Arnold Palmer Invitational
March 15th – 18th, 2018
Bay Hill Club
Orlando, FL
Par: 72 / Yardage:
Purse: $8.9 million
with $1,602,000 to the winner
Defending Champion:
Marc Leishman

This week’s field includes:
The field includes 53 of the top 100 and 24 of the top 50 in the latest Official World Rankings, with four players from the top-ten: #5 Justin Rose, #6 Hideki Matsuyama, #7 Rickie Fowler and #10 Jason Day. The other top 50 players are #11 Tommy Fleetwood, #13 Rory McIlroy, #14 Tyrrell Hatton, #15 Henrik Stenson, #16 Marc Leishman, #17 Alex Noren, #22 Brian Harman, #23 Patrick Reed, #25 Francesco Molinari, #26 Charley Hoffman, #29 Louis Oosthuizen, #31 Kiradech Aphibarnrat, #33 Matthew Fitzpatrick, #36 Kevin Kisner, #37 Kevin Chappell, #38 Bubba Watson, #40 Li Haotong, #44 Satoshi Kodaira, #49 Yuta Ikeda and #50 Cameron Smith.
Last year 28 of the top 50 players were in the field
The field includes 13 of the top 25 on the FedEx point standings for this year. Those players are # 2 Patton Kizzire, # 10 Jason Day, # 14 Brian Harman, # 15 Justin Rose, # 16 Austin Cook, # 17 Luke List, # 18 Bubba Watson, # 19 Chesson Hadley, # 20 Alex Noren, # 21 Ted Potter, Jr., # 22 Cameron Smith, #23 Marc Leishman and # 24 James Hahn.
The field includes 9 past champions: Marc Leishman (2017), Jason Day (2016), Matt Every (2015 & ’14), Tiger Woods (2013, ’12, ’09, ’08, ’03, ’02, ’01 & 2000), Martin Laird (2011), Ernie Els (2010 & 1998), Vijay Singh (2007), 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 the 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.
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 | Indian Open | WGC Mexico | Honda Classic | Genesis Open | Qatar Masters | AT&T Pebble | Phoenix Open | Farmers | Dubai Classic | CareerBuilder Challenge | Abu Dhabi | Sony Open |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Alex Noren (219.33 pts) |
DNP | DNP | T14 (54) |
3 (90) |
T16 (22.67) |
DNP | DNP | T21 (19.33) |
T2 (33.33) |
DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP |
Tommy Fleetwood (206.67 pts) |
DNP | DNP | T14 (54) |
4 (80) |
T37 (8.67) |
DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | T6 (20) |
DNP | Win (44) |
DNP |
Luke List (172 pts) |
T16 (34) |
DNP | DNP | 2 (100) |
T26 (16) |
DNP | DNP | T26 (16) |
T12 (12.67) |
DNP | CUT (-3.33) |
DNP | CUT (-3.33) |
Bubba Watson (168.83 pts) |
DNP | DNP | T9 (67.5) |
DNP | Win (88) |
DNP | T35 (10) |
T40 (6.67) |
DNP | DNP | CUT (-3.33) |
DNP | DNP |
Tyrrell Hatton (166.67 pts) |
DNP | DNP | T3 (135) |
CUT (-10) |
DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | T3 (30) |
DNP | T15 (11.67) |
DNP |
Brian Harman (155.33 pts) |
DNP | DNP | T5 (105) |
T33 (17) |
DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | CUT (-3.33) |
DNP | T20 (10) |
DNP | T4 (26.67) |
Scott Stallings (141.33 pts) |
T31 (19) |
DNP | DNP | T29 (21) |
T4 (53.33) |
DNP | 7 (36.67) |
T23 (18) |
CUT (-3.33) |
DNP | CUT (-3.33) |
DNP | DNP |
Tiger Woods (140.33 pts) |
T2 (100) |
DNP | DNP | 12 (38) |
CUT (-6.67) |
DNP | DNP | DNP | T23 (9) |
DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP |
Patrick Reed (130.5 pts) |
T2 (100) |
DNP | T37 (19.5) |
CUT (-10) |
DNP | DNP | CUT (-6.67) |
T17 (22) |
T23 (9) |
DNP | CUT (-3.33) |
DNP | DNP |
Emiliano Grillo (123.67 pts) |
DNP | 6 (60) |
DNP | T8 (50) |
DNP | DNP | DNP | T57 (0) |
T12 (12.67) |
DNP | DNP | DNP | T47 (1) |
Kevin Chappell (116 pts) |
DNP | DNP | T30 (30) |
DNP | T20 (20) |
DNP | T8 (33.33) |
T31 (12.67) |
DNP | DNP | T6 (20) |
DNP | DNP |
Justin Rose (115.5 pts) |
T5 (70) |
DNP | T37 (19.5) |
DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | T8 (16.67) |
DNP | DNP | T22 (9.33) |
DNP |
Kiradech Aphibarnrat (114.33 pts) |
DNP | DNP | T5 (105) |
T68 (0) |
DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | T51 (0) |
DNP | T22 (9.33) |
DNP |
Jason Day (110.67 pts) |
DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | T2 (66.67) |
DNP | Win (44) |
DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP |
Jason Kokrak (110.33 pts) |
T8 (50) |
DNP | DNP | DNP | T20 (20) |
DNP | T35 (10) |
T31 (12.67) |
DNP | DNP | T8 (16.67) |
DNP | T47 (1) |
Patton Kizzire (106.33 pts) |
DNP | DNP | T12 (57) |
CUT (-10) |
DNP | DNP | DNP | T31 (12.67) |
DNP | DNP | T42 (2.67) |
DNP | Win (44) |
James Hahn (105.67 pts) |
DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | T14 (24) |
DNP | T26 (16) |
T11 (26) |
T45 (1.67) |
DNP | T36 (4.67) |
DNP | 2 (33.33) |
Byeong Hun An (101.33 pts) |
CUT (-10) |
DNP | DNP | T5 (70) |
DNP | DNP | DNP | T23 (18) |
DNP | T6 (20) |
DNP | T40 (3.33) |
DNP |
Jamie Lovemark (98.33 pts) |
T16 (34) |
DNP | DNP | 7 (55) |
T26 (16) |
DNP | DNP | T52 (0) |
CUT (-3.33) |
DNP | DNP | DNP | CUT (-3.33) |
Kevin Na (87.33 pts) |
DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | T2 (66.67) |
DNP | T20 (20) |
T48 (1.33) |
DNP | DNP | T42 (2.67) |
DNP | CUT (-3.33) |
Louis Oosthuizen (86.67 pts) |
T16 (34) |
DNP | T30 (30) |
T24 (26) |
DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | CUT (-3.33) |
DNP | DNP | DNP |
Sam Burns (84.67 pts) |
T12 (38) |
DNP | DNP | T8 (50) |
DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | CUT (-3.33) |
DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP |
Scott Piercy (74.67 pts) |
DNP | DNP | DNP | T17 (33) |
DNP | DNP | T20 (20) |
CUT (-6.67) |
DNP | DNP | T6 (20) |
DNP | T25 (8.33) |
Ollie Schniederjans (69.33 pts) |
T49 (1) |
DNP | DNP | T64 (0) |
CUT (-6.67) |
DNP | DNP | T3 (60) |
CUT (-3.33) |
DNP | DNP | DNP | T7 (18.33) |
John Huh (68.33 pts) |
CUT (-10) |
DNP | DNP | T24 (26) |
T26 (16) |
DNP | DNP | T38 (8) |
T45 (1.67) |
DNP | T3 (30) |
DNP | CUT (-3.33) |
How Player Rankings are Computed
Who’s Not Hot in the field for the Arnold Palmer Invitational
Player | Valspar | Indian Open | WGC Mexico | Honda Classic | Genesis Open | Qatar Masters | AT&T Pebble | Phoenix Open | Farmers | Dubai Classic | CareerBuilder Challenge | Abu Dhabi | Sony Open |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Billy Hurley III (-43.33 pts) |
CUT (-10) |
DNP | DNP | CUT (-10) |
CUT (-6.67) |
DNP | CUT (-6.67) |
CUT (-6.67) |
DNP | DNP | T69 (0) |
DNP | CUT (-3.33) |
Robert Streb (-43.33 pts) |
CUT (-10) |
DNP | DNP | CUT (-10) |
CUT (-6.67) |
DNP | CUT (-6.67) |
CUT (-6.67) |
66 (0) |
DNP | DNP | DNP | CUT (-3.33) |
Smylie Kaufman (-40 pts) |
CUT (-10) |
DNP | DNP | CUT (-10) |
CUT (-6.67) |
DNP | DNP | CUT (-6.67) |
CUT (-3.33) |
DNP | T69 (0) |
DNP | CUT (-3.33) |
Danny Lee (-35 pts) |
CUT (-10) |
DNP | DNP | WD (-5) |
CUT (-6.67) |
DNP | DNP | CUT (-6.67) |
T58 (0) |
DNP | CUT (-3.33) |
DNP | CUT (-3.33) |
Mackenzie Hughes (-33.33 pts) |
CUT (-10) |
DNP | DNP | T59 (0) |
DNP | DNP | CUT (-6.67) |
CUT (-6.67) |
CUT (-3.33) |
DNP | CUT (-3.33) |
DNP | CUT (-3.33) |
D.A. Points (-30 pts) |
CUT (-10) |
DNP | DNP | DNP | CUT (-6.67) |
DNP | CUT (-6.67) |
CUT (-6.67) |
DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | T73 (0) |
Padraig Harrington (-30 pts) |
CUT (-10) |
DNP | DNP | CUT (-10) |
T64 (0) |
DNP | CUT (-6.67) |
DNP | CUT (-3.33) |
DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP |
Billy Horschel (-28.67 pts) |
CUT (-10) |
DNP | DNP | CUT (-10) |
CUT (-6.67) |
DNP | CUT (-6.67) |
T43 (4.67) |
T54 (0) |
DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP |
Matt Every (-23.33 pts) |
T68 (0) |
DNP | DNP | 66 (0) |
CUT (-6.67) |
DNP | CUT (-6.67) |
CUT (-6.67) |
CUT (-3.33) |
DNP | T69 (0) |
DNP | 75 (0) |
Whee Kim (-22.33 pts) |
T49 (1) |
DNP | DNP | DNP | CUT (-6.67) |
DNP | DNP | CUT (-6.67) |
CUT (-3.33) |
DNP | CUT (-3.33) |
DNP | CUT (-3.33) |
How Player Rankings are Computed
UPDATE ON WED MORNING
Who to watch for at the Arnold Palmer Invitational
Best Bets:
Tiger Woods
2018 | ’17 | ’16 | ’15 | ’14 | ’13 | ’12 | ’11 | ’10 | ’09 | ’08 | ’07 | ’06 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Win | Win | T24 | Win | Win | T22 | T20 |
You can see the progression that he has gone to get to this point. He comes to a course he has done very well out playing some of his best golf in almost a decade, he has to win soon.
Justin Rose
2018 | ’17 | ’16 | ’15 | ’14 | ’13 | ’12 | ’11 | ’10 | ’09 | ’08 | ’07 | ’06 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
T13 | T9 | CUT | 2 | T15 | T3 | CUT | T30 | T8 |
He has hit the ball well all year and put up good numbers. He also has played well at Bay Hill, about time for him to win another big event.
Tommy Fleetwood
2018 | ’17 | ’16 | ’15 | ’14 | ’13 | ’12 | ’11 | ’10 | ’09 | ’08 | ’07 | ’06 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
T10 |
He has played well at Bay Hill and had a very good year. It’s time for him to win in America.
Best of the rest:
Tyrrell Hatton
2018 | ’17 | ’16 | ’15 | ’14 | ’13 | ’12 | ’11 | ’10 | ’09 | ’08 | ’07 | ’06 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
T4 |
Put up good numbers at Bay Hill last year and almost won in Mexico. He is a future star.
Jason Day
2018 | ’17 | ’16 | ’15 | ’14 | ’13 | ’12 | ’11 | ’10 | ’09 | ’08 | ’07 | ’06 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
T23 | Win | T17 | T45 | T25 | WD | CUT |
Has played great this year, just worried about the number of reps he is getting, hasn’t played that much but the numbers have been off the chart.
Henrik Stenson
2018 | ’17 | ’16 | ’15 | ’14 | ’13 | ’12 | ’11 | ’10 | ’09 | ’08 | ’07 | ’06 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
CUT | T3 | 2 | T5 | T8 | T15 | T47 | T52 | T22 |
Has put up good numbers at Bay Hill and had a good year until missing the cut at Valspar which is a big mystery to me.
Kiradech Aphibarnrat
2018 | ’17 | ’16 | ’15 | ’14 | ’13 | ’12 | ’11 | ’10 | ’09 | ’08 | ’07 | ’06 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
T6 | T6 |
Been very good in his two Bay Hill starts, he has played well this year including a win last week in Asia. Just worried about all the travel, have to wonder if his body knows what time zone he is in.
Solid contenders
Adam Scott
2018 | ’17 | ’16 | ’15 | ’14 | ’13 | ’12 | ’11 | ’10 | ’09 | ’08 | ’07 | ’06 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
T12 | T35 | 3 | CUT | CUT |
He has slowly progressed and is not playing that bad. Good course for him to play well on, don’t’ be surprised if he does well this week.
Bubba Watson
2018 | ’17 | ’16 | ’15 | ’14 | ’13 | ’12 | ’11 | ’10 | ’09 | ’08 | ’07 | ’06 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
T34 | WD | T14 | T4 | T24 | CUT | CUT | T8 | CUT | T34 |
On a roll, think that he will continue his good play and do well.
Alex Noren
2018 | ’17 | ’16 | ’15 | ’14 | ’13 | ’12 | ’11 | ’10 | ’09 | ’08 | ’07 | ’06 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
T49 |
Can’t forget about him, has played very well this year and I see the good play continue into Bay Hill.
Kevin Chappell
2018 | ’17 | ’16 | ’15 | ’14 | ’13 | ’12 | ’11 | ’10 | ’09 | ’08 | ’07 | ’06 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
T49 | 2 | CUT | T14 | CUT | T24 |
Do not discount this guy has had a good year and I can see it continuing this week.
Kevin Na
2018 | ’17 | ’16 | ’15 | ’14 | ’13 | ’12 | ’11 | ’10 | ’09 | ’08 | ’07 | ’06 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
CUT | T6 | T14 | T4 | T30 | T2 | T11 | CUT |
Has had good finishes at Bay Hill plus was runner-up in his last start at the Genesis.
Long shots that could come through:
Jason Kokrak
2018 | ’17 | ’16 | ’15 | ’14 | ’13 | ’12 | ’11 | ’10 | ’09 | ’08 | ’07 | ’06 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
T56 | T20 | T6 | 4 | CUT |
Has played well at Bay Hill and his year has been good.
Cameron Smith
2018 | ’17 | ’16 | ’15 | ’14 | ’13 | ’12 | ’11 | ’10 | ’09 | ’08 | ’07 | ’06 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
T34 |
Again always a good pick seems to play well week after week after week.
Emiliano Grillo
2018 | ’17 | ’16 | ’15 | ’14 | ’13 | ’12 | ’11 | ’10 | ’09 | ’08 | ’07 | ’06 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
T7 | T17 |
My sleeper pick for the week has put up great numbers at Bay Hill and has had a great year not missing a cut in 2018.
Sam Burns
2018 | ’17 | ’16 | ’15 | ’14 | ’13 | ’12 | ’11 | ’10 | ’09 | ’08 | ’07 | ’06 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
First time playing in this event |
More info:
On a roll in his last three starts.
Better think twice before you pick him:
Rory McIlroy
2018 | ’17 | ’16 | ’15 | ’14 | ’13 | ’12 | ’11 | ’10 | ’09 | ’08 | ’07 | ’06 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
T4 | T27 | T11 |
Has a great record at Bay Hill but he seems to be lost in his game right now. Needs to get things together, he is getting to close to the Masters to be playing this poorly. His big problem is putting.
Rickie Fowler
2018 | ’17 | ’16 | ’15 | ’14 | ’13 | ’12 | ’11 | ’10 | ’09 | ’08 | ’07 | ’06 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
12 | T29 | CUT | T3 | T30 | T50 |
He has admitted to not playing well since Kapalua, so be very careful on him.
Hideki Matsuyama
2018 | ’17 | ’16 | ’15 | ’14 | ’13 | ’12 | ’11 | ’10 | ’09 | ’08 | ’07 | ’06 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
T45 | T6 | T21 |
Lot’s of unknowns with his wrist, will it hold up?
Excellent analysis. Gonna try and put together a team with Woods, Alphibarnrat, Grillo and Scott.
Also, make sure that you don’t forget Francesco Molinari who I completely forgot. I updated my Draft Kings picks by adding Molinari to the bottom of the paragraph and everyone should seriously consider Molinari.
Need your help on this.
Looking to add some things for next week’s WGC-Dell Match Play Championship, thinking of putting out the preview on Sunday night, just after the Palmer is finished. Of course, we won’t know the pairings and groups until late Monday, so looking to update or doing a different preview either late Monday or early Tuesday morning.
I then would do another playoff on Friday after the group play is finished and we know who the top-16 for weekend play will be.
What do you all think???
Also since things change so much and quickly, thinking of starting to post these on my twitter site, which I haven’t used in months. That address is Sal Johnson @GOLFstatsSal. Come join me and tell me your thoughts on updating things in this manner.
Thanks,
Sal
I like the idea of an early preview and then revisions before the weekend. Watching the group play will give you a much better opportunity to accurately assess a player’s weekend chances. There are many ways to advance in this Championship, but not all of them portend continued success.
Hope you all can spend some time with me on twitter @GOLFstatsSal.