Arnold Palmer Invitational + Qatar Masters 5-8 March 2020

Tips Re-Cap

Xander Schauffele (USA) 22/1 – £5EW – 888Sport 6 places-25/1 Exch

Harris English (USA) 100/1 – £5EW – SkyBet 8 places – 166/1 Exch

Tony Finau (USA) 33/1 – £5EW – Betfair 8 places – 40/1 Exch

Mark Leishman (AUS) 40/1 – £5EW –SkyBet 8 places – 48/1 Exch

Bay Hill Championship Course

From the first tee, there’s something about Bay Hill that makes any golfer’s heart beat faster. The breath-taking course sweeps across 270 acres along the shores of the Butler Chain of Lakes. The Champion, Challenger and Charger links feature 27 holes of tour championship golf. Originally designed by Dick Wilson and re-designed by Arnold Palmer, the golf course is a regal testament befitting the King of Golf.

“Your hometown is not where you’re from, it’s who you are”

Arnold Palmer

Bay Hill Club & Lodge, 7,419 yards, par 72. Acclaimed by Palmer as the “best course in Florida” after playing a 1965 exhibition on Orlando’s western edge, it turned into a 50-year love affair as Palmer made Bay Hill his winter base and eventually bought the property. Bay Hill first welcomed the Tour in 1979, when the old Florida Citrus Open moved across town. Built in 1961 by Dick Wilson, Palmer’s constant tinkering over the years left no doubt about whose stamp it bears. Bay Hill’s closing trio of holes often generates a dramatic finish, most notably the 7-iron hole-out at No. 18 by Robert Gamez to stun Greg Norman in 1990.

72-HOLE RECORD: 264, Payne Stewart (1987).

18-HOLE RECORD: 62, Andy Bean (2nd round, 1981), Greg Norman (2nd round, 1984), Adam Scott (1st round, 2014).

Players Suited

Bay Hill is a great test of golf. Course management is key here leaving a good leave on these greens will get you into the weekend. A player going flag hunting early will find out why these greens are so tricky. It will also help if the player can get it out there from the tee this week, good distance paired with a high GIR percentage should fit well. Add to that wind plays a big factor on all four days so club selection with these hard to hit greens is a must, a player has to be switched on all the time around here.

Look at the past leader boards at Bay Hill and you will find lots of good British Open and links type players preforming well here.

Also, the recent altitude test in Mexico should also throw up some good contenders for this event.

Past Winners

2019 Francesco Molinari 33/1
2018 Rory Mcllroy 20/1
2017 Marc Leishman 100/1
2016 Jason Day 14/1
2015 Matt Every 300/1
2014 Matt Every 66/1
2013 Tiger Woods 3/1

Mike’s Picks

Xander Schauffele (USA) 25/1

As for the top of the betting market Xander apart from Rory is my number one pick this week.

Lots to like here when you take a look at the core winning stats history around Bay Hill, strokes gained approach and strokes gained off the tee. Where does he stack up?

9th Off the Tee – 8th Approach to the green – 2nd Tee to green

Impressive reading taken from the PGA Tour stats.

My only real concern is the putter, but on a positive note if you look at his past three events, he lost nearly half a shot a round putting on the field. His last three finishes were 16th 23rd 14th.

The putter should turn up soon and from what the team saw with him putting drills during practice he is looking sharp.

£5 EW Bet here.

Harris English (USA) 100/1

Harris has been very steady of late, two top twenties’ in his last couple of events at the Waste Management and the Honda Classic.

For me he seems to deliver on tougher golf course’s, he should give us a good run here this week. Another player who is solid off the tee and tee to green.

His overall game mirrors that of 2018 coming in here, back then he managed a top twenty-five finish.

Going with a £5 EW again here. 100/1 SkyBet 8 Places. Exch 166/1

Tony Finau (USA) 33/1

Yes, Tony goes back in this week, of course the last time we put him in was at the Waste where we picked up 1st, 2nd and 3rd.

I feel this is the right time and place for him to strike. And I like the odds here up to 40/1 on the Exchange is unreal for a player of his pedigree.

He has played five events so far in 2020.

Hong Kong Open – 5th
Amercian Express – 14th
Farmers – 6th
Waste – 2nd

Not taking too much notice of his result and play at the Genesis after such a great run of form we can allow him a rest. The putter was costly at the Genesis and this is normally a part of his game where he gains shots on the field.

So ready for the challenge here and another player who raises his game to another level on harder golf courses.

Sticking with a £5 each way bet here.

Marc Leishman (AUS) 40/1

Solid player and should have a good week here. The form he has showed over his previous results here speak volumes, and at 40 to one this week it’s a must for GBT.

Arnold Palmer Record since 2010- 40/3/48/MC/31/MC/17/WIN/7/23

Previous winner here and in a good run of form is something we like. His greens in regulation play was around 70% before the Genesis, we watched a lot of Marc’s play in Mexico and were very impressed with his third round carding a 68.

He is the sort of player that has the perfect game to win a Major. This could be another stepping stone to his sixth PGA Tour title and watch out for him at the US Open 2020 at Winged Foot 80/1. I am betting £5 EW SkyBet 8 Places.

Tips Re-Cap

George Coetzee (RSA) 30/1 – £5EW – Coral 7 Places

Connor Syme (SCO) 90/1 – £5EW – Coral 7 Places – Exch 156/1

Alejandro Canizares (SPA) 80/1 – £5EW – Various 7 places – Exch 87/1

Grant Forrest (SCO) 80/1 – £5EW – Coral 7 Places – Exch 136/1

Education City GC Course

The 18 Hole Championship course is immaculately groomed and conditioned. The course was designed in line with USGA standards with all green areas of the golf course being USGA Specification. The course was designed by golfing legend and double major winner José María Olazábal. The Par 72 course will put your skills to the ultimate test as it takes you through the desert and wadi terrain.

Olazábal has purposely led the first few holes of the golf course to an ancient wadi wall, allowing its charm and beauty to set the tone for your whole round. “Along several holes on both the front and back nine, we continue the reoccurring riverbed theme feature – which, on occasion, comes strategically into play”, Olazábal says.

The course length totals 7306 yards, with the longest hole measuring 593 yards from the Championship tees.

Past Winners

2019 Justin Harding 55/1
2018 Eddie Pepperell 70/1
2017 Jeunghun Wang 33/1
2016 Branden Grace 8/1
2015 Branden Grace 25/1
2014 Sergio Garcia 8/1
2013 Paul Lawrie 50/1

Mike’s Picks

George Coetzee (RSA) 30/1 – Coral 7 Places

All over this bet and this price this week. George is on a roll at the moment. He had a good show at the Tour Championship finishing in eighth place and then only last week in the Oman Open he was knocking on the door again with another top ten finish.

So many South Africains have had a good track record here and this is because a lot of the desert type courses are so similar to what they have grown up playing on.

This course is new for the players having been used to playing this event at Doha GC for many years. We have played and walked it and wow what a place to think it used to be just an empty desert a few years ago.

George’s Previous at Doha since 2012: 35/2/5/12/7/MC/8/2

Not had a win for a couple of years on the European Tour but he is hungry and looks so focused.

Betting £5 EW many places going 7 places – Boyle is paying 8 places at 25/1

Connor Syme (SCO) 90/1 – Coral 7 Places

This could be a great kick start to March for us. This price I am sure we get some value back here.

He covers every box needed around here and more.

Driving Accuracy – 70.23%
Greens in Regulation – 76.85%
Driving Distance – 317.13
Stroke Average – 69.66

You have to be straight around here; I would say when Olly designed this track, he took a lot of his ideas from Scotland and has tried to build a dune type water feature onto many of the holes front and back.

So, with Connor in such good form coming to a place which even though its miles away, mirrors a lot of visual shots he has grown up with.

Alejandro Canizares (SPA) 80/1 – Various at 7 places.

For those of you that have been following us for a while, you know that Alejandro is a good friend of the team. Has he delivered for us, not as well as he could have?

I have tipped him once a year since 2016:

2019 – 200/1 – 40th
2018 – 80/1 – 36th
2017 – 80/1 – 48th
2016 – 66/1 – 24th – Cash Out Win

As you can see, he is a steady seasoned pro who is playing some of his better golf in a very long time.

His last two events have been some good viewing, 15th at the ISPS Handa followed by a 6th at the Oman Open. Another great point the team mentioned this week was the fact that this course and set up is very similar to the Real Club de Golf Sevilla. Of course, that was designed by the great Olazabal as well where he has had two top five finishes.

Not won for six years but anything can happen with him. He could be a great contender for a cash out value this week. Going to bet £3 EW

Grant Forrest (SCO) 80/1 – Coral 7 Places

Grant is a talented youngster, turning professional in 2016 off plus 5. He has game!!

We followed a lot of his golf on the challenge tour, where in 2018 he finished inside the top 15 and earned his European Tour card. He managed some good results whilst finding his feet in 2019 and kept his card comfortably. This season he has come close to winning the Afrasian Bank closing with a 66 on Sunday only to miss out on a shot to make the play-off.

What I have liked is how impressive he has looked, each week growing with confidence, and no reason why not the way he has started this season.

Oman Open 10th – Dubai Classic 16th – Mauritius Open 4th

Going to keep to £5 EW

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