After an encouraging display in his return from a six-week absence, McIlroy heads our top tips at Bay Hill...
Rory McIlroy – {ODDS:144088436:13/2}
McIlroy impressed at the WGC-Mexico a fortnight ago on his return from a six-week absence with a rib injury.
He finished four shots off the lead in seventh despite battling a cold on the first day, and should fare even better against a weakened field at Bay Hill.
The Northern Irishman has only played this course twice before, finishing 27th last year and 11th in 2015.
Don’t let his indifferent past here put you off, though.
McIlroy is the best player at this event, and his first start of the year was encouraging enough to warrant backing him.
He is worth a bet as the {ODDS:144088436:13/2} favourite, and represents good value at {ODDS:144088503:10/1} to lead after the first day.
Justin Rose – {ODDS:144088563:18/1}
Rose’s recent form and course history promises a successful weekend.
The 36-year-old has finished fourth or better three times in his last five starts, and has placed inside the top three in two of his last five appearances at Bay Hill.
Course form has been particularly important here in the past. Tiger Woods won the event eight times, Matt Every won back-to-back in 2014 and 2015 and Ernie Els is also a repeat winner.
So Rose, who ranks first in shots gained off the tee this year and fifth in scoring average, will surely contend.
Backing him for a top-five finish at {ODDS:144088386:4/5} is a sensible shout.
Paul Casey – {ODDS:144088628:33/1}
After a slow start to the season, Casey is coming into some form.
The world No. 15 placed 11th at the Honda Classic last month, and carded 67 and 66 on the final two days to finish 16th in Mexico a fortnight ago.
Despite having yet to record a top-10, Casey ranks third in shots gained around the green this season and 16th in approach play.
The key, however, is his putting.
Casey ranks just 165th in shots gained on the greens this year, and should he putt any better this weekend he will surely have a chance at an event in which he finished ninth last season.
At {ODDS:144088368:11/4}, he is a decent price to earn his first top-10 of the year.
Tyrrell Hatton – {ODDS:144088630:40/1}
Hatton’s recent results suggest he will contend in what is his first appearance at Bay Hill.
The 25-year-old has finished no worse than 13th in his last five worldwide starts, and he finished fourth and 10th in his first two PGA Tour appearances of the year.
Those results – along with his two top-10 finishes in majors last year – prove he can compete with the PGA Tour’s best.
The world No. 16 ranks sixth on the European Tour in stroke average, 13th in greens in regulation percentage and 12th in scrambles, and looks a good shout for a top-five place at {ODDS:144088456:11/8}.
Kevin Na – {ODDS:144088723:66/1}
Na is the outsider with the best chance of contending this weekend.
The American’s record at Bay Hill is excellent, with five top-15s in six starts including a second in 2010 and fourth in 2012.
He’s also had some decent results already this season, placing seventh at the Safeway Open, 16th at the Waste Management and fourth at the Genesis.
Currently ranked 19th in shots gained around the green and 25th in approach play, Na is the kind of accurate player who will be able to deal with the heavy winds forecasted in Orlando this weekend.
Given his previous success at this event, a sixth top-20 at Bay Hill – priced at {ODDS:144088351:13/8} – is a decent bet.
