It wasn’t exactly a Sunday stumble, but Rory McIlroy’s quiet one-under 71 on Sunday at the WGC-Workday was the latest in a long line of uninspiring final-round performances from the Northern Irishman. Still, his history in Florida and a few strong showings of late have him pegged as the solo favorite at the 2021 Arnold Palmer Invitational.
McIlroy (9-1) has now gone 27 months since his last worldwide victory, which came at the 2019 WGC-HSBC Champions. That was his fifth victory in a 20-month stretch, a stretch that began with his incredible win at the 2018 Arnold Palmer Invitational. The four-time major champ shot a final-round 64 to beat Bryson DeChambeau by three that week. DeChambeau, who is coming off another middling performance at The Concession, is the second favorite at 12-1. In four API starts, DeChambeau has two top-five finishes.
Also at 12-1 is Viktor Hovland, whose Sunday heroics weren’t enough to chase down Collin Morikawa at the WGC. But it was enough for a T-2, his fourth top-five finish in his last five starts, including his Mayakoba victory. That would explain why he’s now being priced among the elite, even checking in before defending champion Tyrrell Hatton (16-1), the equally hot Patrick Reed (16-1) and the bermuda greens god Sungjae Im (20-1). Matthew Fitzpatrick, who has finished ninth and runner-up here in his last two trips, may be the most enticing play on the board at 25-1.
Arnold Palmer Invitational 2021 odds (courtesy of William Hill, as of Monday afternoon)
Rory McIlroy: 9-1 (bet $10 to win $90)
Matthew Fitzpatrick: 25-1
Christiaan Bezuidenhout: 70-1
Charles Howell III: : 150-1
Padraig Harrington: 300-1
Jazz Janewattananond: 300-1
Kristoffer Ventura: 300-1