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

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ORLANDO, FL – MARCH 18: Bryson DeChambeau reacts to his putt on the eighth hole during the final round at the Arnold Palmer Invitational Presented By MasterCard at Bay Hill Club and Lodge on March 18, 2018 in Orlando, Florida. (Photo by Sam Greenwood/Getty Images) /

If it wasn’t for Rory McIlroy heating up his putter to run away with the 2018 Arnold Palmer Invitational, Bryson DeChambeau was in line to take the title.

He fired 67-66-72-68 in what was his second start at Bay Hill, the first being a T27 in 2016. Last year, he hit 72.22 percent of his greens and 75 percent of fairways while averaging 309.4 yards off the tee.

The 25-year-old scientist finally saw his machine-like streak of 11 top-20s come to an end a couple weeks ago at the WGC-Mexico where he finished T56. I’ll grant him some leeway as it was his fourth start in five weeks in a span where he jet setted between three countries.

Taking last week off should do him some good.

DeChambeau won this year on the European Tour and won the Dubai Desert Classic. His top PGA Tour finish in 2019 is solo seventh at the Tournament of Champions.

DeChambeau is in the positive in all the main strokes gained categories and settles at 17th overall. He’s top-40 in both driving distance and accuracy. You can also mix in that he’s ninth in birdies and sixth in approaches from 175-200 yards.

As long as there aren’t any bunkers that infuriate DeChambeau, I like him to keep it between the lines and get back to his early 2019 form.

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