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Arnold Palmer Invitational 2021: Course and current form stats ahead of Bay Hill

Andy Swales
27 February 2021
5.0 min read

Bay Hill: Week two of the PGA Tour's Florida Swing

Plenty of water at Bay Hill, as the PGA Tour moves to Orlando

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Week two of the Florida Swing brings the PGA Tour to Bay Hill, a venue synonymous with one of golf's all-time greats. Words and stats supplied by Andy Swales...

From the tee, Bay Hill is certainly not the most feared course on the rota, with recent stats showing the venue becomes a lot more treacherous when approaching the green. Between 2016 and 2020, it was 9th (out of 29) for most fairways hit, but became 28th most difficult for greens located in regulation.

It's another big week on the PGA Tour, as the players travel to Orlando for the prestigious Arnold Palmer Invitational.

Many of golf's most sought after titles take place at this time of year, with the Players Championship next on the agenda, followed by The Masters in a month's time.

And following on from last week's opening WGC event of 2021, the pros are teeing-up at Bay Hill, another high-ranking invitational event with a selective and limited-size field.

Bay Hill was designed by one of golf's most famous architects, Dick Wilson. Among his other high-profile creations are the Blue Monster course at Doral and the highly-acclaimed Laurel Valley in Pennsylvania.

On the tee

In what is a particularly busy period of golf for the game's leading pros, nine of the world's top 20 have made their way to Orlando for the second of four events on the PGA Tour's Florida Swing.

'Top seed' is world No 6 and defending champion Tyrrell Hatton, the UK's highest-ranked golfer right now.

In recent years, Bay Hill has ushered in plenty of overseas champions, including each of the last five.

Two of these are Rory McIlroy (2018) and Francesco Molinari (2019), both of whom had strong course histories anyway.

Check out the latest betting ahead of this week's Arnold Palmer Invitational

World No 8 McIlroy, who certainly seems to prefer the eastern states of America more than those in the west, has not finished lower than sixth in any of his last four visits to Bay Hill.

He tied for sixth in Florida on Sunday, and should head to Orlando feeling more confident than he did when he arrived in the Sunshine State.

Returning to form

When Covid-struck last year, Molinari opted to remain with his family in Italy for over seven months which meant the former world No 5 had dropped to 112 in the World Ranking by the end of 2020.

But he has started the New Year positively with three top-10 finishes from four outings on the PGA Tour.

He also tends to play his best golf at tough venues which require good course management skills - and Bay Hill is definitely one of these.

And with previous course form seemingly important around here, then world No 17 Korean Sung Jae Im and the ever-improving Jason Kokrak should be given serious consideration this week.

Check out the latest betting ahead of April's US Masters

From the tee, Bay Hill is certainly not the most feared course on the rota, with recent stats showing the venue becomes a lot more treacherous when approaching the green.

Between 2016 and 2020, it was 9th (out of 29) for most fairways hit, but became 28th most difficult for greens located in regulation.

Bay Hill background

Opening for business 60 years ago, Bay Hill is neither short of sand, nor lacking in water, and used to be a layout which favoured the big hitters.

The late Arnold Palmer, who purchased the venue in 1975, made a number of changes to the course 12 years ago with the aim of encouraging attacking golf.

During the four-month renovation, he increased the number of potential pin positions by more than 40, after redesigning all 18 putting surfaces.

Palmer, who died in 2016, was one of the most attacking golfers of his generation and the purpose of making these changes was to create more risk/reward opportunities.

During this upgrade he moved fairway bunkers further from tees, while extending greenside sand closer to the edges of putting surfaces.

He also made the sand more visible from tees and fairways, in order to encourage the bold and the brave.

Large water hazards come into play on nine holes, while there are a handful of dog legs too.

'Creative scrambling'

Regarding these alterations, Palmer explained: "I've introduced firm, fast playing conditions on slopes around greens that run away from the pins.

"This will take the ball further away from the intended target instead of stopping it, like the previous heavy rough did. With these new conditions we hope to add creativity to recovery shots."

And while these changes certainly heaped more pressure on players to hone their scrambling skills before arriving at Bay Hill, Palmer also added a little more yardage to the course which upped the total par from 71 to 72.

Six years ago, the Bermuda grass greens were re-surfaced once again, while a number of fairways were widened with the intention of making attacking golf look even more attractive.

Bay Hill joined the PGA Tour schedule in 1979, and has been part of the rota every year since.

In 2020, it was the final tournament to be completed before Tour officials announced a shutdown of top-level professional golf - for almost three months - because of the emerging Covid-19 crisis.

This parkland course is located around eight miles south-west of downtown Orlando, close to Florida's Butler Lake.

Course Comparisons (1.1.16 - 31.12.20)

Driving Accuracy (%)
73.88: Sea Island (RSM Classic) (1/29)
64.68: Bay Hill (Palmer Invitational) (9/29)
52.24: Torrey Pines (Farmers Insurance) (29/29)

Greens in Regulation (%)
75.98: Sedgefield (Wyndham) (1/29)
59.95: Bay Hill (Palmer Invitational) (28/29)
58.99: Innisbrook (Valspar) (29/29)

Putting (GiR)
1.664: PGA West (host) (American Express) (1/29)
1.767: Bay Hill (Palmer Invitational) (24/29)
2.668: Augusta National (Masters) (29/29)

Key: Above stats are for all 29 courses which staged four or more PGA Tour events between January 1st, 2016 and December 31st, 2020. To qualify for a ranking (between 1 & 29), tournaments must have a minimum of 50 players competing over the final two rounds of the event. Averages do not include players who failed to complete at least 54 holes.

Bay Hill Data (2016-20)
DA: (T10 - 67.69%); (Cat10 - 76.40%)
GiR: (T10 - 63.94%); (Cat10 - 69.34%)
Putts: (T10 - 1.719); (Cat10 - 1.643)
Key: T10 (Average for Top-10 finishers); Cat10 (Average for Top-10 in Category)

Twitter: Andy Swales@GolfStatsAlive

Note: List Contains Leading Reserves

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Last Nine Weeks / Bay Hill Form (2011-20)

Position

1–5
6–15
16–25

Player	W9	W8	W7	W6	W5	W4	W3	W2
Tyrrell Hatton	22			6	22	1
Rory McIlroy	6	MC		13	16	3
Bryson DeChambeau	22	MC		18				7
Patrick Reed	9			66	1	MC		21
Viktor Hovland	2	5		6	2			31
Matthew Fitzpatrick	11	5			17	MC
Sung Jae Im	28			17	32	12	56	5
Paul Casey			5	12	1	8
Harris English	66			MC	MC		32	1
Tommy Fleetwood	44			26	17	7
Hideki Matsuyama	15	MC		42	53		19	41
Kevin Na	11	38		21		MC	1	38
Louis Oosthuizen	6			11	29
Victor Perez	52			4	MC	46
Marc Leishman	39	32			18		4	24
Jason Kokrak	9	32		41	29		56	35
Kevin Kisner	41						32	24
Justin Rose	54			2	35	57
Christiaan Bezuidenhout	32			53	22	12
Lee Westwood	61			50	17	62
Max Homa	22	1	7	42	18	21
Shane Lowry	48			29	27	MC
Billy Horschel	2			53	MC		7	24
Bernd Wiesberger	59			53	6	25
Robert MacIntyre	61			29	3	16
Jason Day	18		7	MC	MC
Will Zalatoris	22	15	55	17	7
Brendon Todd	18	MC		22			41	13
Lanto Griffin	22	26			7	MC	41	13
Si Woo Kim		MC	MC	50	MC	1	25
Matt Wallace	MC			MC	51	7
Ian Poulter	35			18	MC	MC
Corey Conners		MC		17	37
Jordan Spieth		15	3	4	MC
Sebastian Munoz	22	43		MC			65	17
Erik van Rooyen	37			MC	MC	56	MC
Adam Long		MC	MC	MC		69
Rickie Fowler		20	MC	MC	53	21
JT Poston		43		11	18	MC	MC
Dylan Frittelli		MC		MC	53
Chez Reavie		MC	16	MC		MC	67
Danny Willett				63	44	16
Joel Dahmen		MC	60	MC	MC	MC
Cameron Champ	48			MC	MC	MC		31
Byeong Hun An	35			53	75	8
Sam Burns		3	39	22	18	MC
Matt Jones		8	34	30	48	21	11
Branden Grace	1	20	34				MC
Henrik Stenson				MC	MC	46
Francesco Molinari		8	59		10	8
Talor Gooch		12		MC	48	21	MC
Adam Hadwin		26		50	18	32
Brendan Steele		43	34	30		21	4
Cameron Tringale		26	7	17	18	56
Brian Harman		43	39	36		8	56
Martin Laird		MC		MC	MC	47		17
Alexander Noren		12	MC		37	40
Henrik Norlander		MC	26	22	2	12	MC
Graeme McDowell				66	MC	MC
Rory Sabbatini			MC	MC	10	12	MC
Jazz Janewattananond				72		25
Tom Hoge		52	12	MC	MC	MC	MC
Chris Kirk			16	MC		16	2
Jim Herman		MC	MC			MC	32
Zach Johnson				42		62	62
Robert Streb		MC		MC	MC		67	38
Sung Kang		67	63	MC		MC	MC
Nate Lashley		57	5	17		MC	MC
Nick Taylor		20	39	MC		47	11	29
Wyndham Clark		8		36	32	54
Doc Redman		MC		MC	MC	70
Brandt Snedeker		MC	MC		32	MC	MC
Maverick McNealy		MC	2		MC	71
Cameron Davis		43	14		32	3	31
Lucas Glover	39	MC		58	42	MC
Aaron Wise				66		MC
Harold Varner		62	MC	13	MC
Charles Howell		MC			MC	MC	19
Richy Werenski		57		22	60	21	MC	24
Charley Hoffman		52	7	MC	Wd	Wd	14
Matthew NeSmith		20	16	7	48	MC	MC
Sepp Straka		43		MC	32	MC	25
Kyoung-Hoon Lee		66		2	MC	32	19
Keegan Bradley		60		22		MC	MC
Peter Malnati		MC	MC		10	MC	14
Mark Hubbard		MC	55	30		MC	32
Tyler Duncan		38	MC	MC	MC	56
Emiliano Grillo	11	MC		22	MC	37	47
Luke List		MC		30	10	21	MC
CT Pan		20	65	MC		MC	MC
Danny Lee		52		MC	65	MC	MC
Robby Shelton		MC		53	16	MC	25
Andrew Putnam	5	32	55	7		21	MC
Hudson Swafford				MC		MC	25	35
Brian Stuard		MC	16	58	MC	47	47
Austin Cook		MC	MC	MC		32	47
Brian Gay		60	34	MC		MC	72	29
Patton Kizzire			39	50		53	7
Charl Schwartzel		62		MC	18	54
Keith Mitchell			MC	MC	MC		14
Patrick Rodgers	30	12	MC	MC	MC	MC
Kyle Stanley		32	39	36	18	32	MC
Russell Knox		MC	7	53	MC	16	MC
Will Gordon	27		21	MC	42	64	MC
Kristoffer Ventura	49		MC		MC	MC
Denny McCarthy		MC	MC	MC	73	MC
Ryan Armour		MC	47	MC		16	32
Pat Perez		MC	26	MC	69	MC	32
Bo Hoag		32	MC	36	18	16	MC
Padraig Harrington	58	MC		MC	6	62
Scott Stallings			30	36	MC	MC
Steve Stricker				4	60	MC
Doug Ghim		MC	21		37	5	MC
Chesson Hadley			MC		MC	MC
Tyler McCumber		52	MC		75	40	MC
Kramer Hickok	MC		MC		MC	21	19
Cameron Percy	7		21		48	MC
John Huh				MC	65	21
Hank Lebioda			39		MC	62	MC
Jason Dufner			26	MC	77	MC
Camilo Villegas		MC		MC	Wd	MC
Anirban Lahiri	39				MC	MC	62
Michael Gligic	63		MC		MC	MC	MC
David Hearn	MC		MC		MC	64	MC
Matt Every	MC	34	Wd		MC	MC	MC
John Augenstein		MC		MC		MC
Davis Love							MC
Tim Herron
Paul Goydos
Rod Perry
Kamaiu Johnson			MC
Robert Gamez
Matthias Schmid

Player	`20	`19	`18	`17	`16	`15	`14	`13	`12	`11
Tyrrell Hatton	1	29	69	4
Rory McIlroy	5	6	1	4	27	11
Bryson DeChambeau	4	46	2		27
Patrick Reed	15	50	7				52	MC
Viktor Hovland	42	40
Matthew Fitzpatrick	9	2	MC	13	27		MC
Sung Jae Im	3	3
Paul Casey				41	9	MC	60
Harris English	9	68	22	MC	MC	29	14	57	MC
Tommy Fleetwood	MC	3	26	10
Hideki Matsuyama	56	33	49	45	6	21
Kevin Na	36	MC	36	MC		6	14		4	30
Louis Oosthuizen		MC	MC	28		9
Victor Perez
Marc Leishman	2	23	7	1	17	MC	31	MC	48	3
Jason Kokrak	18	10	MC	56	20	6	4		MC
Kevin Kisner	MC	23	MC	2	MC	49
Justin Rose	MC	63	3	13	9		MC	2	15	3
Christiaan Bezuidenhout	18
Lee Westwood	MC						MC	63
Max Homa	24
Shane Lowry		MC	MC			MC
Billy Horschel	36	50	54	13	20	43	43	75
Bernd Wiesberger						MC
Robert MacIntyre
Jason Day	Wd	Wd	22	23	1	17		45
Will Zalatoris
Brendon Todd	18				MC		MC		MC
Lanto Griffin	36
Si Woo Kim	MC	MC	MC	49	63
Matt Wallace	24	6
Ian Poulter	32	23	41	41	46	21	20	21	3	12
Corey Conners	MC	MC
Jordan Spieth
Sebastian Munoz	MC
Erik van Rooyen
Adam Long	24	10
Rickie Fowler	18	40	14	12		29	MC	3		30
JT Poston	MC	66
Dylan Frittelli	18
Chez Reavie				MC	60				70
Danny Willett	18	MC	Wd			29
Joel Dahmen	5	MC
Cameron Champ	MC	MC
Byeong Hun An	56	10	14	49	36
Sam Burns	36	54	49
Matt Jones	47				MC	3	14	50
Branden Grace				MC		62		MC
Henrik Stenson	MC	17	4	MC	3	2	5	8	15	47
Francesco Molinari		1	26	7	9	17	5	34
Talor Gooch	13		26
Adam Hadwin		33		6	36
Brendan Steele	MC	17			46	35	20	MC	MC	38
Cameron Tringale					27		56	27	MC
Brian Harman	MC	MC	54	13	17	MC	MC	MC	15
Martin Laird		MC	26	49	43	43	76	34	36	1
Alexander Noren	MC		36	49
Henrik Norlander	MC
Graeme McDowell	32	54	22	28	MC	MC	10	45	2	MC
Rory Sabbatini	47				60	MC	Wd		MC
Jazz Janewattananond	MC
Tom Hoge	15		26
Chris Kirk		15	13	MC	12	MC	60	16		MC
Jim Herman	MC			45	63	MC
Zach Johnson	32	40	26	66	5	9	43	34	11	47
Robert Streb		MC	MC		MC	MC		MC
Sung Kang	9	6	58		MC
Nate Lashley	MC	MC
Nick Taylor	56		MC			35
Wyndham Clark	68
Doc Redman	62		71
Brandt Snedeker		50	MC	28	36	13	8	MC	63	MC
Maverick McNealy	MC				46
Cameron Davis
Lucas Glover	MC	10	49	7	27	MC	14	MC
Aaron Wise		40	41
Harold Varner	36	MC		34	MC
Charles Howell	MC	15	14	56	46	21	35	45	20	38
Richy Werenski		MC
Charley Hoffman	13	MC	14	2				MC	59
Matthew NeSmith	MC
Sepp Straka	MC
Kyoung-Hoon Lee	42
Keegan Bradley	42	46	26	34	36	49	2	3		MC
Peter Malnati					MC
Mark Hubbard	MC				MC
Tyler Duncan	MC		MC
Emiliano Grillo	Dq		26	7	17
Luke List		10	7	17
CT Pan	MC	MC	41	56
Danny Lee	5	MC	MC	17	MC	17	31
Robby Shelton	56			MC
Andrew Putnam	MC
Hudson Swafford		29	75	10	36	11	MC
Brian Stuard	MC		36	MC		MC	60	16
Austin Cook		MC	36
Brian Gay	62	MC	22				MC	MC	42	24
Patton Kizzire			MC	MC
Charl Schwartzel	MC		MC	45						47
Keith Mitchell	5	6
Patrick Rodgers	24	46	7	MC	20
Kyle Stanley		MC	14	17				MC		12
Russell Knox	MC		73			29	43
Will Gordon
Kristoffer Ventura
Denny McCarthy	MC
Ryan Armour		MC	77
Pat Perez	MC	50		17		MC	67	50	MC	38
Bo Hoag
Padraig Harrington	MC		MC			49	67
Scott Stallings		40	MC			MC	MC	MC	48
Steve Stricker	42	58
Doug Ghim
Chesson Hadley		17	49			67	26
Tyler McCumber
Kramer Hickok
Cameron Percy
John Huh			26	66	68	55		27	73
Hank Lebioda	MC
Jason Dufner		MC						MC	15	66
Camilo Villegas			MC	MC	55	21	20	16	42	MC
Anirban Lahiri	MC	69	75	MC
Michael Gligic
David Hearn				34	20	43	52	45
Matt Every	MC	MC	MC	62	MC	1	1	34	24	MC
John Augenstein
Davis Love	66		58		68	65	26		Wd
Tim Herron		69	MC	62	MC	MC	MC	MC	11	MC
Paul Goydos			69				MC			73
Rod Perry	62	MC				MC	MC	76		MC
Kamaiu Johnson
Robert Gamez	MC	MC	MC	MC	MC	MC	MC	MC	MC	MC
Matthias Schmid