The PGA Tour's Signature Event model was created to bring together the best players on a regular basis and that is undeniably the case at Bay Hill Lodge this week as a high-class 69-man field lines up to contest the Arnold Palmer Invitational.
This long-standing event, named after the King himself and taking place at his Florida home, has always attracted strong fields and, with a cool $20million in total prize money up for grabs, the 2024 edition will be no different.
Scottie Scheffler, in brilliant ball-striking form but still struggling to hole putts, is the market leader at an event he won in 2022 while Rory McIlroy, the 2018 champion, is the next closest to the favourite.
Bay Hill, a classic Florida layout featuring numerous water hazards, tends to play tough and while power players have triumphed in recent editions, errant shots can be severely punished so accuracy remains of paramount importance.
- Ludvig Aberg to win and each-way
- Cameron Young to win and each-way
- Harris English to win and each-way
Aberg Ready To Lord It In King's court
Long, straight driving is an excellent starting point at Bay Hill and few look better equipped to handle this layout than Ludvig Aberg, who is poised to land the biggest title of his hugely promising career at this week's Arnold Palmer.
Having turned professional only in May of last year, the Swede quickly established himself as a member of the world's elite, winning the European Masters on the DP World Tour, playing well as a Ryder Cup rookie on a winning European team, then claiming the RSM Classic on the PGA Tour.
Aberg switched caddies at the beginning of 2024, teaming up with experienced Joe Skovron, and after a slow start in Hawaii he has since finished ninth at the Farmers Insurance Open, a runner-up at the Pebble Beach Pro-Am and 19th at the Genesis Invitational.
This week, the Florida resident returns to a course where he has competitive experience - he was 24th in the 2023 Arnold Palmer as an amateur, and he's improved significantly over the subsequent 12 months.
LUDVIG ABERG TO WIN & EACH-WAY
Young Set For PGA Tour Breakthrough
Cameron Young is arguably the best maiden on the PGA Tour but the New Yorker looks good value to finally shed that tag at Bay Hill, where he has finished 13th and tenth in two previous visits, driving the ball with his trademark authority on each occasion.
Young has found top form in recent outings, finishing eighth in Phoenix, 16th at Genesis and fourth at last week's Cognizant Classic, and that recent Florida spin could give him an edge over his chief rivals.
CAMERON YOUNG TO WIN & EACH-WAY
Recent Form Points To English
Harris English found only Kurt Kitayama too strong in this event last season and the Georgia man has every chance of going one better now having found top form in recent weeks.
A year ago, four-time PGA Tour winner English arrived at Bay Hill short on confidence having missed four cuts from five previous events but this time he returns having finished 17th in Phoenix and seventh at Genesis. He can improve on a fine course record.
HARRIS ENGLISH TO WIN & EACH-WAY
