2023 Arnold Palmer Invitational: Top 10 Power Rankings at Bay Hill

This week’s power rankings are filled with Californians like Xander Schauffele. I’m beginning to worry if I’m giving them too much credit to come to Florida and play like they’ve been playing in more familiar climes.

Schauffele hasn’t exactly lit the world on fire since the calendar flipped to 2023, but he’s played well enough to hold steady for several weeks at No. 6 in the Official World Golf Ranking.

He had to withdraw from the year-opening Sentry Tournament of Champions due to a back injury, so perhaps that’s a reason why he’s yet to win.

Schauffele showed well just a couple weeks later by claiming a season-best T-3rd finish at The American Express. The former San Diego State Aztec added T-13th at the Farmers Insurance Open, T-10th at the WM Phoenix Open, and T-33rd at the Genesis Invitational.

Schauffele is coming to the Arnold Palmer Invitational for the second time. He debuted in 2020 by recording 73-74-72-74 to grab T-24th. Not bad for the first time around a difficult venue.

The X Man ranks second on the PGA Tour in consecutive cuts made (17). He’s also sixth in total strokes gained per round (1.934), further exemplifying his consistency week to week.

Schauffele is third in SG approach (1.215) and seventh in SG tee to green (1.587). He’s a green-in-regulation machine, ranking 11th (72.48%).

Around the green is the only area the 29-year-old’s losing strokes this season, so if he can get his short game cleaned up, he could soon be back to his winning ways.