Arnold Palmer Invitational: 2021 Golfer Picks to win

It really starts to feel like the beginning of Spring golf when the Arnold Palmer Invitational rolls around. I know that it still isn’t Spring, but watching them play the King’s tournament down in Florida sure makes it feel that way.

We’ve seen quite the International run at this tournament. With five different winners over the last five years, we’ve seen Ireland, Australia, Italy, and England come home with wins, Australia twice. Before that, we had Matt Every win back-to-back and Tiger Woods go back-to-back. Will we continue to see the winner come from overseas? Or does someone from the proverbial home soil take home the W?

Maybe we see Ireland again, with Rory McIlroy as the favorite. Or, a popular youngster in Viktor Hovland. Bryson DeChambeau is the American favorite… can his bomb and gouge approach prevail at Bay Hill?

Here are the staff picks to win the Arnold Palmer Invitational.

Viktor Hovland

Bill Felber – Given that Hovland made an eight on one hole and then lost by three, I can’t get to the window fast enough to take him this week at the Palmer.

Hans Geevers – Hovland arrives at this event on the heels of four consecutive top six finishes on the PGA Tour.

Kathy Bissell – Viktor Hovland.  I’m going to keep picking him until he wins!

Josh Mullenix – Hovland has finished in the top five in four of his last five PGA Tour starts including a win at the Mayakoba Golf Classic. He’s 6th in strokes gained: tee-to-green this season which is typically a good indicator of the guys who will be in contention at Bay Hill. Defending champ Tyrell Hatton was 13th on tour in that category a year ago. Hovland finished tied for second last week at the WGC Workday despite being outside of the top 25 in strokes gained; putting. If he gets the putter rolling just a little bit better, I expect to see Hovland near the top of the leaderboard again.

Patrick Reed

Josh Chandler – I’m just going to go with Reed as I talk about in my article this week.  Found it quite difficult to decide this week…

Tommy Fleetwood

Richie Randolph

Jordan Spieth

DJ Cadden

Rory McIlroy

Michael Ellis – After a solid showing at last week’s WGC Workday, McIlroy has to have his eyes set on a win this week at the 2021 Arnold Palmer Invitational. McIlroy is the favorite this week and it’s easy to see why. Dating back to 2018, McIlroy’s finishes at this event are as follows: 1st, T6, and T5. Look for McIlroy to hold the trophy and slip on Arnie’s red cardigan come Sunday afternoon at Bay Hill.

Joey McCusker – He is great in Florida. He also lives in Florida. I am always going to back Rory in the Sunshine state. He also won here in 2018, came in a tie for 5th in 2020, and a tie for 6th in 2019. He is the favorite for a reason. Don’t fade the Northern Irishman!

Chris O’Day – Why not go with the Irishman. I like taking them when the opportunity arises, and it seems like Rory is getting on track in time for major season. He takes that next step here with a win at the Arnold Palmer.

Tim Letcher – He showed some spark last week and has a track record here, winning in 2018. It’s time for Rory to win and this is the week.

Matthew Fitzpatrick

Dalton Finkbeiner – Fitzpatrick enters this week’s event in solid form. He posted a T5 finish at the Genesis Invitational and a T11 finish last week at The Congression. The 26-year old has made the cut in four of his six appearances at Bayhill, including a solo 2nd place finish in 2019. If the wind picks up, Bayhill can show its teeth and Fitzpatrick has shown he can contend in events where scoring is tough. Great course history, solid current form, I like Fitzpatrick to get his first PGA Tour win this week.

Kasey Kuhrts

West Valentine – I’m going with a guy I think doesn’t get as much publicity as he should – Matthew Fitzpatrick. This guy has been playing really well and never gets mentioned with the other young guns enough. Look for him on Sunday.

Best of luck to everyone playing in the Arnold Palmer Invitational.