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Fantasy Golf: Arnold Palmer Invitational DraftKings picks

By Brandon Raper

ORLANDO, FL - MARCH 14: A view of the new Arnold Palmer statue by the first tee during a practise round for the Arnold Palmer Invitational Presented By MasterCard at Bay Hill on March 14, 2017 in Orlando, Florida. (Photo by Richard Heathcote/Getty Images)
ORLANDO, FL - MARCH 14: A view of the new Arnold Palmer statue by the first tee during a practise round for the Arnold Palmer Invitational Presented By MasterCard at Bay Hill on March 14, 2017 in Orlando, Florida. (Photo by Richard Heathcote/Getty Images) /
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Marc Leishman Arnold Palmer Invitational DraftKings
SCOTTSDALE, AZ – FEBRUARY 01: Marc Leishman of Australia watches his tee shot on the fourth hole during the first round of the Waste Management Phoenix Open at TPC Scottsdale on February 1, 2018 in Scottsdale, Arizona. (Photo by Matt Sullivan/Getty Images) /

Marc Leishman heads to Bay Hill as both the defending champion, and a surprisingly good value in DraftKings daily fantasy play. It’s not the most common combination, but one I’m definitely looking to take advantage of this week.

Part of the semi-discount we’re getting on the Aussie this week is due to recent form. In his last three PGA TOUR starts, Leishman has gone T31-Cut-T-37. That’s not a great run, but keep in mind that the 34-year-old also notched top-ten finishes in three of his first five events of the 2017-18 season. Plus, he was in much stronger position than his finish in Mexico would indicate. His scores of 69-68-69 through 54 holes left him at -7, only two shots outside the top ten.

Yes, there’s a reason these tournaments go all 72 holes – and often more. I won’t dismiss the fact that Leishman absolutely imploded in his fourth round in Mexico, I simply believe this course at Bay Hill sets up significantly better for him.

Last year, Leishman won at Bay Hill by playing the par-3s and par-4s in level par, dominating the par-5s to get to 11-under. This year, he’s ranked inside the top 40 on TOUR in birdie percentage on all three, and he’s 56th on TOUR in adjusted scoring average, at 70.542. If he stays in contention, and starts to feel it with the putter just a little bit, he could be game for another run at the top of the leaderboard this year.

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