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The PGA Tour has reached the next signature event on the schedule, and it comes just 1 week before the Players Championship. It’s the 2025 Arnold Palmer Invitational at Bay Hill Club and Lodge, a fantastic test for the best golfers in the world. The first round begins on Thursday morning from Orlando.
Below, we look at Arnold Palmer Invitational odds from BetMGM Sportsbook’s odds and make our PGA Tour picks and predictions.
With this being a signature event, the field size is limited to only 72 players. Scottie Scheffler is once again the favorite with pre-tournament odds of +350. Rory McIlroy is +850 to win at Arnie’s place again, with Ludvig Aberg (+1200) and Xander Schauffele (+1800) also vying for the title. Scheffler won last year at 15-under.
Bay Hill is traditionally one of the toughest courses on the schedule, coming in at 7,466 yards and playing as a par 72. It has hosted this event each year since 1979 and is a favorite stop for players on the calendar every season. Water hazards challenge players on several holes, including the iconic 18th hole where the green is protected by water.
- Arnold Palmer Invitational: Best prop bet predictions
Arnold Palmer Invitational – Expert picks
Odds provided by BetMGM Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated Monday at 4:06 p.m. ET.
Rory McIlroy (+850)
McIlroy has never been shy about how much he loves Bay Hill and his track record shows why he’s such a fan of the course. Since 2017, he’s finished in the top 10 six times, including a win in 2018 and second-place in 2023. He’s a horse for this course and even with 2-time champion Scheffler teeing it up, McIlroy has a great chance to win for the second time this year.
Justin Thomas (+2000)
Thomas returned to Bay Hill in 2023 for the first time since 2015 and he played well both times. He finished 12th last year and 21st in 2023, navigating Arnie’s place like a pro. This is poised to be a big year for Thomas, who has 3 top-10s already this season, including a T-9 at the Genesis Invitational.
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Arnold Palmer Invitational picks – Contenders
Will Zalatoris (+4000)
Zalatoris finished fourth at this event last year and has made the cut in all 4 starts at Bay Hill – including a 10th-place finish in 2021. He’s a pure ball striker and looks healthy again this year, coming in 26th or better in 3 of 4 starts in 2025.
Keegan Bradley (+5500)
Bradley always has the Arnold Palmer Invitational on his schedule, probably because he’s played so well in it. Since 2016, he’s made the cut every year and finished 10th or 11th in 3 straight years from 2021-23. A signature win leading up to the Ryder Cup would greatly help his chances of making the team as a playing captain.
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Arnold Palmer Invitational picks – Long shots
Matt Fitzpatrick (+6600)
Fitzpatrick has not played well so far this season, but he’s had some close calls at this event in the past. Since 2016, he’s made the cut in 8 of 9 attempts, with 6 top-14 finishes in that span. This could be the week he gets things dialed in before the schedule really ramps up leading into major season.
Akshay Bhatia (+6600)
Bhatia has never played the Arnold Palmer Invitational before, but he’s finished T-32 or better in all 5 starts this season, including T-9 showings in each of his last 2 starts at the Genesis and Mexico Open. It’s a loaded field but it should surprise no one if Bhatia is the guy at the top of the leaderboard on Sunday.
Harris English (+8000)
English’s odds are quite long this week despite A) winning once already this year and B) finishing second here in 2023. He came in 21st last year and has 4 straight top-26 finishes at Bay Hill since 2020.
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