Hideki Matsuyama looks vulnerable as clear Asian favourite

Sky Sports Golf, 11.35am Thursday

The latest chapter of the increasingly compelling Tiger Woods story will unfold at 12.23pm as the resurgent legend tees off alongside Jason Day and Hideki Matsuyama for round one of the Arnold Palmer Invitational at Bay Hill.

Woods headlines the early wave of starters in Florida while Rory McIlroy, Rickie Fowler and defending champion Marc Leishman combine for the marquee late group at 5.08pm.

Byeong Hun An, based in Orlando and playing a home game this week, is an appealing wager at 6-1 for top Asian honours. He missed the cut by a shot in the Valspar Championship last week but prior to that he was sixth in Dubai, 23rd in Phoenix and fifth in the Honda, so has been in solid nick. Expect improvement on Bay Hill form figures of 36-49.

Matsuyama heads the Asian market, but the Japanese has not competed since withdrawing from the Phoenix Open with a wrist injury in the first week of February, so looks vulnerable.

Former world number one amateur Nick Taylor played his final three rounds in ten under par on his only previous visit to Bay Hill.

Steve Palmer's tournament preview

Taylor looks a banker in the top Canadian market, with Mackenzie Hughes providing the only opposition, while punters looking for a bigger price could add Emiliano Grillo for top South American in a double with Taylor. Grillo, putting well, sixth in India last week, and with Bay Hill form of 17-7 should leave Camilo Villegas well behind.

Pick of the 72-hole match-bet options is Kevin Chappell, performing consistently well this year and Bay Hill runner-up in 2016, to beat Jason Kokrak.

Recommendations
B H An top Asian
2pts 6-1 BoyleSports
K Chappell to beat J Kokrak
2pts 10-11 Betfred
N Taylor top Canadian
2pts 4-7 bet365, BoyleSports

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