PGA Tour – Arnold Palmer Invitational 2025 Predictions
The 2025 Arnold Palmer Invitational, held at the prestigious Bay Hill Club and Lodge in Orlando, Florida, promises to be an exhilarating event in the world of professional golf. As one of the most anticipated tournaments on the PGA Tour, it attracts top golfers from around the globe, all eager to compete on this challenging and iconic course. Named in honor of the legendary Arnold Palmer, a figure who has left an indelible mark on the sport, the tournament not only showcases incredible athletic talent but also celebrates the spirit and legacy of “The King.”
This year’s event is expected to draw large crowds, with spectators eager to witness the drama and excitement that unfolds over four days of intense competition. The course at Bay Hill is renowned for its demanding layout, featuring strategically placed hazards and meticulously maintained greens that test the skills and mental fortitude of even the most seasoned professionals. Players will need to exhibit precision, strategy, and resilience to navigate the course and vie for the coveted title.
Event Details
- Where: Bay Hill Club and Lodge (Orlando, FL)
- When: March 6th-9th, 2025
- Watch: The Golf Channel, NBC Sports App, Peacock
About the Course
- Par 72
- Distance: 7466 yards
- Designed by Arnold Palmer and opened in 1961
- Par-4 18th hole is one of the most recognized finishing holes on tour that requires an approach shot over water into a kidney-shaped green
Who to Bet This Weekend?
Rory McIlroy – To Win (+850)
This is clearly not a very flashy or sharp pick since McIlroy has the second-highest odds to win the tournament behind only Scottie Scheffler, but I still think there is a lot of value in taking Rory to win the whole thing. It would be impossible to overlook the sustained success the McIlroy has had a Bay Hill throughout his career, and while he finished just outside the Top-20 in last year’s event, he has six Top-10 finishes here. McIlroy’s biggest advantage is his distance gained off the tee, where there are very few golfers in the field who even remotely compare. His approach play at Bay Hill has resulted in positive true strokes gained in all but one appearance (last year’s event), and I expect that he will return to form and stay in contention across all four rounds.
Cam Davis – Top 10 Finish (+700)
Cam Davis is has been a bit streaky to start the 2025 PGA Tour season, and although he is coming off of a missed cut in his last event, he proceeded that with a T5 and a T18 in the two events before. I don’t love the fact that Davis has missed the cut at Bay Hill in 3 out of 4 appearances, but his T18 here last year proves to me that he is worth a play at this value. Davis will not dazzle off the tee box, but his game is safe and excels in his approach play and his play around the green. On a course with many water hazards and bunkers surrounding the green, I expect that Davis will find himself inside the field average landing zone on most greens and accumulate pars and birdies while other golfers are picking up bogeys. If he can hang around in the pack and survive until Saturday, I think Davis can wind up top 10.
Justin Thomas – Top 5 Finish (+325)
Thomas has never missed a cut in his three appearances at Bay Hill as part of the Arnold Palmer Invitational. Additionally, he has improved in each appearance and found himself in a tie for 12th place in 2024. I expect the trend to continue and look for JT to end up top 5 in the 2025 iteration. Thomas is coming off two back-to-back top 10 finishes at the Genesis and the Waste Management and looks like a strong contender in this field. Add in the fact that Scheffler and Schauffele are working their way back from injuries, and this tournament just got wide open for a dark horse to make a run. Justin Thomas is one of the best iron players on tour and his approach play is unparalleled. If he continues to strike the ball like he has been, a top 5 finish is well within reach.
