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

By Mike Randleman

ORLANDO, FL - MARCH 18: A general view of the seventh 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)
ORLANDO, FL - MARCH 18: A general view of the seventh 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) /
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ORLANDO, FL – MARCH 22: Brooks Koepka of the United States waits on the fourth fairway during the final round of the Arnold Palmer Invitational Presented By MasterCard at the Bay Hill Club and Lodge on March 22, 2015 in Orlando, Florida. (Photo by Michael Cohen/Getty Images)
ORLANDO, FL – MARCH 22: Brooks Koepka of the United States waits on the fourth fairway during the final round of the Arnold Palmer Invitational Presented By MasterCard at the Bay Hill Club and Lodge on March 22, 2015 in Orlando, Florida. (Photo by Michael Cohen/Getty Images) /

Brooks Koepka, like Fowler, looked like he was about to have a chance to reach a playoff last week at the Honda Classic. If that were the case, he would have been my pick to prevail.

Alas, Koepka settles for a T2 (67-69-70-66) and his second worldwide top-10 of 2019 in four starts.

In Koepka’s major wins, he’s excelled with every club in the bag. Sometimes the sign of a great player, though, is finding a way to get it done when it’s not all there.

Koepka wasn’t as strong as usual tee to green last week, but he gained about a shot a round on the greens. That’s encouraging considering his putter’s been the weakness at 162nd this season on Tour in strokes gained.

“I feel like as long as I do one thing really well, whether it’s iron play, putting like this week, I’m going to be in contention,” Koepka said after the Honda. “I’m going to give myself a chance at a win come Sunday with nine holes to go, and that’s all you want to do. I felt like I hit it kind of okay. Iron play was definitely not up to par, but I drove it okay, too. I hit some shots.”

Koepka lacks in course history at Bay Hill, but his hay day as a pro has come after his last appearance. He finished T26 in 2014, withdrew in 2015 and missed the cut in 2017.

The 28-year-old’s stats show he’s 14th in approaches from 175-200 yards and 45th from 200+. He may lay back a bit off the tee at times, but a good rough player like him (30th in proximity) ought to go bombs away like usual and take his chances.

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