Golf
Arnold Palmer Invitational 2025 Preview: Odds, Tips, and Predictions
The PGA Tour remains in Florida this week for the eagerly anticipated Arnold Palmer Invitational that starts on March 6 at Bay Hill Country Club. One of eight designated Signature Events, the Arnold Palmer Invitational, which has often been referred to in the past as the Bay Hill Invitational, is prestigious. It has an incredible history, and Tiger Woods has dominated this event with eight wins. This week, we imagine, will be no different. Sportsboom.com has its finger on the pulse for golf betting. We have gone through the best golf betting sites, sharing insights and odds for this lucrative tournament.
Arnold Palmer Invitational presented by Mastercard//Getty Images
As a Signature Event, the Arnold Palmer Invitational is an exciting stop on the whirlwind PGA Tour. The 47th renewal of this tournament will see 47 of the world’s top 50 players congregate for a special tournament that the late Arnold Palmer called “home”.
Bay Hill has a links-style feel, and apart from favouring the big hitters in the past, (remember Bryson De Chambeau’s monster 377-yard tee shot at the sixth hole in 2021?) driving accuracy, and sharp putting could hold the keys to victory.
Indeed, the stimpmeter, which measures the pace of the greens, is as high as 13.5 for some of the holes at Bay Hill, so the players have been warned!
Scottie Scheffler currently has a vice-like grip as World No.1, but for some of the game’s lesser lights, such as Jacob Bridgeman and Austin Eckroat, a productive week could catapult them up the rankings.
Pre-Tournament Betting Odds and Win Probability
Events such as the Arnold Palmer Invitational always stir excitement among the leading golf bookmakers. If you are into online betting, don’t forget to check out our pre-tournament betting odds to see who is carrying the most favour.
Generally speaking, the top golf betting sites will be flushed with golf betting offers for punters to latch onto that will ultimately enrich their experience.
The prices available indicate the form and hype around certain players who have had a good track record at Bay Hill.
- Scottie Scheffler – 16/5 (4.20) – 23.8%
- Rory McIlroy – 17/2 (9.50) – 10.5%
- Odds courtesy of Betway, subject to change
Key Player Updates
To sharpen your golf betting strategies, we have run the rule over some of the key players who are likely to have their say on how things pan out this week.
Ahead of the Arnold Palmer Invitational, we have crunched the stats, exploring every possible angle in terms of golf stats for betting that could prove useful, such as recent wins and driving accuracy. Our handy table below provides more information.
Key Player Updates
| Attribute | Scottie Scheffler | Rory McIlroy | Ludvig Aberg |
| Age | 28 | 35 | 25 |
| World Ranking | 1 | 2 | 4 |
| Recent Wins | Hero World Challenge | AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am | The Genesis Invitational |
| Driving Accuracy | 57.14% | 56.25% | 49.46% |
| Greens in Regulation | 69.91% | 70.83% | 67.95% |
| Putting Average | 1.695 | 1.716 | 1.723 |
Contender News
With any golf tournament preview, it’s always worth taking a closer look at how the main contenders are shaping up.
Scottie Scheffler
While the start of the 2025 season was disrupted by a hand injury, Scottie Scheffler has been building up form ahead of the Arnold Palmer Invitational.
This was the case at the Genesis Invitational last month, where apart from a surprising 76 in round three, the American looked at ease, carding a final round of 66 to come home in T3.
Scheffler, who is the Arnold Palmer Invitational reigning champion, is targeting a third success, and he always features high in our golf tournament predictions.
Rory McIlroy
Another former Arnold Palmer Invitational champion, Rory McIlroy, will relish the chance to add to that tally this week, and he loves playing in the Sunshine State.
His previous win at Bay Hill came in 2018, and with one win clinched this term at AT&T Pebble Beach, McIlroy will see this week as a springboard to fine-tune his preparations ahead of the first major of the campaign, the Masters, which isn’t far away.
McIlroy currently ranks first for SG: Total and SG: Off The Tee which bodes well. Provided his flat stick doesn’t go walkabouts, he is likely to be in contention come the weekend.
Ludvig Aberg
Ludvig Aberg is also one that could catch fire this week. His previous appearance on the PGA Tour saw him make a trip to the winner’s circle at the Genesis Invitational, and he is currently fourth in the world rankings.
Perhaps the fact his driving accuracy is much lower than those around him is a cause for concern as is SG: Putting stats, however, you never want to discount him.
The golf betting odds available for him might not be that short, but he could still be in the mix come the weekend.
Suggested Bets
Scottie Scheffler to win the Arnold Palmer Invitational: Scheffler has been getting back into his groove, and while he’s still got plenty of work to emulate Tiger Woods’ incredible record at this event, he is always in the mix, and there is no obvious flaw in his game. He has this presence about him, and he never seems unflustered. Scheffler is a winning machine, and we think he will be one to keep a close eye on again this weekend. (13/4 with Stake)
Winning margin (two shots): Usually, the Arnold Palmer Invitational has thrown up some exciting finishes, except for last year where it was a bit of a procession. Scheffler stormed to the finishing post, clinching the title by five strokes ahead of closest challenger Wyndham Clark. Although Scheffler might not be a wire-to-wire winner this time, we think he should come through comfortably. Many of the best betting sites for golf will advertise the winning margin line, and the price for the winning margin to be by two strokes looks solid. (4/1 with Sportsbet.io)
Russell Henley to be 1st round leader: Russell Henley, who is a four-time winner on the PGA Tour, caught our eye last week at the Cognizant Classic, where he was T6. He’s assembled some strong opening rounds over the past couple of months, and he’s finished in the top 10 in three of his previous four events. In terms of golf betting tips, Henley to be the first-round leader might seem long, but it’s still worth a shout. (40/1 with Betway)
Tournament Prediction
At the Arnold Palmer Invitational, the cream invariably rises to the top, and the big players show up. The likes of McIlroy have proved in the past that they can tame Bay Hill which is a bit of a beast as it stretches over 7,400 yards. Moreover, McIlroy has come close in recent years at this event, and in 2023, he was on the runner-up podium.
However, things seem to be aligned for Scheffler who is always on the prowl. While the start of his campaign was disrupted by an injury, he’s looking in good shape, and he’s our pick to pen another amazing chapter in his career at Bay Hill.
Charles Perrin is a highly experienced sports betting content writer with over six years of working with some of the leading sportsbooks in the UK, including bet365 and William Hill.
SportsBoom offers honest and impartial bookmaker reviews to help you make informed choices. While we may earn commissions through affiliate links, our content remains independent and free from promotional influence.