19th Hole
Vincenzi’s 2024 Arnold Palmer Invitational betting preview: Big names ready to pounce at Bay Hill
The PGA Tour continues its Florida Swing at Bay Hill Club & Lodge to play the 2024 Arnold Palmer Invitational this week. The event has been a mainstay on Tour, appearing on the schedule every year since 1979. However, this year the tournament will be the fourth of eight “signature events” this season, which offer a $20 million prize pool.
Bay Hill Club & Lodge is a par-72 measuring 7,454 yards featuring Bermudagrass greens. Bay Hill can play extremely difficult if the wind picks up, but the course certainly has teeth whether there is wind or not.
The event being “signature” just about guarantees that all of the top players on TOUR will be in attendance this week. Of the 55 players eligible entering last week, only Tony Finau will not be in the field.
Past Winners at Bay Hill
- 2023: Kurt Kitayama (-9)
- 2022: Scottie Scheffler (-5)
- 2021: Bryson DeChambeau (-11)
- 2020: Tyrrell Hatton (-4)
- 2019: Francesco Molinari (-12)
- 2018: Rory McIlroy (-18)
- 2017: Marc Leishman (-11)
- 2016: Jason Day (-17)
In this article and going forward, I’ll be using the Rabbit Hole by Betsperts Golf data engine to develop my custom model. If you want to build your own model or check out all of the detailed stats, you can sign up using promo code: MATTVIN for 25% off any subscription package (yearly is best value).
5 Key Stats For Bay Hill
Let’s take a look at five metrics key for Bay Hill to determine which golfers boast top marks in each category over their last 24 rounds.
1. Strokes Gained: Approach
Approach is often the most important statistic, and this week will be no different. This is a difficult golf course, and players will be penalized for missing greens in regulation.
Total SG: Approach Over Past 24 Rounds (per round)
- Matthieu Pavon (+1.61)
- Scottie Scheffler (+1.31)
- Tom Hoge (+1.18)
- Adam Scott (+0.93)
- Tom Kim (+0.78)
2. Strokes Gained: Off the Tee
To compete at Bay Hill, golfers will need an excellent performance off the tee. Distance is important due to the length of the course and its layout, but accuracy is just as important.
We have seen recent events in which golfers can get away with bad tee shots, but Bay Hill isn’t one of those courses. The rough is extremely thick and penal, so saving par after a poor tee shot isn’t likely.
SG: OTT Over Past 24 Rounds
- Rory McIlroy (+1.12)
- Scottie Scheffler (+0.69)
- Sam Burns (+0.69)
- Xander Schauffele (+0.67)
- Min Woo Lee (+0.66)
3. Strokes Gained: Putting (Bermuda and Fast)
A major reason Bay Hill plays as one of the most difficult courses on TOUR is the incredibly fast greens. The Bermuda putting surfaces will be some of the fastest players see all season long.
SG: Putting (Bermuda and Fast) over past 24 rounds:
- Mackenzie Hughes (+1.08)
- Xander Schauffele (+0.93)
- Harris English (+0.82)
- Eric Cole (+0.77)
- Adam Svensson (+0.69)
4. Strokes Gained: Ball Striking
While ball-striking is in part off the tee and approach, I want the total tee-to-green package built into the model this week as it will take a well-rounded effort from tee to green to get it done at Bay Hill.
SG: BS Over Past 24 Rounds
- Matthieu Pavon (+2.01)
- Scottie Scheffler (+2.00)
- Xander Schauffele (+1.38)
- Adam Scott (+1.28)
- Corey Conners (+1.21)
5. Strokes Gained: Florida
With certain players favoring different regions of the country, I’m once again going to incorporate Strokes Gained: Total in the state of Florida.
SG: Florida Over Past 36 Rounds
- Scottie Scheffler (+2.10)
- Viktor Hovland (+1.87)
- Rory McIlroy (+1.82)
- Justin Thomas (+1.68)
- Matt Fitzpatrick (+1.62)
Arnold Palmer Invitational Model Rankings
Below, I’ve compiled overall model rankings using a combination of the five key statistical categories discussed above — SG: Approach (25%), SG: Off the Tee (25%), SG: Putting Bermudagrass/Lightning (18%), SG: Ball Striking (20%) and SG: Florida (12%).
- Xander Schauffele
- Scottie Scheffler
- Adam Svensson
- Sam Burns
- Kurt Kitayama
- Corey Conners
- Justin Thomas
- Cameron Young
- Wyndham Clark
- Tom Kim
2024 Arnold Palmer Invitational Picks
Rory McIlroy +900 (DraftKings)
Rory McIlroy is coming off a T22 finish at the Cognizant Classic where he led the field in Strokes Gained: Off the Tee (+6.44) and also gained 1.6 strokes on approach. Rory has played sparingly so far this season, so the solid finish last week in Florida was a good way for the Northern Irishman to gain some momentum heading into the signature event at Bay Hill.
Rory has been absolutely spectacular at Bay Hill throughout his career. In his last seven trips to the course, the four-time major champion is yet to finish worse than 13th. He won the event in 2018 and has finished 4th in 2017, 5th in 2020, and runner-up last season.
In his past 24 rounds, Rory ranks 1st in the field in Strokes Gained: Off the Tee (by a significant margin), 3rd in Strokes Gained: Total in Florida and 6th in Strokes Gained: Putting on firm and fast Bermudgrass greens.
Thus far in 2024, the big names haven’t been winning on the PGA Tour. I believe that changes with a Rory McIlroy victory at one of the world’s most iconic courses.
Tommy Fleetwood +2800 (FanDuel)
Tommy Fleetwood has played great golf in the state of Florida throughout his career. The Englishman has eight career top-10 finishes in the Sunshine State, including three of them at Bay Hill (2017, 2019 and 2021).
Although Tommy hasn’t been known as a “winner” in the United States throughout his career, it seems as if the 33-year-old turned a last season. He had ten top-ten’s worldwide including some encouraging results in big events such as T5’s at the Wells Fargo Championship and the U.S. Open. He’s also started 2024 similarly to how he played in 2023, winning the Dubai Invitational back in January. In his most recent start, Fleetwood finished 10th at the Genesis Invitational.
Tommy may have never won on American soil, but he’s taken his game to another level. He’s now one of the best players on the PGA Tour and a tough scoring, windy event in Florida would be a perfect scenario for Fleetwood to finally get that first victory in the United States.
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19th Hole
‘I really think it’s possible’ – 4-time major champ says Scottie Scheffler could win the Grand Slam in 2024
During the Sky Sports commentary after the PLAYERS Championship, analyst and golf legend Laura Davies said she believes Scottie Scheffler could win the grand slam this year.
“He’s on a different level,” said the four-time major champion.
“As soon as he started holing those putts at Bay Hill the rest of the field must have thought ‘oh we’re in a bit of trouble here’ because they know statistically, he’s No.1 in every category apart from the putting. But he now looks so relaxed over his putts.”
In his last two events, Scheffler has gained an average of .87 Strokes Gained: Putting on the field, which is more than enough for him to be absolutely dominant.
“The fact he won this week with an injury in the third round, and it was uncomfortable for him, but it was really nice to see on Sunday because he did feel more comfortable that he turned it into an 8-under 64, and the others have got their hands full now,” Davies added.
“Going forward, I don’t think it’s a long shot to say he’s going to win at least two of the four majors this season, maybe even three, maybe even the Grand Slam.
“I really think it’s possible.”
It would be an amazing feat, but if anyone can do it this season, it’s Scottie Scheffler.
More from the 19th Hole
- Rory McIlroy urges Ryder Cup eligibility rules to be re-written following Rahm’s LIV move
- Report: Former World Number 1 not joining LIV despite speculation
- Brooks Koepka’s Smash GC side and prominent golf journalist trade insults over latest LIV trade
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19th Hole
Rory McIlroy takes shot at Greg Norman while discussing Monday’s Saudi PIF meeting
Rory McIlroy has recently changed his tune on both LIV and the Saudi Arabian PIF, but according to recent comments, he still isn’t a big fan of LIV Golf CEO, Greg Norman.
While speaking to the media after his final round of the PLAYERS Championship, McIlroy expressed optimism for PIF Governor Yasir al-Rumayyan’s intentions in the game of golf.
“They’re a sovereign wealth fund. They want to park money for decades and not worry about it,” McIlroy said of the PIF.
“They want to invest in smart and secure businesses, and the PGA Tour is definitely one of those, especially if they’re looking to invest in sport in some way.I have spent time with Yasir. I think the people who have represented him in LIV have done him a disservice, so Norman and those guys.”
Reportedly, a meeting will be taking place in Ponte Vedra today with the PGA Tour Board of Directors and the PIF. According to Bob Harig of Sports Illustrated, that meeting will include Tiger Woods.
“I think it should have happened months ago, so I am glad it’s happening,” Rory said.
“Hopefully that progresses conversations and gets us closer to a solution.”
More from the 19th Hole
- Rory McIlroy urges Ryder Cup eligibility rules to be re-written following Rahm’s LIV move
- Report: Former World Number 1 not joining LIV despite speculation
- Brooks Koepka’s Smash GC side and prominent golf journalist trade insults over latest LIV trade
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19th Hole
Scottie Scheffler had an interesting response when asked how he ‘quiets the noise’ following Players victory
After Scottie Scheffler’s incredibly impressive victory at the PLAYERS Championship, he spoke on camera about his approach.
Golf Channel’s Brandel Chamblee asked the world number one “how do you quiet the noise?”
Scheffler replied, “I just try to do my best to stay in my own little world. You know, I don’t have social media, I spend most of my time on Apple News.”
Scheffler added that he clicks “not for me” when golf articles come up to ensure that he doesn’t see anything regarding golf news.
“I really just do my best to stay out of reading things that are either good or bad about myself. If I’m reading bad things about myself, it’ll frustrate me. If I read good things about myself, my head will get too big. So, I really do my best to stay out of the fray and continue to put in the work”.
.@THEPLAYERS champion Scottie Scheffler outlines his secret to remaining focused and blocking out the noise. ?? #THEPLAYERS pic.twitter.com/6zWtKMvw99
— Golf Channel (@GolfChannel) March 18, 2024
Scheffler’s approach has clearly been a good one, as he’s playing some of the best golf of any professional in recent memory.
More from the 19th Hole
- Rory McIlroy urges Ryder Cup eligibility rules to be re-written following Rahm’s LIV move
- Report: Former World Number 1 not joining LIV despite speculation
- Brooks Koepka’s Smash GC side and prominent golf journalist trade insults over latest LIV trade
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