Arnold Palmer Invitational DFS picks 2025: Patrick Cantlay is close

The PGA Tour heads to Orlando for the fourth signature event of the season. Similar to the Genesis Invitational, the Arnold Palmer Invitational will feature 72 of the PGA Tour’s best players, and the top 50 and ties will advance to the week. Bay Hill, the host venue, has been a staple on the PGA Tour since the 1970s, and it remains one of the most difficult courses on the schedule, ranking in the top 10 in scoring difficulty each of the last five years. Bay Hill features thick rough, copious amounts of water hazards and lightning fast Bermuda greens. Players will be need to be firing on all cylinders to capture the red cardigan, as wind looks to play a major role in this tournament once again.

This will also be the first time this year that Scottie Scheffler, Rory McIlroy, and Xander Schauffele will all be competing in the same field, and this will be Schauffele’s first competitive start since the first week of the season at the Sentry. Ludvig Aberg will also look to back up his breakthrough victory at Torrey Pines at another golf course that should fit his skill set, while Justin Thomas, Collin Morikawa and Patrick Cantlay will all look to break their win droughts. Let’s dive into the DraftKings slate.

$10,000 range

Play: Scottie Scheffler, $12,000

Scottie Scheffler has a built-in advantage at every golf course, but there are levels to this, and I would argue that Bay Hill might be the best course on tour for Scheffler’s particular skill set. Along with Muirfield Village, Bay Hill is one of the toughest tests of total driving, long-iron play and short-game skill on the schedule, and I have no reason to believe that the World’s No. 1-ranked player won’t collect his third cardigan in four years at Arnie’s place.

Fade: Xander Schauffele, $10,100

In a small $10K range this week, I certainly have the least amount of confidence in Xander Schauffele. This will be the two-time major winner’s first competitive start since the first week of January, and he has failed to finish in the top 20 in three appearances at Bay Hill. Rory and Scheffler are just simply sharper right now with a stronger track record at Bay Hill, and the market accurately reflects this.

$9,000 range

Play: Patrick Cantlay, $9,500

I feel like I’ve been saying this for years, but Patrick Cantlay is close. He has to be, right? Cantlay is coming off a top-five finish at Torrey Pines where he gained over a stroke off the tee, 3.5 strokes on approach and 6.1 strokes putting. Cantlay is really finding form on approach again, and it was incredibly encouraging to see him finally putt well enough to win a tournament. Hopefully his performance at Torrey was indicative of further success on similar golf courses, as Bay Hill certainly fits that bill.

Fade: Tony Finau, $9,200

We were all in on Tony Finau a few weeks ago at the Genesis Invitational, but it’s time to sell high on the six-time PGA Tour winner. Finau has failed to finish in the top 20 in five appearances at Bay Hill, and his inclusion in the $9K range this week is confounding to me. I’ll be waiting until we get out of Florida and back on Bentgrass to buy back in on Tony Finau.

$8,000 range

Play: Keegan Bradley, $8,400

Keegan Bradley always has my attention on long and difficult golf courses with thick rough. His history at Bay Hill, Torrey Pines and Muirfield Village speaks for itself. The Ryder Cup captain is coming off a great ball-striking performance (1.9 strokes-gained/off-the-tee, 4.1 strokes-gained/approach) at the Genesis Invitational, and I expect him to keep his foot on the gas at another golf course that will highlight his strong total driving and middle to long iron play.

Fade: Maverick McNealy, $8,700

Maverick McNealy has been playing some great golf recently, but he’s also been relying heavily on the putter. McNealy has gained 15 strokes putting in his last two starts, and while the approach play has been solid, I’m certainly expecting some regression on Bermuda. McNealy has also struggled tremendously at Bay Hill, with zero finishes in the top 45 in four appearances.

$7,000 range

Play: Taylor Pendrith, $7,900

Taylor Pendrith was an easy fade last week on a golf course that took driver out of his hands, but I am ready to reinvest in the big-hitting Canadian on a track that will certainly accentuate his ability with the big stick. Pendrith still gained in both ball-striking categories last week despite missing the cut on the number, and his combination of power and accuracy should yield a distinctive advantage at one of the toughest driving courses on tour.

Fade: Akshay Bhatia, $7,800

This will be Akshay Bhatia’s first appearance at Bay Hill, and while he looked strong last week at the Mexico Open, I’m expecting a bit of a let down this week in Orlando. Bhatia’s lack of course history and experience on long and difficult golf courses raises concerns at this price point, and I would be far more willing to take a chance on the upside if he was priced correctly in the low seven thousands.

Flier: Davis Thompson, $7,200

Davis Thompson was an easy fade last week at an approach and putting golf course, and an easy play this week at a driver/short game course. Bay Hill accentuates total driving and short game, which remain the two strongest aspects of Thompson’s game, and similar to at Torrey Pines, his ability off the tee should pay dividends at Bay Hill.

$6,000 range

Play: Harris English, $6,600

There is always a player with below average driving and long iron play that breaks the mold and finds themselves in contention on long and difficult golf courses with thick rough. Already a winner this year at Torrey Pines, Harris English has cracked this code time and again. Supplementary top-five finishes at multiple U.S. Opens (Torrey Pines and Winged Foot, nonetheless) bring further credence to the case that English always deserves a look in difficult conditions.

Players Championship