Fantasy Golf Predictions – 2013 Arnold Palmer Invitational

Fantasy Golf Predictions for the 2013 Arnold Palmer Invitational March 21-24

The Course:  Bay Hill Club & Lodge measures 7,419 yards and plays as a par 72. Designed by Dick Wilson in 1961, this course has been dubbed some some as the “best course in Florida” when Arnold Palmer dipped his hand in which eventually led him to  buy the place. Palmer has been thrilled with the layout and looks of the testy track, which set to host its fourth edition of this event. The closing three holes often have always produced a dramatic finish.  This track is one of the most popular stops in the PGA TOUR and this event usually draws quite a roster.

Bay Hill Club Hole #5. Photo by BayHill.com

The Weather in Miami, FL (from Weather.com):

• Round 1:  Thursday  (Mar 21) 73 degrees, 10% chance of rain, partly cloudy
• Round 2:  Friday (Mar 22) 78 degrees, 30% chance of rain, isolated t-storms
• Round 3:  Saturday (Mar 23) 83 degrees, 60% chance of rain, scattered t-storms
• Round 4:  Sunday (Mar 24) 84 degrees, 60% chance of rain, scattered t-storms

2012 Results:   We all remember the day that Tiger Woods reemerged on the PGA TOUR; it was here, at Bay Hill.  Woods sealed the deal on the final day by pulling away on the weekend for a five-stroke beating over Graeme McDowell, a closing matchup we just saw at Doral. Closing the round with a 70, that was all Tiger needed for his seventh victory at Bay Hill which at the time, matched his personal best at any venue.   McDowell’s opening double bogey, opened the door for Tiger to jump ahead as the Irishman faded to a 74 on a tough day in Florida where no one broke 70.

Notes:  Another Tiger Woods victory would jump him to World Number 1 again, bumping Rory McIlroy to No. 2, giving Tiger  a position he hasnt held in quite some time.  Also, he would match Sam Snead’s PGA TOUR record for most wins in a single event. Snead won eight titles at Greensboro with his last coming in 1965 at the age of 52.  A familiar face, Brandt Snedeker, whose first five starts produced a victory, two runner-up finishes and a third, will be back in action after a five-week layoff to rest a rib injury. He still leads the FedExCup race by 177 points over Woods.

Top 5 Picks/Odds to Win:

• Tiger Woods (Golficity Odds 5/2) Tiger might as well grab the keys from Arnold, because it seems like he owns this place.   Dubbed as the King of Bay Hill, Woods has played lights out on this track and is in pursuit of his 8th victory here (and 3rd of the season).   After taking a week off from his dominant victory at Doral, Tiger is back in action to try and win back his coveted World No. 1 title.
• Phil Mickelson(Golficity Odds 12/1): Lefty  hasn’t made the top 20 in any of his last five trips, but three were top 25s. Tied for third two weeks ago at Doral after an impressive showing — and a golf brilliant golf shot off the cart path.  Phil ranks 20th in GIR and 13th in adjusted scoring — and he already has a win this year in Scottsdale.
• Brandt Snedeker (Golficity Odds 19/1): Current FedExCup point leader is back in action after resting a rib injury for 5-weeks.  He notched a win, 2 runner ups, and one 3rd place finish this year, which moved him to the top spot in playoff points.  He may be rusty, but we can’t rule him out.
• Sergio Garcia (Golficity Odds 24/1): Continues to play well on TOUR.  Finished T7 at Copperhead last week which notched him his 13th consecutive top 25 worldwide. He ranked third last week in total driving, T6 in greens hit and eighth in strokes gained-putting. Sergio has six top-10s in 11 appearances at Bay Hill.
• Hunter Mahan (Golficity Odds 33/1)): Took a week off after finishing T25 at the WGC-Cadillac at Doral and grabbed his sixth straight top-25. Hunter has made the cut in his last five trips to Bay Hill but hasnt played well there since a T6 in 2008. The reason we like him this year is that he has reemerged as a golfer again on TOUR and is off to a hot start to the 2013 season.

Sleeper Picks/Odds to Win:

• Peter Hanson (Golficity Odds 66/1):  The PGA TOUR rookie continues to prove himself with 10 top-25s in his last 11 starts worldwide. Although missing the cut in his only appearance at Bay Hill, he’s a long shot here this week.  He fisnihed T8 at the WGC Cadillac.
• Boo Weekley (75/1):  Long-Shot is right….We’re taking him as a sleeper pick becuase of his runner-up result at last week’s Tampa Bay Championship. Also, he has three top-25s in six starts at Bay Hill

Last Week’s Fantasy Golf Predictions Results (The Tampa Bay Championship)

• Adam Scott (Golficity Odds 8/1):  T30
• Matt Kuchar (Golficity Odds 11/1): T14
• Luke Donald (Golficity Odds 15/1): T4
• Sergio Garcia (Golficity Odds 22/1): T7
• Jason Day (Golficity Odds 27/1): T43

Last Week’s Fantasy Golf Sleeper Picks/Odds to Win:

• Michael Thompson (Golficity Odds 45/1): MC
• Robert Garrigus (Golficity Odds 66/1): T56

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