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

When a T-39th finish against a loaded field at the Genesis Invitational is the worst result in the last four months, you know you’re rolling along well.

That’s where Hideki Matsuyama finds himself as he followed up last year’s Masters win with a win later in the year in Japan at the Zozo Championship and early in 2022 at the Sony Open in Hawaii.

He also logged a T-8th two starts ago at one of his favorite haunts, TPC Scottsdale.

Bay Hill isn’t as much of a favorite of Matsuyama’s, but he’s still made all seven cuts at the Arnold Palmer Invitational.

He’s finished in the top 50 all but once and was T-6th (70-69-71-67) in 2016.

Matsuyama finished T-18th (75-70-69-72) last year. He was 10th in the field in strokes gained approach (3.981) and was T-12th in driving accuracy (66.07%). A costly double bogey on his 72nd hole kept him from a top 10.

The man knows how to put on a stripe show. He’s 15th on the PGA Tour in strokes gained approach (.654) and thrives with long irons and fairway woods in hand.

Matsuyama is 10th in approaches from 200-plus yards (44’3”). Look no further than the towering 3-wood he hit to set up an eagle to win the Sony Open in a playoff.

The 18th at Bay Hill sets up for heroic shots, too. This guy is someone who can do that, and he can even knock it close enough for a balky putter like him not to sweat it.