Rick Gehman recommended Victor Hovland as a strong play for the Arnold Palmer Invitational, citing his excellent ball-striking abilities and the course's suitability for his game. Gehman noted that Bay Hill's thick rough around the greens mitigates Hovland's short-game weaknesses. Hovland has gained strokes around the green in half of his starts at this course and has gained strokes putting in his last four appearances. Priced at $8,300, Hovland offers significant upside with potential for a top-five finish. Gehman prefers Hovland over other players in the same price range, such as Shane Lowry, Sepp Straka, Robert MacIntyre, and Keegan Bradley. He also plans to bet on Hovland for a top-10 finish at odds of 3 to 1 or 3.5 to 1.

Rick Gehman advised to include Scottie Scheffler in as many DFS lineups as possible for the Arnold Palmer Invitational, citing his exceptional form and course history. Scheffler is the best tee-to-green player in the world, has won this event twice in the last three years, has never finished outside the top 15 at Bay Hill, and has top-four finishes in his last three events. Rick noted that Scheffler is underpriced in DFS, making him a valuable play with little reason to expect any issues this week.

Rick Gehman highlighted Rory McIlroy as a top fantasy golf play for the Arnold Palmer Invitational at Bay Hill, citing his outstanding course history and current form. McIlroy won this event in 2018 and has consistently finished in the top ten. Rick noted that Bay Hill is one of the best courses in the world for McIlroy, where the driver is a huge weapon and he has always putted well on these surfaces. Additionally, McIlroy is coming off strong performances, including a win at the DP World Tour Championship and a T4 at the Dubai Desert Classic, indicating he is in excellent form heading into this event.

Rick Gehman advised passing on Xander Schauffele for the Arnold Palmer Invitational, citing his recent rib injury and lackluster course history at Bay Hill. Schauffele is returning for his first event since the Sentry Tournament of Champions and has not played well here, with finishes of T24, T39, and T25 in his last appearances. Gehman noted that while these results are acceptable for many golfers, they fall short of expectations for Schauffele. Additionally, other players in this price range offer more appealing options, leading Gehman to recommend avoiding Schauffele this week.

Rick Gehman highlighted Tommy Fleetwood as a strong option for the Arnold Palmer Invitational due to his consistent top-20 finishes over the past six months. Fleetwood recently finished T5 at Torrey Pines, showcasing excellent play over the last three rounds. While his course history at Bay Hill is mixed, with some top-10 finishes and some less favorable results, Gehman prefers Fleetwood's well-rounded and consistent performance over other players in the 9K range who present concerns. Fleetwood's recent form makes him an appealing investment this week.

Rick Gehman expressed strong optimism about Ludvig Aberg's potential at the Arnold Palmer Invitational, suggesting that Aberg could be the next number one player in the world. Gehman noted that Aberg's previous appearances at Bay Hill resulted in T24 and T25 finishes despite struggles from tee to green and around the greens. Given Aberg's improved play recently, Gehman includes him among his top picks alongside Scottie Scheffler and Rory McIlroy for this event.

Rick Gehman showed interest in Sungjae Im for the Arnold Palmer Invitational despite his recent struggles. Gehman noted that Im started to fix his ball striking numbers at the previous event and has never finished worse than 21st at Bay Hill. He suggested that returning to Florida could help Im reset and return to his strong play, making him an intriguing option and potential x-factor this week.

Rick Gehman expressed concerns about Collin Morikawa's performance at the Arnold Palmer Invitational due to his poor putting history at Bay Hill. Despite Morikawa's solid statistics overall, he has missed the cut in each of his last two appearances here and has lost significant strokes putting in all four of his trips to this course. Gehman noted that while Morikawa needs to hit a ton of fairways to succeed, his historical struggles on these greens narrow his path to the top and make him a less appealing option this week.

Rick Gehman cautioned against selecting Sam Burns for the Arnold Palmer Invitational due to his poor recent form. Burns has lost strokes on approach in six of his last seven events, often significantly. While he remains a strong putter, his overall game has been struggling. Gehman questioned why Burns is priced where he is, suggesting that his potential to lose strokes across the board makes him a risky choice this week.

Rick Gehman expressed optimism about Russell Henley's prospects at the Arnold Palmer Invitational, citing his recent strong performance and favorable course conditions. Henley finished T6 last week and has a history of success when playing from the fairway. His recent results at Bay Hill include T13, T53, and T4 finishes. Gehman noted that Henley's performance significantly improves when he gains strokes off the tee, even slightly. The West Coast swing was challenging for Henley due to his driving style, but Gehman expects him to benefit from the more accuracy-friendly courses ahead.

Rick Gehman highlighted Shane Lowry as an attractive option for the Arnold Palmer Invitational due to his strong approach play and overall solid performance. Lowry finished T11 last week after a strong final round, gaining five and a half strokes on approach at PGA National. Although he didn't gain strokes putting, he accumulated seven strokes from tee to green. Lowry finished third at Bay Hill last year and has shown significant improvement over the past 12 months, maintaining a well-rounded style of golf.

Rick Gehman recommended Michael Kim as a strong value play at $7,600 for the Arnold Palmer Invitational, highlighting Kim's rare achievement of gaining strokes across all four strokes-gained categories in four consecutive starts. Gehman noted that this consistency is an excellent predictor of immediate success and is incredibly rare outside of top players like Scottie Scheffler and Xander Schauffele. Kim's recent finishes include a runner-up, two T13s, and a T6. Over the last 20 rounds, he ranks as the fifth-best player in the field. Despite previous poor course history, Gehman emphasized that Kim is a completely different golfer now, displaying an exceptionally strong profile.

Rick Gehman highlighted Nick Taylor as an outstanding value pick at $6,700 for the Arnold Palmer Invitational. Taylor is ranked as the fourth-best player in the field over the last 20 rounds, boasting impressive ball-striking numbers. He has already won this year and secured T12 at the American Express and T9 at the Genesis Invitational. Taylor finished 12th at Bay Hill last year and, despite mixed course history, Gehman believes he is in excellent form and capable of winning a signature event. His ability to produce strong tee-to-green numbers makes him a compelling option at this price.

Rick Gehman recommended Harris English as a strong play at $6,600 for the Arnold Palmer Invitational, emphasizing his success on difficult courses where par is a good score. When healthy, English has performed well, with his last four trips to Bay Hill resulting in finishes no worse than T26, including two top-10s and a runner-up. Gehman noted that English won three starts ago and, despite a poor showing at Pebble Beach, bounced back with strong performances at Torrey Pines, picking up 14 strokes on the field over eight rounds. His history and style of play make him an appealing option this week.

Rick Gehman pointed out Aaron Rai as an intriguing option at $7,300 for the Arnold Palmer Invitational, declaring him officially 'back' after a strong performance in Mexico. Rai gained three strokes off the tee and nine strokes on approach, which was the best approach week of anyone in the field, leading to a T4 finish. Gehman emphasized Rai's valuable ball-striking ability, which is crucial at Bay Hill. While acknowledging Rai's need for improved putting, Gehman found his recent form promising. Additionally, he noted that it was Rai's 30th birthday, adding a lighthearted aspect to his recommendation.

Rick Gehman expressed confidence in Aldrich Potgieter's performance at the Arnold Palmer Invitational despite his recent struggles in Mexico. Gehman highlighted Potgieter's impressive off-the-tee statistics, noting that he gained 5.5 strokes off the tee at the Farmers Insurance Open and another 5 strokes off the tee in Mexico. He believes that Bay Hill will allow Potgieter to capitalize on his driving ability and that it will be harder for him to lose strokes around the green here. Gehman is not worried about Potgieter's recent finish and expects him to perform well.

Rick Gehman expressed optimism about Brian Campbell's prospects at the Arnold Palmer Invitational following his recent victory in Mexico. Gehman noted that although Campbell's performances on Thursday and Sunday at the Cognizant weren't very good, he was impressed with how Campbell put it together after his life-changing win. Gehman believes that Campbell will need to play from the fairway ('out of the short grass'), which suits his game, and is 'kind of in' on Campbell this week.

Rick Gehman highlighted Joe Highsmith as a potential high-upside play at the Arnold Palmer Invitational due to his recent improvements in putting. Gehman discussed Highsmith's experimentation with different putting grips, which led to gains of 8.2 strokes putting over his last four starts. While Gehman doesn't expect Highsmith to contend for a win this week, he emphasized that Highsmith is a very solid tee-to-green player whose results depend entirely on his putting. At a nearly minimum price of $6,200, Highsmith could provide significant value if his putting improvement continues.

Rick Gehman advised against selecting Eric Cole for the Arnold Palmer Invitational, citing his recent poor performance. Cole, priced at the minimum $6,000, has missed three cuts in a row and is losing strokes even with the putter, which is typically his strength. Gehman concluded that 'that's not going to work' and recommends looking elsewhere.

Rick Gehman expressed concern about Nick Dunlap's suitability for the Arnold Palmer Invitational despite his strong approach play. Gehman noted that Dunlap, priced at $6,300, is losing significant strokes off the tee in recent events, with losses ranging from -1 to -7 strokes off the tee. Gehman suggests that Dunlap's severe struggles off the tee outweigh his approach strengths, making him a risky pick this week.

Rick Gehman highlighted Ben Griffin as a strong value play for the Arnold Palmer Invitational, noting that Griffin ranked 14th in his custom model that emphasizes long hitters, strong approach play, and par 5 scoring. Considering Griffin's lower price, Gehman sees him as an excellent option this week.

Rick Gehman pointed out that Michael Kim ranked 16th in his custom model for the Arnold Palmer Invitational, which focuses on long hitters with strong approach play and par 5 scoring. Gehman emphasized that Kim's high ranking, combined with his low price, makes him a compelling value play this week.

Rick Gehman noted that Shane Lowry ranked 15th in his custom model for the Arnold Palmer Invitational, which emphasizes long hitters, strong approach play, and par 5 scoring. Given Lowry's lower price point, Gehman believes he provides excellent value for DFS players this week.

Rick Gehman predicted that Luke Clanton will make the cut this week and earn his PGA Tour card after just missing out by one stroke in Phoenix. He cited Clanton's improved play during Friday's round and praised his overall skill set, suggesting a strong fit for this event's course layout.

Rick Gehman endorsed Jake Knapp as a continuing DFS value, noting his consistent flashes of strong rounds despite not always putting four together. Gehman cited Knapp's T25 finish last week after barely making the cut and highlighted his weekend surge as evidence of upside at an affordable price this week.

Rick Gehman said Joel Dahmen, priced at $7,000, is returning to form with strong second-shot performance. Gehman cited Dahmen’s T9 at Torrey Pines and T6 in Mexico—both courses that don’t typically suit him—and asserted this event should be a better fit. Gehman believes Dahmen’s improved ball-striking makes him a valuable DFS target.

Rick Gehman highlighted Ryan Gerard’s recent form with consecutive top-20 finishes at the Farmers Insurance Open and Mexico. Gerard first played this event two years ago, gaining seven strokes on approach and 8.4 tee-to-green. Gehman expects Gerard to continue his strong ball striking while returning to a course where he’s shown significant upside.

Rick Gehman described Alejandro Tosti as a high-variance play who could either contend for the title or miss the cut early. He emphasized Tosti’s strong performance in Mexico, where Tosti finished fourth, and his general aggressiveness on the course. At $6,700, Tosti offers considerable potential for a top-10 finish, albeit with significant risk.

Rick Gehman revealed Daniel Berger as the top-ranked player in his custom model, highlighting his strong weighted strokes gained total and proven track record in Florida. Gehman suggested that Berger’s skill set and success on tough courses make him an ideal betting target this week.

Rick Gehman placed Kurt Kitayama second in his custom model, recalling Kitayama’s win in Florida and steady form. Gehman anticipates Kitayama’s game to flourish on this course, making him a strong DFS and betting consideration despite last week’s narrow miss.

Rick Gehman said that Kris Ventura is a 'lock button' play for the 2025 Cognizant Classic, emphasizing Ventura's improved approach play and putting. Gehman also noted Ventura is turning 30, calling him a late bloomer who has shown strong recent form. With these statistical gains and a birthday narrative, Gehman believes this is a prime opportunity to include Ventura in DFS lineups.

Rick Gehman described Luke Clanton as drastically mispriced for the 2025 Cognizant Classic, highlighting that Clanton is poised to earn his tour card. Gehman encouraged DFS players to capitalize on Clanton’s value in this weaker field, expecting him to produce strong returns relative to his salary.

Rick Gehman said Gary Woodland is a strong DFS pick for the 2025 Cognizant Classic. Despite recent health and personal struggles, Woodland appears to have turned a corner in form. Gehman acknowledged concerns about his play around the greens, but emphasized Woodland’s distance as a key advantage on this course, making him a viable option in a field of middling strength.

Rick Gehman singled out Taylor Moore as a promising DFS option in the 9K range, noting Moore’s steady gains off the tee in nine consecutive events. Moore’s short game is solid, and the putter is competent enough to produce top-10 finishes, as shown by his two top 10s in his last four starts. Gehman prefers Moore over more expensive choices like Michael Kim, seeing Moore’s skill set aligning well with Vidanta Vallarta.

Rick Gehman highlighted Kevin Yu’s elite iron play, noting he has gained over a stroke on approach in each of his last five starts. While putting remains a weakness and has led to missed cuts, Gehman believes the paspalum greens at Vidanta Vallarta could mitigate that deficiency. Yu’s strong finishes at tougher events (T16 in Phoenix, T17 at Riviera) suggest that in this weaker Mexico Open field, he could be poised for a high DFS return.

Rick Gehman said Michael Thorbjornsen is a young, talented, and still-developing golfer who has picked up strokes on approach in four of his last five events. Gehman noted Thorbjornsen’s T8 finish at the RSM Classic and a T2 showing at the John Deere last season, highlighting that this Mexico Open field is similar in strength to the one in Jackson where he also performed well. Gehman believes Thorbjornsen’s strong iron play could make him a worthwhile DFS option if he continues refining his game.

Rick Gehman suggested Justin Lower as a viable DFS option for the Mexico Open because of his previous strong performance at Vidanta Vallarta. Gehman noted that Lower’s past success on this course could translate into a valuable edge for fantasy lineups this week.

Rick Gehman said Akshay Bhatia is a compelling play in this weak field, pointing to Bhatia’s strong off-the-tee numbers—he’s gained strokes off the tee in four of his last five events—and a T4 finish at this same tournament two years ago. Rick noted that while Bhatia’s short game can be erratic, the Pass Palum setup likely mitigates those concerns. He also highlighted that Bhatia is among the most talented in this field and should feel confident about contending here.

Rick Gehman stated Kurt Kitayama could thrive again at VidantaWorld, referencing Kitayama’s T2 finish here in 2022. While Rick acknowledged that Kitayama’s recent form in 2025 hasn’t matched his late-2024 surge, he believes Kitayama’s ceiling remains high if he can produce a signature tee-to-green performance, ideally picking up around seven or more strokes in the ball-striking categories.

Rick Gehman said Sam Stevens is on his betting card at approximately 22–25 to 1. He emphasized Stevens’ consistent form dating back to the fall, highlighted by no missed cuts and multiple top-25 finishes, including a runner-up at the Farmers. Rick also noted Stevens’ strong ball-striking ability and extensive play in recent months, making him an appealing DFS and betting option in a weak field.

Rick Gehman said Aaron Rai could be a strong DFS option if you can handle volatility. He emphasized that Rai’s recent dip in tee-to-green play stems from seven difficult rounds at Torrey Pines, which artificially suppresses his stats. Rai was formerly known for elite ball-striking, and Gehman expects the friendlier Vidanta layout to accelerate a potential rebound, making Rai an appealing play in this price range.

Rick Gehman expressed concern about Harry Hall’s recent performance, noting that Hall has lost strokes on approach in three of his last four starts and has also dropped strokes off the tee in four straight events. Gehman pointed out that those off-the-tee gains once fueled Hall’s top finishes. With Vidanta requiring accuracy and consistent ball-striking, Gehman is more bearish on Hall this week.

Rick Gehman cautioned against expecting another strong finish from Michael Kim, despite his fruitful performance the prior week. Kim’s price has jumped to $9,200, which Gehman believes increases the risk given the Mexico Open’s different course demands. Although Kim showed solid all-around gains recently, Gehman is less optimistic he can keep that momentum at Vidanta, and suggested waiting for a lower price in future events.

Rick Gehman tabbed Sam Stevens as the premier pick in the 9K salary range for the Mexico Open. Gehman highlighted Stevens’ notable top-10 finishes and a runner-up that demonstrate his ability to post strong results even in tougher fields. With his game seeming well-rounded lately, Stevens offers high-upside potential for DFS lineups at Vidanta.

Rick Gehman endorsed Taylor Moore as a strong DFS play, noting Moore’s marked improvement off the tee with nine straight events of strokes gained in that category. Despite some approach inconsistencies, Moore’s short game remains solid, and he has posted two recent top-10 finishes. Gehman sees Moore as a better value than players with similar price tags, believing Moore’s upward trend could continue at Vidanta.

Rick Gehman labeled Kevin Yu a top-tier iron player and a potential difference-maker in DFS lineups. While Yu’s putting remains a liability, Gehman noted that paspalum greens may neutralize some of his weaknesses. With multiple top-20 finishes and consistent approach gains, Gehman believes Yu’s upside in this weaker field outweighs the putting concern.

Rick Gehman is back on Jake Knapp, last year’s Mexico Open winner, as a promising DFS selection. Knapp flashed strong tee-to-green play by gaining 5.7 strokes at Torrey Pines in his latest start, mirroring the 11.5 strokes he gained en route to winning at Vidanta. Gehman believes Knapp’s recent improvement points to another solid showing in a familiar setting.

Rick Gehman highlighted Nicolai Hojgaard (referred to as Nicholas Norgaard) as a high-ceiling play, praising his strong DP World Tour results and exceptional ball-striking at Torrey Pines despite missing the cut on the wrong side of the wave. Gehman expects the calmer Vidanta course layout to be an asset, giving Hojgaard ample opportunity to use his power in a less intimidating field.

Rick Gehman said Andrew Putnam might be the best player in the $7,800 range. He noted that Putnam has made major improvements in his approach play, having only lost strokes on approach twice since the John Deere in July of last year. Gehman emphasized that Putnam typically gives away two to five strokes off the tee, but if Putnam can remain neutral off the tee at this course, his strong iron play should carry him. Gehman also observed that Vidanta Vallarta should be more forgiving than the challenging venues where Putnam has recently struggled with his driving.

Rick Gehman mentioned Aldrich Potgieter as a worthy low-owned flyer in DFS lineups. While acknowledging that Potgieter is raw and still developing parts of his game, Gehman emphasized that Potgieter’s elite power off the tee gives him an immediate leg up on this course. Gehman also noted that Potgieter is a surprisingly good putter for someone with his power, though his second-shot consistency remains a concern.

Rick Gehman said Lanto Griffin comes in with several positive marks, including a Q-school victory and a T-9 finish at Torrey Pines. However, Gehman highlighted Griffin’s poor around-the-green play as his biggest weakness. Despite losing significant strokes in that category each time he has played at Vidanta Vallarta, Griffin has never missed a cut there. Gehman believes that if Griffin can simply avoid being a liability around the greens, his solid ball-striking should yield strong DFS returns.