Sungjae Im has solidified himself as one of my favorite professional golfers after winning his first PGA Tour event at the Honda Classic. The reigning rookie of the year is barely legal enough to consume alcoholic beverages in the United States and already has a PGA Tour victory. I've been on fire with my one and done selections. Heading into the Honda Classic with seven top 10 finishes through nine event but no outright winners. That all changed with Sungjae this weekend and I'm so excited to keep this momentum going into the Arnold Palmer Invitational.

It has been 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 apologize for the history lesson but I feel like it has to be said as we head into the event named after him, 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 121 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. If you missed the news, Tiger will not participate in the event as he deals with back stiffness. There is a thick rough throughout the course which means the smart players will club down off the tee to hit the fairways. Driving distance is nice but not something you have to target on this course. These players will attack the small but firm greens which means proximity becomes a vital stat. You know these players can't completely avoid the rough, 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.  

The weather will not be a factor this week, unlike last year.  We’ve got sunny skies and temps in the mid to high 80s throughout the weekend.

My One and Done selection is Marc Leishman.

Stacks

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