Arnold Palmer Invitational 2022

By Greg Stewart

History:

Tiger Woods – won this tournament a record eight times with four consecutive wins from 2000-2003 and a double in 2008 & 2009 and again in 2012 & 2013. SA’s Ernie Else also won twice in 1998 and again in 2010.

Arnold Palmer had two runners-up finishes in 1967 / 1970 and then won the tournament in 1971. He purchased the Bay Hill golf club in 1974 and the tournament was renamed the Arnold Palmer Invitational from 2007.

2022 Tournament Preview:

The 2022 edition of the Arnold Palmer Invitational will kick-off this Thursday, 3rd March, without the 2021 champion Bryson DeChambeau in the field as he has withdrawn due to injury. The best South African golfer from last year’s tournament is Christian Bezuidenhout who finished at five under par in solitary 7th place. Other SA golfers in the mix this week are Charl Schwartzel, Garrick Higgo, Branden Grace, Erick van Rooyen and Dylan Frittelli. Bezuidenhout is at 6.5:1 for a top-10finish and my best value bet tip on SunBet .

The 2021 tournament had a 73.01 scoring average and this can be impacted if we see windy conditions over the weekend. Weather forecast shows that Thursday and Friday should be mild weather with little wind but conditions over the closing two rounds could be challenging. Add to this greens that are reported to be super-fast and you will need a player who can drive long and straight and who has a putter that plays Beethoven in its sleep to walk away with victory.

Arnold Palmer Invitational Contenders:

• Jon Rahm – The world No1 plays here for the first time and while he won’t be familiar with the course he arrives with a 2nd and 3rd place in the bag already in 2022. Rahm’s big hitting and confident putting should certainly put him in contention. Jon currently ranks No1 in Driving distance and in Greens in regulation stats on the PGA. Definitely worth a bet for a top-5 place at 3:1 on SunBet.
• Victor Hovland – The Norwegian and current World No4, certainly has the right game for this course with his pin-point Iron stroke play. He comes off a T4 position at the GenesisInvitational in February and a win in the Dubai Desert classic on the European Tour in January where wind conditions and slick greens were also a factor. Hovland is at 17:1 for a win and at 5:1 for a top-5 finish on SunBet .
• Hideki Matsuyama – The world No 11 with a win in the Hawai Open in January is the current FedEx points leader and has made every cut at Bay Hill in Seven starts. He was T18 in last year’s tournament and is never out of contention on this type of course. Hideki is at 21:1 for a win and at 6:1 for a top-5 finish on SunBet .