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2023 Arnold Palmer Invitational Betting Preview, Predictions & Top Pick

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Since its establishment in 1966, the Arnold Palmer Invitational has been one of the most important competitions on the PGA Tour. When it started competing in 2007 under the name of the golfing legend, it acquired even greater significance, as the legend himself is typically on hand to distribute the trophy to the winner.

With the 2023 Arnold Palmer Invitational receiving elevated status to lure the top players in the world to compete, the intensity will now be ramped up once further. With 44 of the top 50 golfers in the Official World Golf Ranking set to tee it up starting on Thursday, they’ll compete for $20 million in prize money and a chance to further bolster their positions in the OWGR and FedEx standings.

Let’s dive in.

2023 Arnold Palmer Invitational

(Odds courtesy of DraftKings Sportsbook)

Previous Winners of the Arnold Palmer Invitational

    • 2022: Scottie Scheffler
    • 2021: Bryson DeChambeau
    • 2020: Tyrrell Hatton

Course Preview: Bay Hill Club and Lodge

From the tee to the green, Bay Hill will test golfers and demand accuracy on tee and approach shots. At more than 7,400 yards, it will be a long course for even the biggest hitters, with heavy rough off the fairways and surrounding the greens.

Playing from the fairway is crucial, with just six other courses on Tour where it’s more important, according to RickRunGood.com. In addition, Bay Hill had the greatest average par-3 lengths among non-major courses last year and is just one more factor for the world’s best to put in their preparation formula.

Relevant Betting Stats

    • Driving Distance
    • SG: Approach
    • SG: Putting

Outright Betting Pick: Jason Day (+2500) 

So far in 2023, Jason Day appears to be on the verge of regaining the form that propelled him to the top of the global rankings and a major championship in the now-distant past. Day has placed seventh, sixth and ninth in his last three starts, two of which have been in “elevated” competitions,  demonstrating his ability to again compete with the best, even in the most competitive fields.

Day’s comeback to being one of the finest putters in the world in 2023 has been one of the most obvious distinctions between this season and prior ones for him. No one was more trustworthy than the Australian during his prime when it came to crucial putts, and it now seems this may be the case once more. Day has improved his putting stroke by 4.9, 5.8, 3.7, and 4.3 strokes in each of his four starts in 2023. He is only second to the red-hot Max Homa in his last 12 contests in that aspect of his game.

In addition to his outstanding recent performance, Day has a strong track record at Bay Hill. He finished in the top 25 in 2015, 2017 and 2018 and won the competition in 2016. Look for Day to break through here.

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