It was hard to keep track of everything that was going on over the weekend from the WGC-Workday to the Puerto Rico Open.  I was really pleased overall with the playbook for the WGC but especially pushing Brooks Koepka at his price point.  He also hit for me in my Best Bets article finishing in the Top 5.  My biggest regret is forgetting about the talent that is Colin Morikawa.  The kid has four victories in his 41 career starts on the PGA Tour which includes one major and one WGC already.  I think a lot of people took him for granted, myself included and was overlooked.  He played fantastic this weekend on a very difficult course.  Patrick Cantlay pulling out of the event on Wednesday night threw me through a loop.  My first gut instinct was to plug in Webb Simpson as my One-And-Done but I thought Xander Schauffele would be safer and it bit me in the butt.  We need a bounce back week and this is the place to do it, at Arnie’s Tournament.    

I say it every year but it just feels different since the “King” left us a few years back but it doesn't mean we can't celebrate the man. I know the players have talked about how it has felt empty without him roaming the grounds talking to the players and greeting all of his adoring fans.  Arnie was truly one of a kind and one of the most popular golfers in the history of the game. The working-class hero from Latrobe, Pennsylvania became a household name in 1958 when he won his first of four Masters Titles. The legend finished his professional career with seven majors including one U.S. Open and two British Opens.  He never did complete the career grand slam finishing second in the PGA Championship three times.  I know you can find all this information on Wikipedia but I feel like it bears repeating every year as we honor him at his event, the Arnold Palmer Invitational at Bay Hill.

This is an invitational which means only a select group of golfers were asked to participate.  We will have a total of 123 golfers in the field this week. I have a personal list of golf courses that our on my bucket list and this would definitely make the cut.  Bay Hill Golf & Lodge is a par 72 that reaches out 7,419 yards.  The track went through a redesign in 2010 and another one to the greens in 2016 to help out with the muddy spots around the course.

One of the first things I take a look at for this course is the average fairways hit which usually lands around the 65 percent mark.  If you look at the players in the Top 10, they are usually right around that mark or even better. There are exceptions to every rule especially when you look at Tiger Woods (8-time winner of this event) history, he usually ranked at the bottom in fairways hit but he can't be compared to anyone else.  There is also thick rough throughout the course which means the smart players will club down off the tee to hit the fairways.  Driving distance is typically not a must have but there is rain in the forecast or Tuesday and Wednesday leading into the event starting Thursday.  Wet conditions will give more of an advantage to the longer hitters.  These players will attack the small but firm greens which means proximity becomes a vital stat.  That means Strokes Gained: Approach once again becomes a key stat this week.  These players will not be able to completely avoid the rough, so scrambling will be important as well. You'll be able to tell rather quickly whether your golfer has his "A" game as the first three holes at Bay Hill are considered the toughest opening three holes on the Tour.  

My One and Done selection is Rory McIlory.

GOOD LUCK!

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