Arnold Palmer Invitational Preview: Picks, Key Stats & Players to Watch

After a weaker field at the Cognizant classic and yet another Shane Lowry Sunday collapse, the PGA Tour finds itself in Florida once again at Arnie’s Place for another Signature Event featuring a stacked field across the board. 

 

Bay Hill Club & Lodge 

 

Par: 72

Yardage: 7,466

Greens: Bermuda 

 

Key Stats

 

• Strokes Gained: Off the Tee – both distance and fairways hit 
• Strokes Gained: Approach – proximity 200+
• Par 5 Scoring
• Strokes Gained: Putting (Bermuda Greens)

 

This is one of the signature events that features a cut – with the top 50 + anyone within 10 shots of the lead making it to the weekend. 

 

Scottie & Rory 

 

I don’t need to say much about these two other than they both profile extremely well for this course and they’ve played very well here in the past. I do think we see a bigger name win here this weekend and I would love to finally get a real Rory vs Scottie showdown on Sunday with them in the final pairing together. 

 

Tommy Fleetwood

 

Fleetwood finally found the winners circle on American soil last season, and he hasn’t skipped a beat in 2026. He’s finished top-7 in both events he’s played and profiles extremely well for this course. He has strong course history to back up that profile and while it’s tough to expect him to outduel Scottie or Rory on a Sunday – I truly think his form is as good as anyone right now. 

 

Shane Lowry 

 

I know I’ve made fun of Lowry all week for choking yet again, but at least this time we were on the right side sitting comfortably with an Echavarria ticket. Even though he literally never wins, there is plenty of reason to go back to him this week. For starters, nobody will want him after that collapse but it doesn’t change anything in my mind – that’s who Shane Lowry is and has been. Secondly, he’s one of the best golfers in the field at these Florida courses. He’s gained 12 strokes relative to the field in his history at this event and it would be so fitting for him to find himself right back in the mix this week after what happened last Sunday. 

 

Ben Griffin

 

Griffin is priced all the way down at 55/1 this week – alongside guys like Rickie Fowler and I just don’t understand it. Griffin has transformed his game adding a ton of length off the tee and he burst onto the scene last year with three outright wins. He hasn’t come out of the gate quite as hot this season but he is still 100% in terms of making cuts and he’s played fine here in the past. This just feels like a mispricing to me and that’s what I want to take advantage of in these better fields.