Arnold Palmer Invitational Tips

Tiger Woods is in action for the third time since his comeback from knee surgery at one of his favourite tournaments, the Arnold Palmer Invitational.
 
The Course: Bay Hill Club & Lodge, Orlando, FLA (par-70, 7,239 yards)
This well-established course has tightish fairways, above average size, sloping, Bermuda greens and a famous 18th, which has a green protected in front by a lake. Just for good measure, there are 103 bunkers and nine holes where water comes into play. With only two par-5’s (12th and 6th), this is a stern test and par is a good score.
 
Ross’ Top Tip: Tiger Woods @ 13/5 Skybet
Tiger's record here of six wins - once as an amateur and five times professionally - is all well and good, but punters have been waiting for signs in his current game that he's back to his best, and I think we saw that with his back-to-back 68's over the course of the weekend at Doral. His putting was still a little rusty there but he found a bit of form with the flat stick at the subsequent Tavistock Cup, so this could be the week it all comes together. If it does, the 13/5 would look massive come Sunday.
 
Next Best: Sean O'Hair @ 35/1 Victor Chandler
I fancied O'Hair to play well last week at Copperhead, where he was defending, so his missed cut came as a bit of a surprise. Still, I'm prepared to forgive him that and concentrate on his previous form of five successive top-25 finishes in strokeplay events, and his overall form in Florida, which reads seven top-15's in his last 11 starts and a third place here last year. If Tiger falls short, he's better equipped than most to take advantage.

Outsider: Stephen Ames @ 50/1 bet365
While O'Hair was missing the cut at Copperhead, Ames was playing his best golf for a while in finishing 19th, which suggests he's coming to hand just in time for his favourite stretch of the golfing year. Like O'Hair, the adopted Canadian has played some of his best golf in the Sunshine State, including four top-10's in this tournament (1998, 2003, 2004 and 2007), and he knows how to win here too having captured the 2006 Players Championship and 2007 Children's Miracle Network Classic.

Tournament Lay (Betfair): Vijay Singh for a place
The Fijian has a good record here but is clearly struggling to find peak form after coming back from knee surgery. In four strokeplay events since, the best he's managed was tied-17th at the Accenture, with two missed cuts and a remote tied-53rd at Doral.
 
Ross’ 72-Hole Match Bet: Sean O'Hair to beat Nick Watney @ 10/11 Stan James 
 
Recommended Bets:
Tiger Woods 4pts @ 13/5 Skybet
Sean O'Hair 1pt each way @ 35/1 Victor Chandler
Stephen Ames 1pt each way 50/1 bet365

 

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Tags: Arnold Palmer Invitational,  Bay Hill Club & Lodge,  Golf Betting,  Nick Watney,  Sean O'hair,  Stephen Ames,  Tiger Woods