Comments: Expert Picks for Arnold Palmer Invitational

This week the PGA Tour turns back to one of its more storied and respected homes, turning bags loose on the links of Bay Hill; a venue serving as the home of one of the game's iconic figures – Arnold Palmer – for the bulk of his professional life. Located in Orlando, Florida, Bay Hill was originally constructed under the guidance of investors from Tennessee seeking a retreat from the grinds of life. Palmer was originally invited to play these holes with Jack Nicklaus, Don Cherry and Dave Ragan as part of an exhibition event. He fell in love with the area, he fell in love with the course, and shortly after that event he pitched the desire to host a PGA event at Bay Hill. That was in the early 1960s and the Tour has been making annual visits since. Palmer purchased the entire club in 1976 and has served as the official host of this event ever since as well, marking this week as one of the most illustrious non-major tourneys you'll find on the Tour's schedule. The list of past champions is just as impressive. Hitting the early years of Bay Hill's history you'll find the list of former winners includes Tom Kite, Fuzzy Zoeller, Payne Stewart, Fred Couples, and Ben Crenshaw. More recent winners include Phil Mickelson, Ernie Els (who has won twice and serves as the current defending champ), Kenny Perry, Vijay Singh, and Tiger Woods (who has won this event six times, including four consecutive wins from 2000 to 2003, his last win coming in 2009). This year's field is another stellar offering, including some of the game's elite as well as a sizable contingent from the Tour's up-and-coming power set. The art of putting is an especially vital ingredient in any winner's effort, but the depth of history this event brings allows fantasy owners a substantial pool of experience to consider in evaluating roster targets. Golfers who hit long and follow with supreme efforts into the greens tend to shine (suggesting it's the proximity to the hole, and not necessary the success in getting down in it) tend to rule the day, and we expect more of the same this week.

Golfers listed in this article:

1. Tiger Woods
2. Justin Rose
3. Retief Goosen
4. Ernie Els
5. Edoardo Molinari
6. Kevin Na
7. Phil Mickelson
8. Jim Furyk
9. Ian Poulter
10. Dustin Johnson
11. Graeme McDowell
12. Hunter Mahan
13. Robert Allenby
14. Scott Verplank
15. Boo Weekley
16. Rickie Fowler
17. Kenny Perry
18. Bo Van Pelt
19. Camilo Villegas
20. Sean O'Hair
21. Charl Schwartzel
22. Bubba Watson
23. Martin Laird
24. Paul Goydos
25. Rod Pampling
26. Jeff Overton
27. Brendon de Jonge
28. Matteo Manassero
29. Jason Dufner
30. Sergio Garcia