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The Arnold Palmer Invitational Predictions - Best bets for victory at Bay Hill

Brad Newcomb

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Last updated: 03 Mar 2026

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Brad Newcomb 03 Mar 2026

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The Arnold Palmer Invitational takes place between 5-8 March.
The tournament takes place at Bay Hill Club & Lodge, Orlando, Florida.
Key contenders: Rory McIlroy, Xander Schauffele, Min Woo Lee, and Akshay Bhatia.

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Rory McIlroy won the Arnold Palmer Invitational in 2018 (Getty Images)

An impressive field of the world's best golfers gathers at Bay Hill this weekend for the Arnold Palmer Invitational. Who will secure victory in the third PGA Tour Signature Event of the year on Sunday?

Russell Henley returns to Bay Hill to defend his title after a one-stroke victory over Collin Morikawa in 2025.

Past and present Major winners who will tee off on Thursday include Rory McIlroy, J.J. Spaun, Scottie Scheffler, Xander Schauffele, Brian Harman, Wyndham Clark, Keegan Bradley, Jason Day, Matt Fitzpatrick, Lucas Glover, Shane Lowry, Hideki Matsuyama, Collin Morikawa, Adam Scott, Justin Rose, Justin Thomas, and Jordan Spieth.

These are our four selections that could win the title this weekend.

Rory McIlroy

Rory McIlroy has been in excellent form on the DP World Tour and PGA Tour this season, placing T14 at the Crown Australian Open, T3 at the Dubai Invitational, T33 at the Hero Dubai Desert Classic, T14 at the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am, and T2 at the Genesis Invitational.

Before those performances, McIlroy won the Amgen Irish Open before finishing T20 at the BMW PGA Championship, T26 at the DP World India Championship, T3 at the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship, and 2nd at the DP World Tour Championship.

The five-time Major champion has compiled an impressive record at Bay Hill, placing T11 in 2015, T27 in 2016, T4 in 2017, victorious in 2018, T6 in 2019, T5 in 2020, T10 in 2021, T13 in 2022, T2 in 2023, T21 in 2024, and T15 in 2025.

McIlroy can convert his consistent results into a winning one in Florida this weekend.

Xander Schauffele

Xander Schauffele struggled at the start of his season on the PGA Tour, missing the cut at the Farmers Insurance Open and finishing T41 at the WM Phoenix Open before regaining his touch by placing T19 at the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am, and T7 at the Genesis Invitational.

Before that results, Schauffele placed T8 at the Genesis Scottish Open, T7 at the Open Championship, T22 at the FedEx St. Jude Championship, and T28 at the BMW Championship before winning the Baycurrent Classic.

The two-time Major champion has made four appearances at the Arnold Palmer Invitational, finishing T24 in 2020, T39 in 2023, T25 in 2024, and T40 in 2025.

Schauffele has been thereabouts lately and has the game to lift the trophy in Orlando come Sunday.

Min Woo Lee

Min Woo Lee has been playing well on the DP World Tour and PGA Tour this season, placing T5 at the BMW Australian PGA Championship, T14 at the Crown Australian Open, T38 at the American Express, T28 at the WM Phoenix Open, T2 at the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am, and T12 at the Genesis Invitational.

Before that, Min Woo Lee finished T11 at the BMW PGA Championship, T5 at the FedEx Open de France, MC at the Sanderson Farms Championship, and T10 at the Baycurrent Classic.

The Australian golfer has yet to have an impact at the Arnold Palmer Invitational, with results of MC in 2022, MC in 2023, T44 in 2024, and MC in 2025.

Min Woo Lee has been holding form this season and could upstage the others with a victory at Bayhill this weekend.

Akshay Bhatia

Akshay Bhatia did not have a great start to his season on the PGA Tour, missing the cut at the American Express and the Farmers Insurance Open before bouncing back to form by placing T3 at the WM Phoenix Open, T6 at the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am, and T16 at the Genesis Invitational.

Before that, Bhatia finished T6 at the FedEx St. Jude Invitational, T13 at the Tour Championship, T11 at the Procore Championship, and 14th at the Hero World Challenge in six starts.

The American missed the cut at the 2025 Arnold Palmer Invitational on debut.

Bhatia has been in solid form lately and is the long-shot value bet in Florida this weekend.

Verdict

Arnold Palmer Invitational

McIlroy has been performing well and will fancy his chances to claim his second title at Bay Hill come Sunday.

Schauffele has posted solid results lately and can emerge as the winner in Florida this weekend.

Min Woo Lee has done nothing wrong this season and could come out on top in Orlando on Sunday.

Bhatia has the form to cause an upset at the Arnold Palmer Invitational this weekend.

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Brad graduated from the University of South Africa with a Bcom-Management Accounting degree and has a financial background.

His love of sport has seen him venture down the road of researching sporting history for the past several years, specifically boxing, cricket and football.

Other sports of particular interest are golf, tennis, horse racing and motorsports.

Additionally, he spends his time researching the military history of his home country of South Africa.

He is an ardent Liverpool supporter and is known to DJ and release music on occasion.