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2022 Arnold Palmer Invitational: Top 10 power rankings at Bay Hill

By Mike Randleman

Mar 5, 2020; Orlando, Florida, USA; A spot for Arnold Palmer is marked on the practice range and his bag of clubs is standing by as a tribute to him during the first round of the Arnold Palmer Invitational golf tournament at Bay Hill Club & Lodge. Mandatory Credit: Reinhold Matay-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 5, 2020; Orlando, Florida, USA; A spot for Arnold Palmer is marked on the practice range and his bag of clubs is standing by as a tribute to him during the first round of the Arnold Palmer Invitational golf tournament at Bay Hill Club & Lodge. Mandatory Credit: Reinhold Matay-USA TODAY Sports /
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Bay Hill, Arnold Palmer Invitational, PGA
Mar 6, 2021; Orlando, Florida, USA; A light rain falls as Rory McIlroy hits his drive on the first hole during the third round of the Arnold Palmer Invitational golf tournament at Bay Hill Club & Lodge. Mandatory Credit: Reinhold Matay-USA TODAY Sports /

Rory McIlroy and his fans might argue he should have more than one Arnold Palmer Invitational title at this point in his career, there’s still no denying he’s a menace at Bay Hill.

Highlighted by a win in 2018, McIlroy is on a streak of five straight top-10s and has never finished below T-27th in seven starts at this event.

The Northern Irishman fired 69-70-67-64 to erase a four-shot deficit to Henrik Stenson after 54 holes. McIlroy edged Bryson DeChambeau, another Bay Hill horse for the course, by three.

“It’s one of these places where there’s a lot of holes where everyone just hits it in the same spots off the tee,” McIlroy was transcribed by ASAP Sports in 2021, “but then when you can give yourself an advantage by taking driver and getting it up there, tee shots like 3, tee shots like 6, where some of the shorter guys are having to go up the sliver of fairway up the right when longer guys don’t have to really worry about that.”

He has called Florida home for several years now.

McIlroy resides 150 miles south in Jupiter, but Bay Hill has got to feel like a home game, too.

Last year’s title defense resulted in T-10th (66-71-72-76). He began the final round just four back but spun his wheels on Sunday. McIlroy ranked second in the field in driving distance (320.9), finishing just .4 yards behind Bryson DeChambeau. DeChambeau’s long drive of 377 had McIlroy beat by 17 yards, for those scoring at home.

McIlroy wasn’t as accurate as he needed to be off the tee to contend, although he was 12th in strokes gained approach on the week (3.764). That type of iron play is key, it just would’ve been easier if he was playing more from the short grass.

The 32-year-old comes into the week off of a week of rest after taking T-10th at the Genesis Invitational against a stronger field than what he’s facing this week.

That was just McIlroy’s second PGA Tour start of the 2021-22 season, joining his win at the CJ Cup. McIlroy has two top-10s in that time frame on the DP World Tour.

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