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Arnold Palmer Invitational 2022: Course and current form stats

Andy Swales
01 March 2022
3.0 min read

In 2009 Palmer made changes to the course which increased the number of risk/reward holes

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The PGA Tour travels 160 miles north-west from Palm Beach Gardens to set up camp in Orlando. Words and form stats by Andy Swales...

"Is one of the few venues on the PGA Tour where the tournament percentage for golfers hitting Greens in Regulation is actually lower than the figure for Driving Accuracy."

The Florida Swing continues with a trip to Orlando, with this week's tournament taking place at a venue made famous by all-time great Arnold Palmer.

The seven-time major champion purchased the club in 1974, and just five years later Bay Hill hosted its maiden PGA Tour event.

Designed by Dick Wilson and opened 61 years ago, the course has become one of the most respected layouts in professional golf.

For many followers of the sport, the Arnold Palmer Invitational is where the build up to the year's first major championship actually starts.

The event now enjoys invitational status, with Bay Hill being a course which tends to get tougher the closer a golfer gets to the green.

Course Characteristics

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 made a number of changes to the course more than a decade ago, with the aim of encouraging attacking golf.

He increased the number of potential pin positions, after redesigning all 18 putting surfaces.

Palmer, who died in 2016, was keen to create a venue that provided 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.

These changes also upped Bay Hill's total par from 71 to 72. Since then, the Bermuda grass greens have all been re-surfaced, while a number of fairways were widened with the intention of making attacking golf look even more attractive.

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

Course Comparisons

Hitting fairways is generally not overcomplicated at Bay Hill, but finding the putting surfaces is certainly more problematic.

It is one of the few venues on the PGA Tour where the tournament percentage for golfers hitting Greens in Regulation is actually lower than the figure for Driving Accuracy.

Of the 29 most regular venues used on Tour, only Harbour Town, Muirfield Village, Augusta National and Pebble Beach, post similar untypical statistics as Bay Hill.

Between 1.1.2016 and 31.1.2021, 63.23*% of golfers safely found fairways off the tee at Bay Hill, but only 59.67*% successfully located its putting surfaces.

And it's one of the toughest for hitting greens in regulation anyway, as the stats below illustrate:

PGA Tour Averages (1.1.16 - 31.12.21)

Greens in Regulation (%)
75.86: Sedgefield (Wyndham) (1/29)
59.67: Bay Hill (Arnold Palmer Invitational) (27/29)
59.27: Innisbrook (Valspar Ch`ship) (29/29)
PGA Tour average: 67.79*

Latest betting for Bay Hill

Stroke Averages

Lowest 12 At Bay Hill (2016-21)
Average .... (Rounds)
70.17: Rory McIlroy (24)
70.35: Bryson DeChambeau (20)
70.68: Marc Leishman (22)
70.76: Jason Day (17)
70.90: Justin Rose (20)
70.94: Chris Kirk (18)
71.00: Paul Casey (12)
71.00: Sung Jae Im (12)
71.00: Henrik Stenson (18)
71.14: Matt Fitzpatrick (22)
71.22: Tommy Fleetwood (18)
71.25: Luke List (16)
71.35: Tyrrell Hatton (20)
Min. No. of Rounds = 10
Only those entered this week are included in table

Most PGA Tour Top 12s in Florida

Since January 1st, 2017
7: Tommy Fleetwood
7: Jason Kokrak
7: Rory McIlroy
5: Matt Fitzpatrick
5: Sung Jae Im
4: Paul Casey
4: Bryson DeChambeau
4: Lucas Glover
4: Keith Mitchell
Only those entered this week are included in table

Four To Watch

Matt Fitzpatrick: Moving ever closer to a maiden PGA Tour title. Runner-up at Bay Hill in 2019, and has opened the current year with a brace of T10s during the West Coast Swing. The Sheffield golfer is Steve Rawlings' main selection this week.

Max Homa: The 31-year-old has won on some tough courses, such as Riviera and Quail Hollow. Tied-10th at Bay Hill 12 months ago.

Jason Kokrak: A solid performer at Bay Hill where he has posted four top-10 finishes - including tied-eighth last year. Has claimed three PGA Tour victories during the past two and a half years.

Rory McIlroy: Still the world No 5, despite his failure to land a major title in over seven years. This high position proves he continues to perform to an extremely high standard and has the game to handle Bay Hill, where it remains difficult to hunt down birdies.

* To qualify for a percentage figure, a minimum of 300 golfers must have completed at least 54 holes at the venue/tournament between January 1st 2016 and December 31st, 2021. Averages do not include players who failed to complete 54 holes. A total of 29 PGA Tour venues/tournaments qualified for inclusion.

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Note: List Contains Leading Reserves

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Last Nine Weeks / Bay Hill (2012-21)

Position

1–5
6–15
16–25

Player	W9	W8	W7	W6	W5	W4	W3	W2
Jon Rahm		21	10		3	14		2
Viktor Hovland		4	MC		1	4		30
Rory McIlroy		10			3	12
Scottie Scheffler		7	1		20	25
Hideki Matsuyama		39	8		30		1	13
Bryson DeChambeau				Wd	MC			25
Sam Burns		MC	MC		MC			19
Billy Horschel	16		6		11		36	23
Tyrrell Hatton				28	4	6
Sung Jae Im	MC	33			6	11	MC	8
Matt Fitzpatrick			10	6
Jason Kokrak		26		45			17	38
Paul Casey		15		24	12	16
Patrick Reed	MC	MC		38	46	55		15
Kevin Na		MC		28			20	13
Will Zalatoris		26			2	6
Thomas Pieters		MC		24	12	1
Talor Gooch		MC	26		20	MC	27	15
Adam Scott		4	38		9	10
Matthew Wolff	MC			6	64	MC
Max Homa		10	14		MC			15
Marc Leishman		15		28	16		36	10
Tom Hoge		MC	14	1	MC	2	MC
Kevin Kisner			38	MC			3	8
Russell Henley		33	33			14	2
Lee Westwood	42			21	32	20
Corey Conners		MC	38		MC	MC	11
Tommy Fleetwood	MC			8	12	48
Justin Rose				62	6	33
Seamus Power		MC	MC	9		14	3	15
Cameron Tringale		13		MC	3	MC
Sergio Garcia		39		24	12
Lucas Herbert	MC		MC	21	18			37
Cameron Young	16	2	26		20	40	MC
Si Woo Kim		73	26		11	11	55	23
Luke List		MC	53		1	22
Min Woo Lee		MC		MC		35	4
Christiaan Bezuidenhout	25	MC		14	46	40	17
Takumi Kanaya				14	MC	25	MC
Ian Poulter	30			53	MC	6
Erik van Rooyen		39			4	12	20	25
Maverick McNealy		7		33	30		27
Sebastian Munoz		21	23		39	MC
Carlos Ortiz		39	33		70	MC
Hudson Swafford	MC		60		MC	1	48
Nicolai Hojgaard	MC		MC	1	MC	MC
Garrick Higgo	66		21		47	MC		25
Kyoung-Hoon Lee	48	26	38			63	48	33
Matt Jones	MC	15	58	MC	MC		MC	3
Keith Mitchell	9		10	12	MC		7
Sepp Straka	1	15	66		16	49	42
Aaron Wise	MC	67	MC		MC
Cameron Davis		48	MC		56		27	10
Lanto Griffin		39		16	30	3
Branden Grace		MC	49				MC	33
Jason Day				24	3	49
Keegan Bradley		48	26		65		12
Kevin Streelman	16		MC	MC	39	MC
Matt Wallace		MC	MC		35	68
Aaron Rai	66	61		MC	6	59	MC
Troy Merritt		MC	38	4		MC
Lucas Glover	30		37	MC		33	5	35
Chris Kirk	7		14	MC		MC	27
Cameron Champ		67		MC	46	MC
Martin Laird		39	14		46
Dylan Frittelli	16	26	MC	24	MC	MC
Rickie Fowler	42	55	MC		MC	MC
Rory Sabbatini	48		33		70	MC	MC
Taylor Moore	MC	21		16	MC	67
CT Pan	16	9	MC		78	MC
Andrew Putnam		48	MC	6		14	27
Patton Kizzire		61	10		MC	22	42
Brendan Steele	MC	MC	MC			MC	MC
Padraig Harrington	MC			27	9	20
Charl Schwartzel	MC	MC		MC	76	39
Gary Woodland	5		MC		39	MC
Brendon Todd	48		26	16		MC	48
Danny Willett	48			35	MC	MC
Robert Streb	72	MC	MC		56	MC	MC
Denny McCarthy	30		MC	12		6	48
Michael Thompson	MC		MC	MC	11	MC	5
Sahith Theegala		48	3	MC	25	33	48
Greyson Sigg	MC			33	34	25	42
Stephan Jaeger	48		62	MC	MC		MC
Adam Long		75	MC		65	MC	MC
Adam Schenk	MC	MC	MC		56	MC	MC
Adam Svensson	9			49	79	49	7
Hayden Buckley	MC		MC	49	MC	MC	12
Zach Johnson	MC		43			14	MC
Chez Reavie		10	MC	MC	70	MC
Henrik Stenson	MC			17	60	39
Pat Perez		39	MC	9	6	MC
David Lipsky	55	MC		24	56	14	MC
Henrik Norlander		MC	MC		MC	63	55
Scott Stallings		MC	21	MC	46	MC
Charles Howell	MC		MC			25	36
Chad Ramey	MC	28		MC	39	MC	MC
Lee Hodges	9	39		MC	MC	3	MC
Sam Ryder	9	26	23		MC	49	63
Brandt Snedeker			MC	MC	MC	14	36
Kevin Tway	MC	48	53	MC	46	MC	61
Nick Taylor	16		MC	14	30	33
Patrick Rodgers	64	MC	MC	MC	62	40
Danny Lee		21	MC		MC	MC
Doug Ghim	MC	MC	49		34	59
Taylor Pendrith	25	MC		49	16	MC	MC
Roger Sloan	55	MC	MC			14	MC
Scott Piercy		61	MC	MC	76	MC
JJ Spaun	30	MC		16	34	25	MC
Peter Malnati		26	65	42	25	MC	MC
Vince Whaley	MC	MC		MC	MC	40	17
Beau Hossler	16	48	MC	3	MC		MC
Trey Mullinax	30			28	MC	59	MC
Paul Barjon	MC			MC	MC	10	48
Mark Hubbard	15	6		33	MC		MC
Anirban Lahiri	MC	MC	MC		46	66
Alex Smalley	55	72		MC	56	25	MC
Tyler McCumber	MC		MC	MC	MC	MC
Nick Watney	30	55	MC	MC	MC	MC
Davis Riley	42			49	MC	59	20
Graeme McDowell			MC	MC		40	MC
Sean O`Hair		6		16	Wd	MC
Sung Kang	MC		26	42	MC	MC	MC
Jonathan Byrd			MC	9	MC	MC
Martin Trainer	48		43	MC	MC	55	MC
Davis Thompson		60		32	12	MC
John Pak		17	MC	32		MC
Sam Bennett					MC
Greg Koch
James Piot

Player	`21	`20	`19	`18	`17	`16	`15	`14	`13	`12
Jon Rahm
Viktor Hovland	49	42	40
Rory McIlroy	10	5	6	1	4	27	11
Scottie Scheffler		15
Hideki Matsuyama	18	56	33	49	45	6	21
Bryson DeChambeau	1	4	46	2		27
Sam Burns	MC	36	54	49
Billy Horschel	MC	36	50	54	13	20	43	43	75
Tyrrell Hatton	21	1	29	69	4
Sung Jae Im	21	3	3
Matt Fitzpatrick	10	9	2	MC	13	27		MC
Jason Kokrak	8	18	10	MC	56	20	6	4		MC
Paul Casey	10				41	9	MC	60
Patrick Reed	MC	15	50	7				52	MC
Kevin Na	43	36	MC	36	MC		6	14		4
Will Zalatoris	10
Thomas Pieters					MC	76
Talor Gooch	43	13		26
Adam Scott		MC		41		12	35	3
Matthew Wolff		52
Max Homa	10	24
Marc Leishman	MC	2	23	7	1	17	MC	31	MC	48
Tom Hoge	MC	15		26
Kevin Kisner	36	MC	23	MC	2	MC	49
Russell Henley					45	MC	49	MC	MC
Lee Westwood	2	MC						MC	63
Corey Conners	3	MC	MC
Tommy Fleetwood	10	MC	3	26	10
Justin Rose	Wd	MC	63	3	13	9		MC	2	15
Seamus Power
Cameron Tringale	31					27		56	27	MC
Sergio Garcia									Wd	33
Lucas Herbert
Cameron Young
Si Woo Kim	Wd	MC	MC	MC	49	63
Luke List	63		10	7	17
Min Woo Lee
Christiaan Bezuidenhout	7	18
Takumi Kanaya
Ian Poulter	26	32	23	41	41	46	21	20	21	3
Erik van Rooyen	57
Maverick McNealy	49	MC				46
Sebastian Munoz	49	MC
Carlos Ortiz		MC	29				21
Hudson Swafford	MC		29	75	10	36	11	MC
Nicolai Hojgaard
Garrick Higgo
Kyoung-Hoon Lee	MC	42
Matt Jones	MC	47				MC	3	14	50
Keith Mitchell	43	5	6
Sepp Straka	MC	MC
Aaron Wise	MC		40	41
Cameron Davis	MC
Lanto Griffin	21	36
Branden Grace	26				MC		62		MC
Jason Day	31	Wd	Wd	22	23	1	17		45
Keegan Bradley	10	42	46	26	34	36	49	2	3
Kevin Streelman		MC	58	41	70	MC	67		21
Matt Wallace	18	24	6
Aaron Rai
Troy Merritt		24			56	3
Lucas Glover	66	MC	10	49	7	27	MC	14	MC
Chris Kirk	8		15	13	MC	12	MC	60	16
Cameron Champ	MC	MC	MC
Martin Laird	43		MC	26	49	43	43	76	34	36
Dylan Frittelli	MC	18
Rickie Fowler	72	18	40	14	12		29	MC	3
Rory Sabbatini	MC	47				60	MC	Wd		MC
Taylor Moore
CT Pan	MC	MC	MC	41	56
Andrew Putnam	4	MC
Patton Kizzire	57			MC	MC
Brendan Steele	18	MC	17			46	35	20	MC	MC
Padraig Harrington	31	MC		MC			49	67
Charl Schwartzel	MC	MC		MC	45
Gary Woodland						MC	21	20	27	48
Brendon Todd	57	18				MC		MC		MC
Danny Willett	31	18	MC	Wd			29
Robert Streb	MC		MC	MC		MC	MC		MC
Denny McCarthy	26	MC
Michael Thompson			MC							36
Sahith Theegala
Greyson Sigg
Stephan Jaeger
Adam Long	MC	24	10
Adam Schenk			29
Adam Svensson
Hayden Buckley
Zach Johnson	49	32	40	26	66	5	9	43	34	11
Chez Reavie	49				MC	60				70
Henrik Stenson	MC	MC	17	4	MC	3	2	5	8	15
Pat Perez	36	MC	50		17		MC	67	50	MC
David Lipsky
Henrik Norlander	71	MC
Scott Stallings			40	MC			MC	MC	MC	48
Charles Howell	36	MC	15	14	56	46	21	35	45	20
Chad Ramey
Lee Hodges
Sam Ryder		MC	33
Brandt Snedeker	68		50	MC	28	36	13	8	MC	63
Kevin Tway		MC		58
Nick Taylor	MC	56		MC			35
Patrick Rodgers	57	24	46	7	MC	20
Danny Lee	49	5	MC	MC	17	MC	17	31
Doug Ghim	36
Taylor Pendrith
Roger Sloan			23
Scott Piercy		MC	54	MC					MC	MC
JJ Spaun			63		49
Peter Malnati	MC					MC
Vince Whaley
Beau Hossler		24	58	66
Trey Mullinax
Paul Barjon
Mark Hubbard	43	MC				MC
Anirban Lahiri	MC	MC	69	75	MC
Alex Smalley
Tyler McCumber	MC
Nick Watney									45	59
Davis Riley
Graeme McDowell	MC	32	54	22	28	MC	MC	10	45	2
Sean O`Hair				7	MC	36	29	10	40	29
Sung Kang	MC	9	6	58		MC
Jonathan Byrd										MC
Martin Trainer			66
Davis Thompson
John Pak
Sam Bennett
Greg Koch
James Piot