Arnold Palmer Invitational betting tips: 40/1 and 50/1 selections to cause an upset
Russell Henley is on hand to defend the title he claimed 12 months ago, but two-time winner Scottie Scheffler also has his eyes on the prize, while his main market rival Rory McIlroy will be hoping to secure another success, having won at Bay Hill in 2018.
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Arnold Palmer Invitational betting tips
McIlroy ready for another Bay Hill win
Rory McIlroy’s defence of his Masters crown is now just over a month away and the Northern Irishman has a great chance of claiming one of the game’s biggest prizes this week to boost his confidence for the return to Augusta.
The quality of his approach play has been excellent this year and after he finished second at the Genesis Invitational, just a shot behind winner Jacob Bridgeman, a return to the winners’ circle may not be too far away.
McIlroy was also in fine form at the Pebble Beach Pro-Am, where he was excellent from tee to green and his Bay Hill record is strong.
Victory in 2018 was followed by a second spot when Kurt Kitayama won in 2023, and four other top-ten finishes mean he has to be respected this week.
Straka can deliver in great company
Sepp Straka was fifth at the Arnold Palmer Invitational last year, a performance that was even more impressive when you consider he started that week with a round of 77 and had missed the cut on four of his previous five visits.
However, he has scope for another big week after showing he could compete strongly at PGA Tour level last year when he won both the American Express and the Truist Championship.
The leaderboard at Pebble Beach was stacked with great talent, but he performed well to finish second and he should be able to put the disappointment of a 50th-placed finish at the Genesis Invitational behind him as that was primarily caused by a third-round 80.
The Austrian could soon get back in the groove and a return to form is anticipated.
Knapp continues to make great strides
A player who has come out of the pack in recent weeks who could produce another decent performance is Jake Knapp.
The 31-year-old American won the Mexican Open in 2024 and looks to be moving up the grades, having finished fourth at the Rocket Mortgage and third at the 3M Open in the autumn when many of the big guns had their feet up.
However, he has started 2026 in fine fashion, building upon an opening 11th at the Sony Open in Hawaii with fifth at the Farmers Insurance Open, eighth at the Phoenix Open and Pebble Beach Pro-Am and a sixth at the Genesis Invitational.
He was 57th on his only previous Bay Hill outing two years ago, but he has come on leaps and bounds since then and can make his presence felt this week.
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