PGA Tour Power Rankings: Arnold Palmer Invitational

At this first Arnold Palmer Invitational without The King the PGA Tour’s stars have come out in full force.

This Thursday marks the start of the Arnold Palmer Invitational. While the tournament is usually one of the most entertaining on the PGA Tour, this year’s event will carry some sadness in the air. It will the the first playing of the tournament without The King, who sponsored this tournament for 37 years until his death last fall.

Expect the week to be full of reflection and celebration for Palmer’s life and career, both of which changed the sport of golf forever. Fans in attendance at Bay Hill will see a new bronze statue of the seven-time major champion situated near the first and 10th tees, and there are sure to be various other tributes throughout the week.

While there will be an appropriate amount of mourning for The King, there’s still a new group of hosts to get excited about. Annika Sorenstam, Graeme McDowell, Peter Jacobsen and Curtis Strange, along with Tom Ridge, a dear friend of Palmer’s, will be on hand to welcome the players and fans and ensure that the event is up to the standards set by the late legend.

With all the attention that will surround Palmer’s absence, you might have forgotten about this week’s strong field, which features a slew of talented international players in addition to many PGA Tour regulars.

Without further ado, let’s get to my projections for this week. Here are ten of the best bets for success at the Arnold Palmer Invitational. As always, each player’s current place on the FedEx Cup points list is shown next to his name.