
2017 | ’16 | ’15 | ’14 | ’13 | ’12 | ’11 | ’10 | ’09 | ’08 | ’07 | ’06 | ’05 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
T20 | T6 | 4 | CUT |
Has knocked on the door of this event in past years.
Among those many think will win but won’t this week
Jason Day
2017 | ’16 | ’15 | ’14 | ’13 | ’12 | ’11 | ’10 | ’09 | ’08 | ’07 | ’06 | ’05 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Win | T17 | T45 | T25 | WD | CUT |
Life has become a struggle of late, almost like Superman getting a dose of Kryptonian his game is not what it was like last year.
Zach Johnson
2017 | ’16 | ’15 | ’14 | ’13 | ’12 | ’11 | ’10 | ’09 | ’08 | ’07 | ’06 | ’05 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
5 | T9 | T43 | T34 | T11 | T47 | CUT | 3 | T54 | T42 | T43 | T8 |
Has played very well in this event in the past, only problem his game is not ready for prime time right now.
good article
RIP Arnie
Sal, what do you think of Mathew Fitzpatrick?
He is a great talent over on the other side of the Atlantic, but frankly he needs to make his mark in America. Only has played in 19 PGA Tour events and of the 15 that have been played in America he only has one top-20 finish, T-7th in last year’s Masters. So I need for him to show me that he can play in America and win in America. So to make a long story short in answering your questions right now have very little faith with him playing in the United States. Needs a better track record.
Chris, John Huggan wrote a very good feature on Mathew Fitzpatrick for all to read:
http://www.golfdigest.com/story/the-maturation-of-matt-fitzpatrick
what do you think about kevin na this week.
I have mixed feelings on Na. He has played well at Bay Hill (didn’t play last year), T-6th in 2015, T-14th in 2014 and T-4th in 2012. Since he is a straight driver, the course favors his game. Now 2017 hasn’t been that great of a year for him. Maybe having a child the end of August has got his mind off his game, but he has had mixed results, but did finish T-4th at the Genesis Open. Since then was T-52nd at Mexico and missed the cut at Valspar, one of the courses that he should own. He is one of the shortest hitters on tour, but he has always been straight until this year, he ranks 158th in driving accuracy. Along with that he has struggled with his putter, he is 170th in putting from 4 to 8 feet and 191st in putting inside ten feet. So with all of that these numbers you can see why I was turned off on his game this week.