The Arnold Palmer Invitational field is absolutely loaded, led by world #1 Jon Rahm. A cozy field of 120 is chasing a winners cut of 550 FedExCup points and $3.6 million from a prize fund of $20 million. He also led the Phoenix field in strokes gained: tee to green and scrambling. is making his 2023 debut: Scheffler picked up his fifth victory over the past 365 days, but he hasn't been as consistent as Rahm during the past few months. Kim, from South Korea, is tough to beat when his putter gets hot. It's officially a designated event in 2023, but you don't need to conceive a visual of the King himself winking, grinning and giving a thumbs-up to approve what we already know, that this. He led the field in shots gained: approach this past weekend, the first time he has accomplished that since the 2022 U.S. Open at Brookline. Day climbed from No. Still, given his track record at Bay Hill and doses of phenomenal form a fortnight ago at Riviera, youll excuse any competitor for not missing him on the leaderboard this week. TUESDAY*: Power Rankings (Puerto Rico), Sleepers (API), SUNDAY: Payouts and Points (API), Payouts and Points (Puerto Rico), Medical Extensions, Qualifiers, Reshuffle. 20. Scheffler, who entered the week ranked No. 1. Tony Finau : I was a little bit surprised to see Finaus extremely strong results in high winds since hes not someone we often hear about when talking about those conditions. Free Kentucky Derby Contest! He hit the ball well last year, gaining nearly 2 strokes per round tee-to-green on the field, but his putting was dreadful, which is why he finished in a tie for 43rd. Bermuda grass is where he tends to thrive. He'll have a chance to get things right at Riviera, where he tied for second, 2 strokes behind Joaquin Niemann, last season. The Aussie and brother to LPGA star Minjee Lee is used to playing new venues all over the world. Let's get down to the top 10 players to get it done at PGA National: 10 Min Woo Lee OWGR: T-47th, FedEx Cup: --, Min Woo Lee is making his Honda Classic debut this week on a sponsor exemption.. Hes much better on Bermuda, and hes worth a look this week due to his strong ball striking and ability to get it around well in high winds. Tom Kim : Going through his first mini-slump here since getting his PGA Tour card, but theres not too much to be concerned about. Previous rank: 17 Sungjae Im is the highest among them at No. As it has throughout the FedExCup era, PGA National Resorts Champion Course in Palm Beach Gardens is the host. The goal will be to hit shorter irons into challenging targets with invisible forces poised to smack even properly executed strikes out of the sky. Normally, the winning score is in the low to mid-teens with anything in double digits a great week. On cue, the wind steps forward as the primary defense to a course that surrendered a scoring average of 71.339 last year, which essentially is the expectation. He would have become only the fifth player to win it three times, joining Phil Mickelson, Mark Calcavecchia, Gene Littler and Arnold Palmer. Lees teed it up twice in 2023, both on the DP World Tours Middle-East swing. An entertaining run on the west coast headlined the PGA Tour during the January and February months, but now the golfers have headed east with the Masters on the horizon in early April. 2. An opening-round 73 left him out of the mix in Phoenix, but he's still playing as well as anyone in the world. Pro golf will be back to California this summer for the U.S. Open at Los Angeles Country Club, but the PGA Tours West Coast swing is in the books. He took T-2nd at the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship where he was just a shot behind Victor Perez. The cash and the stakes arent as high as they were in recent weeks in Scottsdale and Los Angeles, but the Honda Classic is still a worthwhile watch. Ranks 1st in SG: OTT and 1st in GIRs Gained. 6. 1 once again. Expected high winds and firm conditions this week will also open things up a bit to accurate drivers. Get ESPN+ here | Download the app | WatchESPN. He was unable to earn his card through Korn Ferry Tour Finals last year, but he can redeem himself by going low at PGA National. 2 in the world, will regain the top spot after becoming the seventh player to repeat as champion of the WM Phoenix Open, an event he claimed last year for his first PGA Tour victory. 23. Beau Hossler getting the "royal treatment" at the 2022 @WMPhoenixOpen pic.twitter.com/WCcbmi60xU, Before the sun was even up, fans made a mad dash to get a good spot at the 16th Hole at the Waste Management Phoenix Open on Saturday. Well look at SG: Approach as well as Greens in Regulations Gained to get a grasp on the guys who will be avoiding trouble with their irons this week and making plenty of pars. This week, the tour heads to the Stadium Course at TPC Sawgrass in Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida, for the unofficial "fifth major," which now has a $20 . The four par 3s, including the two that bracket The Bear Trap Nos. Few players have performed better at the TPC Scottsdale than Matsuyama, who had victories there in 2016 and 2017. A week after picking up his first PGA Tour victory, in his 203rd career start, at Pebble Beach, Hoge followed it with another top-15 at TPC Scottsdale. How much "louder" will LIV Golf get in its second season? Power Rankings: PGA Championship. Notice the amount of green AM tee times. 7. All of golfs best players will be in attendance. Impressive stuff. When looking at players who can perform at difficult courses, Zalatoris name has to be in the conversation. Rory McIlroy He carded a 7-under 64 in the third round of the WM Phoenix Open, his 15th such round of 64 or better since 2021. He briefly challenged Rahm on Sunday, and he was playing some of the best golf in the world to end his 2022. Bet with your head, not over it. Burns also finished T-11th at The American Express. Rory McIlroy is not human. Szokol opens with 64, up 3 shots in Singapore, More PGA Tour changes: No cuts, smaller fields, Rahm sought Tiger's advice on staying No. He finished in a tie for third at 15-under. He has three top-10s in his past four starts at Riviera, where he has never won. It was the last time Honda will host the tournament at PGA National. "High praise from Michael Greller on @JordanSpieth's ridiculous shot on 17 @WMPhoenixOpen. The PGA Tour's 2021-22 season started way back in September but it kicks into high gear this week with the annual Sentry Tournament of Champions at Kapalua's Plantation course.. Corey Conners : Conners will be happy hes off the West Coast considering his usual struggles there. He has two top-15 finishes in his past three starts, including a tie for 14th in Phoenix. He has five top-25 finishes in seven tour starts this season, including a tie for third at the Shriners Children's Open and QBE Shootout, an unofficial event. After a weekend of beer showers, aces and shirtless celebrations at the biggest party of the season at the WM Phoenix Open, the PGA Tour returns to normalcy with this week's Genesis Invitational at Riviera Country Club. Last week at PGA National gave us a fun week considering the lack of star power in the field. After winning for the first time in four years at the Zozo Championship in October, he has piled up three other top-25s at the CJ Cup at South Carolina, Farmers Insurance Open (runner-up) and Phoenix Open. Rose likes his new equipment, caddie and coach and is comfortable with the team around him again. 5. Copyright 2023 PGA TOUR, Inc. All rights reserved. Bay Hill has been a stock par 72 since 2010. Bay Hill has been a stock par 72 since 2010. Szokol opens with 64, up 3 shots in Singapore, More PGA Tour changes: No cuts, smaller fields, Rahm sought Tiger's advice on staying No. During a 12-hole stretch in the second round, Im needed only 14 putts. pic.twitter.com/RQMtrMLJ8D. The former LSU star had been red-hot since the start of the 2021-22 season back in September, but back-to-back missed cuts at the Farmers Insurance Open and WM Phoenix Open have cooled him off considerably. PGA Tour Power Rankings: Cameron rises, Rory surges and LIV players exit 220d Mark Schlabach A battle for No. His current form is absolutely terrible, as hes been dealing with an injury and the irons have been awful. He was playing incredibly consistent golf before that, and his history at Arnold Palmer is very strong with a pair of 3rd place finishes and nothing worse than 21st in 4 tries. On a track that can reach 7,506 yards and with primary rough at a standard two inches in height, shorter hitters are influenced to just play their game, but like all proper tests, Grand Reserve rewards all archetypes. Its clear the Englishman loves the firm conditions and high winds that are often present in Orlando. Your guess is as good as anyones about when Collin putts well, but when he does, hes generally always in the Top 5. Bay Hill plays as a 7,400-yard par 72 featuring Bermuda greens and much thicker rough than weve seen all year and usually see around Florida. It's the third ace of his career. Average-sized paspalum greens wont exceed 11 feet on the Stimpmeter because of the omnipresence of the sea breezes from the east. He tied for 11th at the Farmers Insurance Open and tied for sixth in Phoenix. Copyright 2023 PGA TOUR, Inc. All rights reserved. Just a friendly reminder that these aren't necessarily the 25 most talented players in the . They sandwiched a pair of top 15s in his native South Africa in December, so its not like he hasnt put four round together in a minute. His opening 74 was the highest score by anyone inside the top 28. Will likely be excited to get back on Bermuda. Scottie Scheffler 4 @WMPhoenixOpen. Sam Burns, Arnold Palmer Invitational, Mandatory Credit: Reinhold Matay-USA TODAY Sports. Chris Kirk lifted his first trophy since 2015 as he completely a lovely comeback story after dealing with alcoholism and depression. Hes found success on the Australasian Tour, Asian Tour, DP World Tour, etc. Any tournament can be won with elite iron play, but with higher scores and the importance on driving it well here, you can get away with just a decent week with the irons. Kevin Yu and Joseph Bramlett both finished T7 at Pebble and didnt get into the WM as predicted, but only Bramlett is committed to the Honda (as of Monday). Nothing but sunshine and a few passing clouds will consume the sky. In the third round of the 2022 Mexico Open at Vidanta, Jon Rahm shot a 3-under 68 to get to 15-under through 54 holes. Our experts have broken down the betting odds and are ready to deliver their Arnold Palmer Invitational predictions with odds provided by DraftKings Sportsbook. In his defense, he might have needed a week to calm his nerves after his cliff-hanger shot in the third round at Pebble Beach. Of course, he remains indefinitely beholden to when his extended recovery will allow him to play in accordance with a chosen schedule. Patrick Cantlay When it does, it could make a difference of 10-15 degrees cooler. Daytime highs could hit 90 degrees until the wind shifts. One prize fight after another. TUESDAY*: Power Rankings (Puerto Rico), Sleepers (API), SUNDAY: Payouts and Points (API), Payouts and Points (Puerto Rico), Medical Extensions, Qualifiers, Reshuffle. The 24-year-old has two-career DP World Tour wins at the 2020 ISPS Handa Vic Open and the 2021 abrdn Scottish Open. The winner in a 156-player field has a record of 155-0-0, the runner-up is 154-1-0, etc. Here is the list of favorites at DraftKings Sportsbook: If you or a loved one has questions or needs to talk to a professional about gambling, call 1-800-GAMBLER or visit 1800gambler.net for more information.