Course history is a big factor in three of the most popular bets at sportsbooks for this week's Arnold Palmer Invitational at Bay Hill beginning on Thursday.
Will Zalatoris, Rory McIlroy and Matt Fitzpatrick all have strong arguments to compete this week, but one of the most common is how they've played here before.
By now, you've probably seen the stats. Zalatoris finished in the top-10 here a year ago in his tournament debut. McIlroy has a win and four other top-10 finishes in his last five visits. Fitzpatrick has two top-10s and a runner-up in his last three appearances here.
That's enough to put their names on top of bettors' minds.
Zalatoris, who is almost always one of the most popular bets in a tournament he enters, has taken the most bets at both BetMGM and Caesars. He's BetMGM's top liability of the week at +2500.
"It's not a real surprise to see him garner a lot of action, especially at that price," Caesars Assistant Director of Trading Adam Pullen said. Zalatoris is +2800 at the book.
McIlroy is second on the oddsboard to only Jon Rahm. He's taken the second-most bets at Caesars and is second in total handle at BetMGM.
Fitzpatrick isn't usually associated with the more popular players in the field, but he's proved too enticing to pass up this week. In addition to his course history, he brings with him solid form. He was 10th at the Waste Management Open and 6th the week before at Pebble Beach.
He's fourth in bets at Caesars and sixth at BetMGM.
The price isn't down, but the betting interest is in consensus favorite Rahm. Coming off a 21st-place finish at the Genesis Invitational, Rahm is not in the top-five of bets at Caesars and is outside the top three at BetMGM.
Still, big money is backing him in his first appearance at the API. Caesars took a $10,000 outright bet that nets +$80,000 with a win.
While it's expected one of the favorites will emerge victorious, some notable longshots are getting attention.
Caesars moved Jason Kokrak to +4000 after a $5,000 bet came in on him at +4500 odds.
Of the 20 most-bet players at BetMGM, Cameron Young (+6600), Rickie Fowler (+12500) and Sahith Theegala (+12500) have the longest odds.
