Competed once before at Grand Reserve, finishing T52 in 2020 via a sponsor exemption. Were now onto a multi-week jaunt through Florida starting with the Honda Classic. Rahm has been especially hot as of late, which is why he tops the official world golf rankings. Previous rank: 14 PGA TOUR Golf Power Rankings: Jon Rahm Dominates, Patrick Reed Revival? Burns ranks 16th in strokes gained per round putting (.723) and is 16th in driving distance (312.0). Lees teed it up twice in 2023, both on the DP World Tours Middle-East swing. Make no mistake, however, par still remains a terrific score on the course. Kevin Yu and Joseph Bramlett both finished T7 at Pebble and didnt get into the WM as predicted, but only Bramlett is committed to the Honda (as of Monday). 17. Round 3 PGA DFS Showdown Slate Picks - 2023 Arnold Palmer Invitational He led the field in shots gained: approach this past weekend, the first time he has accomplished that since the 2022 U.S. Open at Brookline. Follow your favorite players throughout the 2023 season. Bet with your head, not over it. Of the 23 Player Impact Program winners, the only not to commit is Tiger Woods. Bay Hill already is one of if not the hardest par 72 in a non-major in every season last years scoring average of 73.886 easily set the mark among its peers but consider that, in relatively docile conditions a year ago, the opening-round scoring average still was 72.292! Like most courses they visit in the Sunshine State, it will present plenty of water hazards throughout, including the famous par-5 sixth hole that features a bold drive over however much water the player thinks he can cut off. Payne Stewart in 1987 was the only player to go 20-under when he won by three. Brutally difficult conditions led to Scottie Scheffler persevering to win at 5-under last year. The 15th edition of the Puerto Rico Open is slated to be contested concurrently with the Arnold Palmer Invitational presented by Mastercard for the second straight year. Unlike last week, none of the top-10 golfers in the world are in attendance this week; only 12 of the top-50 in the world are making their way to PGA National for The Honda Classic. He tied for third at the American Express and 13th at the Farmers Insurance Open, followed by a tie for 10th at the Phoenix Open. Sundays finale easily will be the best round in the context of scoring conditions, but Bay Hills bite might strengthen even more than usual as the wind will rotate and howl in from the north. Did the former world No. Even casual golf fans and golf bettors are familiar with other participants such as Xander Schauffele, Will Zalatoris, Max Homa, Justin Thomas and Collin Morikawa. Stream on ESPN+. pic.twitter.com/0TL3TH7DyA, Scottie Scheffler couldn't believe it.Neither could this fan pic.twitter.com/YpzqEDCBkx, What happens when a fan catches your golf ball? So, course management and accepting par as a great score at times will be key. After pulling out of the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am (he was the defending champion) because of a back injury, Berger missed the cut at TPC Scottsdale. Previous rank: Not ranked Patrick Cantlay He was playing incredibly consistent golf before that, and his history at Arnold Palmer is very strong with a pair of 3rd place finishes and nothing worse than 21st in 4 tries. *: Power Rankings (Puerto Rico), Sleepers (API), Payouts and Points (API), Payouts and Points (Puerto Rico), Medical Extensions, Qualifiers, Reshuffle, Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information. Each week in our golf power rankings, we will highlight the top players on the PGA TOUR in order of likeliness to win the tournament. Previous rank: 1 This years field is as weak as this tournaments seen in years. Brutally difficult conditions led to Scottie Scheffler persevering to win at 5-under last year. pic.twitter.com/RQMtrMLJ8D. Id imagine hes ready to challenge the big names again. PGA Tour Power Rankings: Is Jon Rahm ready to return to the top? TUESDAY*: Power Rankings (Puerto Rico), Sleepers (API), SUNDAY: Payouts and Points (API), Payouts and Points (Puerto Rico), Medical Extensions, Qualifiers, Reshuffle. Pro golf will be back to California this summer for the U.S. Open at Los Angeles Country Club, but the PGA Tours West Coast swing is in the books. In 2022, Lee struggled early on with one top-10 in his first 20 starts. Of course, he remains indefinitely beholden to when his extended recovery will allow him to play in accordance with a chosen schedule. If you are looking to back our Arnold Palmer Invitational predictions, be sure to do so at DraftKings Sportsbook. Cameron Smith will not be in the field to defend his title due to leaving for LIV Golf. The through line is hitting greens in regulation no matter how that equation is written for the individual. Brett White, who had to relearn how to walk and talk after battling a brain infection six years ago, made his PGA Tour debut. Previous rank: 20 2022 PGA Championship Power Rankings - Pro Golf Weekly The PGA Tour moves from Phoenix to Los Angeles this week for The Genesis Invitational, a tour mainstay dating back to 1926. Just a friendly reminder that these aren't necessarily the 25 most talented players in the world or the 25 greatest players on tour. It was the largest 36-hole comeback at the WM Phoenix Open since it moved to TPC Scottsdale in 1987, according to ESPN Stats & Information research. The Australian took the week off after tying for 28th in last week's Saudi International. Cantlay, who is ranked No. He'll have a chance to get things right at Riviera, where he tied for second, 2 strokes behind Joaquin Niemann, last season. All five dozen bunkers on the property also are equipped with new drainage and sand. PGA Championship 2022 Power Rankings: Top-50 Players This Week at Southern Hills Golf Credit: Getty Images. The defending Genesis Invitational champ is starting to find his form. Horse For The Course: PGA DFS Course History - 2023 Arnold Palmer That makes Proximity: 200+ Yards a key statistic this week since we seen many courses go by where players barely hit a long iron outside of Par 5s. Both of his top 25s on the PGA TOUR have occurred in his transplanted hometown event, and both are top-15 finishes. He tied for 11th at the Farmers Insurance Open and tied for sixth in Phoenix. He missed the cut in his previous two starts at the Genesis Invitational in 2019 and 2020. After finishing solo fifth at Phoenix, he now has three top-10s and seven top-25s in nine starts this season. Ranks 2nd in High Winds, 11th in SG: OTT and 12th in SG: APP. He finished tied for third, his first top-20 finish in his past 11 tour starts. James Hahn unplugged: This is what PGA Tour's rank-&-file really think 2023 Arnold Palmer Invitational: Top 10 Power Rankings at Bay Hill The Aussie and brother to LPGA star Minjee Lee is used to playing new venues all over the world. Sure, its been 10 years since Woods last won at Bay Hill, but he collected eight victories here across 14 editions, including the last two of three consecutive when the course routed as a par 70 through 2009. The Arnold Palmer Invitational at Bay Hillbrings out many of the best players in the world due to its rich history and the new elevated status it holds on the PGA Tour. Kevin Yu and Joseph Bramlett both finished T7 at Pebble and didnt get into the WM as predicted, but only Bramlett is committed to the Honda (as of Monday). You may call them opposite events, but to the 120 in pursuit of a boatload of benefits, Puerto Rico is the island of opportunity. Previous rank: 2 He was just four off the winning pace on a crowded, talented . He had been too inconsistent off the tee and his putting hadn't been great, either. TifEagle bermuda greens are larger than average in size (and not overseeded), but theyre equipped to flirt with and exceed 13 feet on the Stimpmeter. Michael Kim Hes a living, breathing example of the power of the additional event. The cutline has been over par in 10 of the last 11 years. As of Tuesday, five commits are currently exempt into THE PLAYERS, so the PRO also is an opportunity for Nate Lashley, Max McGreevy, Scott Piercy, Austin Smotherman and Nick Watney to sharpen their tools for the PGA TOURs flagship event. 15 in the second round, which knocked him out for the weekend. 1. 2023 WM Phoenix Open picks, odds, Fantasy golf power rankings: PGA Tour Just because you know what to do doesnt make it an easy task. When it does, it could make a difference of 10-15 degrees cooler. PGATOUR.coms Rob Bolton recaps and previews every tournament from numerous perspectives. By signing up here for a new account right now, all new users can lock in their chance at $150 in bonus bets. 19. Only 10 players broke par for 72 holes. It is time for the first opportunity event of the season. Michael Collins is back for an all-new season of America's Caddie. You neednt consider further than the household names among first-time winners such at Tony Finau (2016) and Viktor Hovland (2020) to understand the springboard effect that the Puerto Rico Open can have. As usual, a longshot that makes the top-25 this week is Alex Smalley. Justin Thomas : Was gaining momentum going into Riviera after a huge final round in Phoenix vaulted him to 4th, but he lost all of that with one of his worst iron performances. His best finish in three starts this year was a tie for 13th at the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am. Rather, its one of those tracks that players will say is all out in front of you. That means its all about executing. Since winning the Shriners Children's Open in October, he tied for fifth at the Tournament of Champions and for sixth at the American Express. 11. Daniel Berger Viktor Hovland : Hovlands short game continues to let him down as he struggles to get much going since his run at The Open at St. Andrews. Xander Schauffele 1. Schauffele was right in the mix again in Phoenix, even after a run-in with a cactus and losing his regular caddie, Austin Kaiser, who tested positive for COVID-19 on Wednesday. When the wind machine was on high for the final round, the course yielded a 75.481, highest for any final round on TOUR all season. Its all about finding the fairway however you can to avoid hazards around the green and avoid approaching from the long Bermuda rough. Rickie Fowler. Schauffele called on his former Long Beach State teammate, Kevin "Tech" Techakanokboon, to carry his bag this weekend. Power Rankings: PGA Championship. Rory McIlroy is not human. Weve seen some tougher courses for Par 5 scoring as of late, but Bay Hill is a place where you really want to get your birdies on those four holes and survive for the rest of the round. Previous rank: 19 Sam Burns, Arnold Palmer Invitational, Mandatory Credit: Reinhold Matay-USA TODAY Sports. In his defense, he might have needed a week to calm his nerves after his cliff-hanger shot in the third round at Pebble Beach. More ESPN+ content . How much "louder" will LIV Golf get in its second season? In five starts, Burns has made a respectable four cuts, but last years T-9th (72-69-75-71) was his first top-10 at Bay Hill. 11. PGA TOUR, PGA TOUR Champions, and the Swinging Golfer design are registered trademarks. (Stacy Revere/Getty Images) The Grateful Dead didn't release an album about 2020, but the band . Ranks 1st in SG: OTT and 1st in GIRs Gained. Also recorded a T11 at Pebble Beach four weeks ago. 12 Bryson DeChambeau (injury) is missing the top 15 in the OWGR. Dustin Johnson Its officially a designated event in 2023, but you dont need to conceive a visual of the King himself winking, grinning and giving a thumbs-up to approve what we already know, that this tournament is special. 4. 2023 Honda Classic picks, odds, Fantasy golf power rankings: PGA Tour Jason Day : Day now has one finish worse than 21st in his last 10 starts, and hes tallied four Top 10s in that stretch. 4. He had made 13 straight cuts, which was the longest active streak on tour. Viktor Hovland He finished fifth in the Genesis Invitational last season. Going into Round 3 . They took their cuts and delivered. How much "louder" will LIV Golf get in its second season? Weve seen high winds at Bay Hill in the past, and the course plays outrageously hard when thats the case.