Arnold Palmer Invitational: Power ranking the top 10 at Bay Hill

Justin Rose might have the best resume at the Arnold Palmer Invitational among its non-winners. The recent world No. 1 owns five top-10s at Bay Hill including a solo third in 2018 and solo second in 2013. He’s 11-for-13 in made cuts and has gone T9-T13-3 the last three years.

That same machine-like consistency has buoyed him in recent years. He’s won six times worldwide since 2017 and is already a winner in 2019 at the Farmers Insurance Open.

That was his fifth made cut in a row at the time and fifth top-10 in seven starts. He did miss the cut at the European Tour’s Saudi International last month, which is also his last start.

Rested and ready to go, I expect him to quickly return to form as he gears up to go for his first green jacket in April.

Rose fired 69-71-67-67 last year at Bay Hill and would have been in the title chase if not for Rory McIlroy going nuts on Sunday. Rose hit over 70 percent of greens, 75 percent of fairways and averaged 1.78 strokes gained per round on the greens.

The 38-year-old is second on Tour in overall strokes gained and is in the top 50 of all categories. Carding 5.5 birdies per round also ranks first. Speaking of first, that’s also where he ranks in approach proximity from 150-175 and 175-200 yards. Twenty-second from 200+ isn’t bad, either.

This may be somewhat of a tuneup event for Rose with the PLAYERS and the Masters looming, but even his down weeks seem to render top-10s and top-20s more times than not.