McIlroy among players to watch at Bay Hill
The Arnold Palmer Invitational has crowned both obvious and obscure winners over the years.
Tiger Woods won the event a record eight times and next year is scheduled to join past API winners Fred Couples, Ben Crenshaw, Phil Mickelson, Vijay Singh and Ernie Els in the World Golf Hall of Fame.
Daytona Beach native Matt Every’s only two wins on the PGA Tour came in 2014 and 2015 at Bay Hill Club and Lodge. The former UF star headlines a group of unexpected champions like Mike Nicolette, Dan Forsman, Robert Gamez and Tim Herron.
If history is any indication, the 120-player field will be wide open when the four-day, 72-hole event begins Thursday. Whoever emerges as the winner Sunday evening will have successfully navigated one of the most demanding layouts on the PGA Tour.
Here are 5 players to watch:
Rory McIlroy: The four-time major champion entered Palmer’s tournament for the first time in 2015 but quickly developed a personal bond with the tourna
ment host and an affinity for his golf course. McIlroy hopes his latest visit to Bay Hill serves as an elixir once again. In 2018, McIlroy ended an 18-month winless stretch on the PGA Tour with an API victory. The 31-year-old entered the week amid a 16-month drought without a victory. The world’s eighth-ranked player is the betting favorite this week, at 9-to-1. McIlroy has finished no worse than a tie for sixth during his past four visits to Orlando. Lackluster final rounds have been the bugaboo for McIlroy, who carded an uninspiring final-round 71 Sunday at the WGC-Workday. During his 2018 API victory, McIlroy shot 64 during a three-shot win.
Bryson DeChambeau: The strapping, 6-foot-1 DeChambeau tipped the scales at slightly less than 200 pounds when he first teed it up as an amateur at the 2016 API. He’ll return this week a hulking 245 pounds, smashing golf balls into submission at ungodly distances. DeChambeau’s remarkable transformation into the game’s premier power hitter should be worth the steep price of admission at Bay Hill. But DeChambeau, who leads the Tour in strokes gained tee-to-green, is a complete player and the defending U.S. Open champion. Following a pair of lackluster showings during the month of February, the 27-year-old aims to get on track at a course where he’s had success, including a fourth-place finish in 2020. A solid start would help; DeChambeau carded a 75 and 77 during his past two opening rounds on Tour.
Rickie Fowler: Fowler is a fan favorite wherever he tees it up but no place more than Bay Hill due to his close relationship with Palmer. Fowler, 32, often pays homage to The King with his wardrobe choices and would like nothing more than to win Palmer’s tournament. Fowler was in the mix in 2020 until he made a quadruple-bogey 9 on the risk-reward par-5 6th hole during the third round. Fowler’s chances for victory appear to be slim this week unless his play significantly improves. A closing 67 Feb. 21 at the Genesis Invitational was just his second round in the 60s during a 10-round, four-tournament span that included two missed cuts. Long considered one of the game’s stars, Fowler is now winless for more than two years. There would be no more popular winner this week.
Sam Burns: The promising 24-year-old had faded into the background amid the influx of young talent on Tour in recent years. Burns has the makings of a winner on Tour and well could end up in the weekend mix at Bay Hill. If he does, things could get interesting. A 2017 Palmer Cup member, Burns held the 36-hold lead at the Genesis but carded a thirdround 74. A closing 75 Jan. 31 killed his chances at Torrey Pines. A week later in Phoenix, he followed rounds of 64-68 with a third-round 73. Burns’ talent is undeniable, but his mental game needs sharpening. This could be the week where everything comes together.
Matthew Fitzpatrick: Fitzpatrick looks to continue the recent trend of European winners at Bay Hill. In 2020, countryman Tyrrell Hatton became the first Englishman to win the API and third straight European, joining McIlroy and 2019 winner Francesco Molinari. Fitzpatrick arrives in good form and with a strong track record during the event. He tied for fifth at the Genesis and 11th this past weekend on a brutal layout at The Concession in Bradenton. Fitzpatrick followed a runner-up finish in 2019 at Bay Hill with a tie for ninth in 2020. The 26-year-old boasts six wins in Europe. He should be on the short list of favorites this week as he pursues his first win on the PGA Tour.