Golf
Arnold Palmer Invitational 2026: Scottie Scheffler Tops Betting
The highly prestigious Arnold Palmer Invitational takes place between March 5th and 8th. Scottie Scheffler is, once again, the overwhelming golf betting favourite ahead of Rory McIlroy.
Scheffler is looking to join Tiger Woods as the only player to win more than twice at Bay Hill. It’s a stacked field, with the top 10 players in the world rankings all competing, but some big names are missing out, including Patrick Reed, Brooks Koepka, Tony Finau, and Max Homa.
Arnold Palmer Invitational Odds 2026:
- Scottie Scheffler – 3/1
- Rory McIlroy – 9/1
- Tommy Fleetwood – 18/1
- Xander Schauffele – 22/1
- Matt Fitzpatrick – 22/1
- Collin Morikawa – 22/1
- Hideki Matsuyama – 28/1
- Si Woo Kim – 28/1
- Harris English – 28/1
- Ludvig Aberg – 28/1
- Viktor Hovland – 28/1
Challenges of Bay Hill
Often ranking among the most challenging courses on the PGA Tour, Bay Hill tests every facet of players’ games. Great ball striking is not enough for success, as champions have had to be prolific in the putting game, too.
There are a couple of incredibly difficult par-three holes, some awkward par fours, and three par fives that stretch over 550 yards.
While fairways have been made a little wider, rough in front of hazards has been cut down to reduce the amount of margin for error. Rough elsewhere, which has traditionally been similar to that seen at US Open courses, has been allowed to grow even higher.
Short Game
The last two winners at Bay Hill have topped the shots gained standings around the green. Of the last three winners, Russell Henley’s ranking of 10th in shots gained putting is the worst.
This event favoured bombers until 2023, with accuracy being the key for Henley and Scheffler in 2023 and 2024.
Robert MacIntyre has the best putting shots gained mark among the contenders – he’s a good each-way bet in the eight places market at 28/1.
Rory’s Chances
It’s no secret McIlroy loves playing in Florida. A much-publicised switch back to blades has seen a run of spectacular ball striking from McIlroy, who trails only Scheffler is strokes gained per round at Bay Hill.
Since winning this event in 2018, he’s had three top six finishes and was in the mix at the Riviera Country Club last month.
There’s not much left for McIlroy to achieve in golf, but he would surely love to add another Arnold Palmer Invitational to his phenomenal record.
Value on Kim
Along with MacIntyre at 28/1 to pay eight places, we like Si Woo Kim at 28/1 each-way (paying five places). Kim leads all PGA golfers in shots gained, per Data Golf.
Sure, finishing T45 and T34 at Pebble Beach and Genesis, respectively, wasn’t exactly a success for Kim, but he finished strongly in both events, including a fourth-round 65 at Pebble Beach.
Before those two outings, Kim had started the year T11, T6, T2, and T3. Shane Lowry is the only player with a better approach game this year.
The question is putting. It held Kim back last year and has done so again at the start of 2026, but if he can have a good few days on the greens, he’s got a real chance here.
Best bets: Si Woo Kim (28/1 each-way), Robert MacIntyre (28/1 each-way, eight places)
Previous Arnold Palmer Invitational Winners
- 2025 – Russell Henley, one stroke
- 2024 – Scottie Scheffler, five strokes
- 2023 – Kurt Kitayama, one stroke
- 2022 – Scottie Scheffler, one stroke
- 2021 – Bryson DeChambeau, one stroke
- 2020 – Tyrrell Hatton, one stroke
- 2019 – Francesco Molinari, two strokes
- 2018 – Rory McIlroy, three strokes
- 2017 – Marc Leishman, one stroke
- 2016 – Jason Day, one stroke
Arnold Palmer Invitational Prize Money For 2026:
- 1: $4,000,000
- 2: $2,200,000
- 3: $1,400,000
- 4: $1,000,000
- 5: $840,000
- 6: $760,000
- 7: $700,000
- 8: $646,000
- 9: $600,000
- 10: $556,000
*Odds subject to change – prices accurate at the time of writing*
