RotoBaller PGA: One And Done Staff Picks - Arnold Palmer Invitational

Ok, we’re back on track after a solid third-place finish from Tommy Fleetwood at the Honda Classic last week! I want to keep the momentum going for the Arnold Palmer Invitational, so I’m deploying a weapon of mass destruction this week with Rory McIlroy.

Rory is the best golfer in the world at the moment and I can’t remember the last tournament he finished outside of the top five. Sure, you could make a strong argument for “saving” McIlroy until one of the majors in OAD contests, but this week’s API is exactly the type of event where I love rolling out Rory...it’s very high profile, the Bay Hill layout fits his game perfectly, and it doesn’t carry the extraordinary pressure of a major championship.

McIlroy heads into this week feeling extremely confident in his game and will tee it up on a course where he’s won previously. This event is big, but not “too big”...which is Rory’s true sweet spot. I expect him to be comfortable and in contention to win on Sunday at Bay Hill. - Joe Nicely

Yearly Earnings - $1,881,218

Yearly Cuts Made - 7/9

Spencer Aguiar - Tony Finau

Alternate - Bryson DeChambeau

I feel like I have pigeon-holed myself for the Arnold Palmer Invitational. A lot of the options I would have considered using are staples for me in later events down the road, and I don't want to necessarily implode my gameplan to salvage one week.

I think Bryson DeChambeau is a cop-out choice for those that are struggling to make a decision, and I would have considered going down that route if the American didn't draw the bad end of the tee-off times on Thursday. There is some heavy wind expected in the forecast mid-day of the opening round, and I am not so sure I trust DeChambeau to save his performance if the conditions go against him early.

That leaves me slightly empty-handed and searching for a last-minute fill-in choice. There are other places I would have considered playing Finau and will have to make a few minor adjustments to account for this move, but I've decided to take a swing for the fence with someone that has as much talent as practically any player in the world. In a week where I am looking to limit the damage to whoever Joe and Josh decide to play, I don't mind taking one of the most consistent players to get that job done for me. -Spencer Aguiar

Yearly Earnings - $2,723,331

Yearly Cuts Made - 9/9

Josh Bennett - Xander Schauffele

Alternate - Collin Morikawa

Time to get back on track this week after a couple of brutal weeks. A couple weeks ago I preached not over-thinking picks and then I go against that last week by picking a volatile guy in a volatile event. Anyway, this week I’m landing on Xander Schauffele, and while many will say this isn’t his style because it’s a full field event with a cut, I think that’s a narrative that’s overblown and this is a course and a tournament that will really suit his game.

Xander tends to step his game up when he finds himself in fields or events that are high profile, and although this field doesn’t scream that it’s stacked, the event itself is held in high regard by the players on the Tour which I think will elevate the serious-ness of it. I have no doubt he shows up ready to take this event down, and this is a course that will show off his strengths and mitigate the parts of his game where he’s weak. Xander is well known to be a powerful player off the tee with great ball-striking ability. That will suit him extremely well as he has to navigate tee shots and approaches around all the water and bunkers. He has the length to score on all the par 5’s and his iron play should give him birdie looks on other holes that a lot of the field won’t get. What we know is weak about Xander’s game is his short game and his putting. Luckily, the greens at Bay Hill are very large, so he likely won’t miss as many greens as he might typically miss on other courses which puts less stress on those wedges around the green. The greens are also lightning fast, which benefits poor putters because shorter back swings do not allow for as much manipulation of the putter face during the stroke (easier for them to hit the ball on the line they chose). Xander on a ball-strikers course where his short-game and putting will be less of an issue is a no brainer here. – Josh Bennett

Yearly Earnings - $2,275,112

Yearly Cuts Made - 7/9

Running Totals