Golf betting tips: Arnold Palmer Invitational predictions

March 3, 2021

There is no time to rest on the PGA Tour, and this week’s event is at the famous Bay Hill Club and Lodge for the Arnold Palmer Invitational. The tournament will feature multiple-time major winners and a contingent of Ryder Cup and Presidents Cup players, giving it every chance to produce another exciting play through.

Below, we have betting tips and predictions for the Arnold Palmer Invitational from top golf tipster Steve Palmer.

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Arnold Palmer Invitational predictions and betting tips

Arnold Palmer Invitational course guide and where to watch

Course: Bay Hill Club and Lodge, Orlando, Florida

Par: 72

Field: 123

Where to watch: Sky Sports Golf from 11:45am Thursday

Arnold Palmer Invitational winner prediction: Tyrrell Hatton at 16/1

Rory McIlroy is clear favourite for the Arnold Palmer Invitational, a tournament he won in 2018, but the Northern Irishman has failed to win anywhere for 16 months and appears a skinny price based on recent achievement.

McIlroy has a strong record at the Bay Hill venue, but silly mistakes have been blighting him this year, fading the four-time Major champion from contention. Strong preference at double the odds is for Tyrrell Hatton, the defending champion this week, who has taken his game to a new level over the last 12 months.

Hatton faced McIlroy in a duel for the Abu Dhabi Championship in January and the Englishman ended up winning the tournament by four shots. Those heroics followed hot on the heels of a BMW PGA Championship victory by the same emphatic margin. Sixth place on his Saudi International debut last month was another solid performance, followed by 22nd spot in the WGC last week.

Hatton, fourth on his Bay Hill debut in 2017, has nobody to fear in the Arnold Palmer line-up and must have every chance of a successful title defence. He turns 30 in October with his career taking off.

Arnold Palmer Invitational outsider prediction: Christiaan Bezuidenhout at 70/1

Punters seeking even juicier odds should consider Christiaan Bezuidenhout, who contended on his Arnold Palmer Invitational debut last year. The ever improving South African youngster was fourth going into the final round, facing a nerve wracking Sunday twoball with Rory McIlroy, understandably dropping away to 18th place.

Since then, though, Bezuidenhout has matured, grown in confidence, and gained more PGA Tour experience. The 2020 Arnold Palmer was his Stateside debut, so it was a magnificent effort to do so well. He went on to dominate the South African Swing of the European Tour just before Christmas, winning twice, and is well equipped to challenge for a PGA Tour breakthrough on Sunday.