Golf tips, free bets and latest odds for the Arnold Palmer Invitational

Everyone who is anyone on the PGA Tour is in the field for the Arnold Palmer Invitational - and finally, Rory McIlroy is at odds that make him worth backing.

McIlroy is available at around 9-1, with world No 1 Scottie Scheffler installed as a clear favourite, at a best-priced 13-2.

That is understandable. Scheffler was an impressive winner here at Bay Hill two years ago, and was only a couple of shots away from making a successful title defence when he finished fourth last year.

But despite retaining a tight grip on the top spot in the world rankings, the American is not in the sort of form that saw him add the Masters title to three other early victories in 2022.

McIlroy is also a past winner here, in 2018, and was joint runner-up here 12 months ago. He messed with the water at the Cognizant a bit too often last week and paid the price, but I cannot see him making the same mistakes twice.

And at these odds, on a course where he has six top tens in all from nine visits, he represents good value.

How to bet on golf

Here are five easy steps for beginners.

1. Choose Your Favourite Sportsbook – there are plenty to choose from and most have their own app or mobile site.

2. Make a Deposit – each sportsbook will walk you through how to connect your bank account to their system including providing a list of all the safeguards they have set up to ensure the safety of your transactions.

3. Claim Your Bonuses – most sportsbooks offers bonuses to first time bettors in the form of free bets.

4. Place Your Bet – now it’s time to navigate through your sportsbook’s odds where they will offer a variety of options including outright winners, or top finishing positions, such as top 10 or 20, or even to make the cut. For the event this week each way odds are generally paid on the top eight players.

5. Collect Your Winnings – If you're successful you will be able to withdraw your winnings once the bet is complete. Some bookmakers offer cashout options on certain bets as well, which is worth keeping an eye on.

Where to find the best odds for the golf?

Lots of bookmakers have different options for betting on the golf this week, including competitive odds and different place markets.

We like the markets on bet365, including the price boosts on offer pre-event.

Arnold Palmer Invitational Betting Tips

The only player to finish ahead of McIlroy last year was Kurt Kitayama, and the defending champion arrives in Orlando in decent form.

He has made the cut in all five starts this year with a share of eighth in Phoenix as the highlight. 

It is never easy to win back-to-back in any event, let alone one as fiercely contested as this. But Kitayama beat the best in the business last year despite a triple bogey at the ninth in round four. At 80-1, he is an attractive each way shot.

The horses for courses theory also brings in Harris English, joint runner-up with McIlroy last year. 

English also made the top ten here in 2020 and looked like he was getting close to his best when he finished seventh at the Genesis. You can get 50-1 if you shop around.

Cameron Young kept threatening to mount a challenge for that elusive first victory when he finished joint fourth last week, after being put up for the Cognizant Classic. 

Don’t be put off re-investing the each way returns at odds of around 28-1. Young has played well in his previous two visits here without putting it all together - the story of his career so far. But he WILL win soon.

I’m finding it hard to decide which of the two veteran Aussie Major champions in the field to add to the each way list - Jason Day or Adam Scott.

I like the coincidence that shows the in-form Scott finished third at Bay Hill in 2004 and again in 2014. A similar finish in 2024 should not be sniffed at when he is listed at 50-1. 

But Day probably deserves the nod. The 2016 winner has looked rejuvenated since breaking his victory drought at the Byron Nelson last year, and was tied tenth here last year when his form was nowhere near as good. The 33-1 looks about right.

There have been plenty of shock winners on the PGA Tour this year, and if there is going to be another three figure champion, the two I like are former US Open champion Lucas Glover, and fast-improving German Stephan Jaeger.

Glover continues to play steady golf, but his two win season last year shows he is capable of going up a gear or two when the mood takes him. At 150-1, he is certainly an outsider I want on my side.

Jaeger is a bit shorter at 100-1. That reflects the fact that he is knocking on the door for a first PGA Tour success, despite two missed cuts in his last four outings.

He has finished third in hot company on his other two recent starts. So his good stuff is VERY good.

Remember to gamble responsibly

A responsible gambler is someone who:

• Establishes time and monetary limits before playing
• Only gambles with money they can afford to lose
• Never chase their losses
• Doesn’t gamble if they’re upset, angry or depressed
• Gamcare – www.gamcare.org.uk
• Gamble Aware – www.begambleaware.org

For help with a gambling problem, call the National Gambling Helpline on 0808 8020 133 or go to www.gamstop.co.uk to be excluded from all UK-regulated gambling website