Arnold Palmer Invitational Open PGA Golf Betting Odds & Tips

It is the Arnold Palmer Invitational this week, and the players will have one eye on the Masters which gets under way in just under a fortnight. Tiger Woods is actually leading the way in the betting here at Bay Hill, one of the most popular and most challenging courses on the Tour. So, is Tiger actually worth a bet? Well, the PGA Tour this season has pretty much been all about big winners in terms of odds, and therefore, current trends would suggest no. There are only eight of the world’s top twenty in action here, and because Woods has won this tournament no less than six times during his career, it is little surprise that the bookmakers are protecting themselves by making him favourite, even though he hasn’t won a tournament in over a year. Still, watching an interview with Woods, he does seem hungry, he seems much more of a relaxed person than he was six or twelve months ago, and there is nothing like returning to a venue where you have garnered a lot of success before, to give your confidence a boost. However, when you look back over history, if you think Woods is going to come good at the Masters this year, then he may be better served if he doesn’t land another victory at Bay Hill. In fifty years, only six times has the Masters winner picked up a Tour win in the preceding two weeks of action before hitting Augusta. In fact, only two of those times have occurred in the last twenty years (Woods being one of them in 2001, and Phil Mickelson the other back in 2006). The track record that Tiger Woods has at Bay Hill though, should put him in with enough of a chance here to step up his game.

Is Woods in enough form to take the title? The only redeeming factor about taking Woods here, is that he is pretty strongly priced, almost in double figures for the Arnold Palmer Invitational. That does make him worth a punt, as a couple of year’s ago you would not have found him this far out. Always consider checking out the lay odds on Woods here, especially as he goes as favourite, if you still do not think he is ready to come good. 2011 has been the year of the outsider on the PGA Tour so far, but with the Masters looming, surely one of the world’s best is going to stand up and show their true class and quality. While the Bay Hill course has been challenging, it has also consistently posted good scores something which should be helped since its return to a par 72), and that is something which may help one of the world’s top players land the event here this week. So, with all things considered, Tiger Woods is worth a punt, his body language doesn’t suggest that his is on top of his game, and he has still been working on his swing, but the positives are there. He is still driven, not so much in getting to be the most dominant player in the world, but in improving his game. That is telling statement from the former world number one, that he does still want to get better and has the passion for the game. He won back in 2009, empowering a great comeback to take the title, which was Woods at his best. He has such a great record at Bay Hill, that the bookmakers are wary of him coming good again, and his greens in regulation stats are improving. Had his best round of the year at the Blue Monster, firing a 66. Perhaps more than ever, the time is right for the old Tiger Woods to stand up again. Worth backing in your golf betting this week? Yes.

Recommended Tip: Woods for 9/1 at Totesport

Want a quick look at a couple of other names who should also be considered for your golf betting at the Arnold Palmer Invitational this week. We’ll start with Dustin Johnson, as he regained his best form at the Blue Monster in Doral recently. Currently sitting as second favourite behind Tiger Woods in the betting, priced at 16/1 with Bet365. Good value on him and is leading the PGA Tour in birdie averages, and after his runner up at Doral, looks to be back on top of his consistent game. Priced just about right, but well worth taking due to the strong double figure price on him. World Number Four, Graeme McDowell, whose best result at the Arnold Palmer Invitational was a T2 back in 2005, looks a decent punt as well. Has had in incredibly busy year, but for the large part a successful one. Has been so consistent over the season, that he can’t be discounted from the early betting on here. After his strong start though, lost momentum at Doral, having a horrid time of things. Slip ups like that will happen of course, but has the quality to bounce back immediately from that. Should be a little more rested coming into this, strong putting, great approach work, should getting over the troubles he had in last outing as is 19/1 at Unibet. The defending champion is Ernie Els. The Big Easy is not showing any signs that he is going to step up and rock the world here. An outside bet at 40/1 with Bet365, but not the player he was at this stage last season.