2021 Arnold Palmer Invitational: Top 10 power rankings at Bay Hill

Marc Leishman could live a very comfortable life solely off of his earnings at the Arnold Palmer Invitational. The Aussie has been dominant at Bay Hill, winning in 2017 and piling up four top-10s and nine made cuts in 11 starts.

Big Leish fired 71-66-71-69 to hold off a crowded leaderboard by one in his win. He defended his title with T-7th (70-70-73-67) a year later. A T-23rd (72-70-72-70) followed in 2019 and solo second (71-69-72-73) in 2020.

Leishman also earned T-3rd (73-72-66-71) in 2011.

Like his fellow countrymen, Leishman grew up playing on windy, warm, firm and fast courses. That’s how Bay Hill can play, particularly like we saw last year.

“It is certainly a challenge out there,” Leishman was transcribed in 2020 by ASAP Sports. “I mean, it’s such a good golf course. I think it tests every part of your game. I was actually asked the question before, which part it tests the most. And not very often do you say the iron game. Normally you have to hit the fairway or you have to putt unbelievably well, but here you have to hit your irons in the right spot, particularly with how firm and fast the greens get on the weekend.”

I’ve expected a bit more out of Leishman to start the year, but he’s still piecing together solid results with more favorable tournaments waiting for him in the coming months (hello, Augusta National).

The 37 year old has finished T-39th or better in all five starts in 2021, including T-4th at the Sony Open.

Leishman ranks 55th on the PGA Tour in strokes gained approach (.379) and is a menace with long irons and fairway woods. He’s 27th in proximity from 200-plus yards at 47’10”.

His weakness with the driver should be mitigated this week given the options to lay up off the tee on several holes. Leishman also lives up to the Aussie reputation of good bunker play, a useful skill around Bay Hill.