The best golfers in the world are in Florida this week for the Arnold Palmer Invitational. It is getting to the point on the PGA Tour that we can predict which events will have great fields and which ones won’t, as the enhanced prize purse events have the great fields, while the other tournaments do not. Jon Rahm is once again listed as the favorite in golf betting odds at BetRivers to win this event. I am coming off a 3-1-1 week with the matchups at The Honda Classic. Let’s look at Arnold Palmer Invitational matchup picks.

Defending Champion: Scottie Scheffler

Tournament Notes: Bay Hill is a par 72 that stretches to 7,466 yards, so distance is important this week. The rough this week is deep so accuracy off the tee will be important. It is going to be windy this week so scores will not be low, especially in the first three rounds.

The Honda Classic Matchups

Rahm, Jon -129 vs. McIlroy, Rory

McIlroy -122 vs. Scheffler, Scottie

Cantlay, Patrick -114 vs. Schauffele, Xander

Scheffler, Scottie -200 vs. Morikawa, Collin

Cantlay, Patrick -126 vs. Thomas, Justin

Finau, Tony -114 vs. Zalatoris, Will

Thomas, Justin -125 vs. Hovland, Viktor

Sungjae Im -120 vs. Day, Jason

Hatton, Tyrrell -114 vs. Fitzpatrick, Matthew

Mitchell, Keith -129 vs. Burns, Sam

Tom Kim -120 vs. Matsuyama, Hideki

Spieth, Jordan -120 vs. Fowler, Rickie

Young, Cameron -150 vs. Bradley, Keegan

Fleetwood, Tommy -120 vs. Rose, Justin

Kirk, Chris -120 vs. Theegala, Sahith

Harman, Brian -125 vs. Si Woo Kim

Montgomery, Taylor -114 vs. Wise, Aaron

Min Woo Lee -125 vs. Meronk, Adrian

Lowry, Shane -137 vs. Scott, Adam

Hoge, Tom -114 vs. Hadwin, Adam

Pendrith, Taylor -120 vs. Herbert, Lucas

Conners, Corey -120 vs. Power, Seamus

Montgomery, Taylor -134 vs. Clark, Wyndham

Woodland, Gary -118 vs. List, Luke

Meronk, Adrian -140 vs. Detry, Thomas

Harman, Brian -134 vs. Henley, Russell

Young, Cameron -165 vs. Lowry, Shane

Bradley, Keegan -126 vs. Rose, Justin

Golf Picks

Theegala, Sahith -110 vs. Kirk, Chris

One of the things I have done with pretty good success is go against the previous week’s winner. It is really hard to play great two weeks in a row on the PGA Tour. I know that Kirk has played well at Bay Hill in the past, but I just can’t see him being totally focused this week. I’ll take Theegala in this matchup.

Mitchell, Keith -129 vs. Burns, Sam

If there is one player who should thrive on this course it is Mitchell who is long and straight off the tee. He leads the PGA Tour in total driving this season. He is also playing well this season and he has two top 10 finishes at Bay Hill. Burns is normally one of the players I like to take, but not in this matchup, as I like Mitchell.

Zalatoris, Will -114 vs. Finau, Tony

Another player who is long and accurate is Zalatoris and he is starting to round into form. He has played well at Bay Hill in the past including a tie for 10^th two years ago. I know that many people have been picking Finau to pick up where he left off last season, but I haven’t seen that form yet. I’ll take Zalatoris in this matchup.

Fleetwood, Tommy -120 vs. Rose, Justin

We know it will be windy and difficult this week in Florida and that fits right into the game of Fleetwood. He has played well at Bay Hill in the past with a tie for 3^rd in 2019 and two other top 10 finishes. I expect Fleetwood to be in the mix this week and I will take him in this matchup against Rose.

Fowler, Rickie -110 vs. Spieth, Jordan

Does the price on this matchup surprise you? It might if you just look at name value, but maybe not if you look at the form. Fowler is playing much better this season, while Spieth has been up and down. The big thing for me in this matchup is that Spieth is wild off the tee. You can’t win at Bay Hill if you are always playing from the rough. I’ll take Fowler in this matchup.

Check out the latest Arnold Palmer Invitational matchups odds at BetRivers.