Steve Palmer's Arnold Palmer Invitational first-round preview, best bets

Golf tips, best bets and player analysis for first round of the Arnold Palmer Invitational at Bay Hill on the PGA Tour.

When to watch

Sky Sports Main Event and Golf, 3pm Thursday

Best bets

Keith Mitchell to win 12.43pm threeball
3pts 5-4 Betfair, Power

Sungjae Im top Korean
2pts 5-6 general

Billy Horschel to beat Talor Gooch
1pt Evs bet365

First-round preview

Arnold Palmer Invitational favourite, Jon Rahm, is one of the later starters in round one of the Bay Hill gathering - the Spaniard joins compatriot and Ryder Cup colleague Sergio Garcia in the 5.57pm (UK and Ireland time) threeball.

Sam Burns completes the marquee group of the afternoon. The trio of Rory McIlroy, Adam Scott and Sepp Straka will hog much of the morning spotlight (1.27pm UK). The forecast is for sunny, calm conditions all day, with the breeze not getting up until Friday afternoon.

Keith Mitchell will tee off in a low-profile threeball at 12.43pm, and the Georgia-based swinger looks the best bet on the card at 5-4 to defeat Branden Grace and Lucas Herbert.

Mitchell relishes the Florida Swing of the PGA Tour. His only Tour victory came in the Honda Classic in Palm Beach Gardens and he has also excelled at Bay Hill, finishing sixth and fifth in his first two visits.

Given the way Mitchell has been striking his ball in recent weeks, with form figures of 12-10-9 from his last three starts, there is every reason to believe he will boss Grace and Herbert at Bay Hill. Grace has been poor this year, while Herbert is making his Bay Hill debut.

Sungjae Im, who has twice finished third in this event, is another former Honda Classic champion worth supporting this week. Im can end up as top Korean by beating Si Woo Kim and KH Lee, while local man Billy Horschel appeals in a match against Talor Gooch.

Bet365 have made Gooch odds-on to outscore Horschel, but if Horschel marries a more typical putting performance to the excellent ball-striking he exhibited in the Honda last week, he seems the likelier title contender.

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