Stephen Hennessey selected Rory McIlroy at +950, highlighting that Rory gains nearly two strokes per round on the field at Bay Hill—his second-best venue after Quail Hollow. Hennessey believes McIlroy’s course history and comfort level make him an excellent bet to secure another win in 2025.

Keith Stewart advises fading Rory McIlroy at the Arnold Palmer Invitational due to concerns about his recent form and equipment changes. He points out that McIlroy has been struggling with his putting, particularly in TGL events, and appears "unserious" about his game. Additionally, McIlroy is switching to a new TaylorMade driver and fairway wood, which could impact his performance. Stewart also notes that when Scottie Scheffler is playing well, McIlroy tends not to perform as well, suggesting that Scheffler may be McIlroy's "kryptonite."

Justin Van Zuiden expressed preference for Rory McIlroy over Scottie Scheffler for the Arnold Palmer Invitational, noting that the $1,200 price discount makes McIlroy a more attractive option. He highlighted McIlroy's strong course history at Bay Hill, with finishes of 21st, 2nd, 13th, 10th, and 5th in the last five years. Van Zuiden stated that if McIlroy is hitting fairways off the tee, he is just as dangerous as Scheffler. He ranked McIlroy as his number one pick in the top group, followed by Scheffler and then Schauffele.

Kyle expressed that Rory McIlroy's recent win at Pebble Beach is being overhyped and doesn't significantly influence his perception of McIlroy's chances at the Arnold Palmer Invitational. He believes that unless McIlroy wins another major, his recent victories don't move the needle. Kyle also mentioned that people are prematurely predicting McIlroy to win the Masters based on his recent performance, which he finds unwarranted.

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.

Byron Lindeque emphasized the importance of long iron play and strokes gained from 200+ yards at Bay Hill this week. He noted that the course demands strong performance from 200 to 225 yards and suggested focusing on players with excellent long iron skills and the ability to gain strokes from the rough. Byron highlighted Rory McIlroy as being particularly proficient from the long rough, ranking third in the field in proximity from that range, making him a strong candidate for DFS lineups.

Byron Lindeque recommended betting on Rory McIlroy to finish in the top 5 at the Arnold Palmer Invitational. He noted that McIlroy has been consistently finishing in the top 5, achieving this 55% of the time, which exceeds the implied probability of the offered odds at +162 (38%). Lindeque highlighted that McIlroy is second in his model for upside, making him a strong candidate for a top 5 bet.

Byron Lindeque recommended betting on Rory McIlroy to win the Arnold Palmer Invitational. Lindeque highlighted McIlroy's phenomenal course history and fit at Bay Hill, noting his exceptional skill at playing from the rough, ranking top five in the field for shots from 150 yards and beyond. McIlroy is also number one in distance off the tee. Despite a recent dip in putting performance at the Genesis Invitational after six strong rounds, Lindeque expects McIlroy to bounce back on a course where he has found past success. He believes that McIlroy's elite ball-striking ability could allow him to win even if his putting is slightly off.

Riley Hamel said Rory McIlroy is a must-bet whenever he plays Bay Hill, pointing to McIlroy’s six top-10 finishes and 2018 victory among his 10 career appearances. Hamel noted that McIlroy has never placed worse than T-27 at the Arnold Palmer Invitational and is carrying strong form into 2025, highlighted by his win at the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am and a T-17 at the Genesis Invitational.

Ryan Noonan said he is backing Rory McIlroy to win the 2025 Arnold Palmer Invitational, emphasizing McIlroy’s strong track record at Bay Hill and the positive impact of his recent swing change on iron play. McIlroy has posted top-four finishes in six of his last eight worldwide starts and relies on near-peerless distance plus above-average accuracy off the tee. Noonan also cited McIlroy’s long-standing success on fast bermudagrass greens, where he has gained 0.46 strokes per round over 40 career rounds at Bay Hill. Believing McIlroy’s ball-striking ceiling is the highest in the field, Noonan views his outright odds as better value than those for tournament favorite Scottie Scheffler.

Todd McGill highlighted Rory McIlroy’s strong record at Bay Hill, referencing multiple top finishes and his 2018 win. McIlroy has managed positive strokes gained in all categories over his last 20 rounds here, even though his putting (+0.222) has caused occasional frustration. While he posted a T21 last year, McIlroy has otherwise been extremely consistent at this venue, making him a reliable DFS target.

Redkacheek advised playing Rory McIlroy over higher-priced options like Scottie Scheffler in DFS for the Arnold Palmer Invitational, citing Rory's excellent form, great course history at Bay Hill, recent win at Pebble Beach, and better value at $10,800 compared to Scottie's $12,000 price. He also emphasized Rory's status as the best driver of the golf ball, backed up by statistics.

Iain MacMillan identified Rory McIlroy as the most prepared contender to win at Bay Hill this week. MacMillan cited McIlroy’s extensive success at this event—finishing 13th or better from 2017 to 2023—along with a past victory in 2018 and a runner-up finish in 2023. He also emphasized McIlroy’s superior driving skills, which are especially advantageous at a course that demands strength off the tee. With Scottie Scheffler still shaking off a holiday hand injury and Xander Schauffele returning from a rib injury, MacMillan believes McIlroy stands out as the top betting choice, despite short odds of +850.

Mike McClure said his model projects Rory McIlroy to struggle at the 2025 Arnold Palmer Invitational. McIlroy won this event in 2018 but has finished T-13 or worse in two of his last three starts at Bay Hill. His accuracy off the tee is down this season, ranking 125th in driving accuracy at 56.25%. McIlroy’s birdie average (4.13) currently sits 82nd on tour, and he’s 93rd in strokes gained: putting (0.050). These underwhelming metrics suggest a below-par performance for him at Bay Hill.

Iain MacMillan said Rory McIlroy is the most win-ready golfer at Bay Hill this week. He highlighted McIlroy’s strong history at the Arnold Palmer Invitational with finishes of 13th or better from 2017 to 2023, including a 2018 win and a runner-up finish in 2023. MacMillan underscored McIlroy’s superior driving ability as an off-the-tee advantage and noted his recent victory at Pebble Beach as further evidence of strong form going into the tournament. He recommends taking McIlroy at +850 odds despite the short price.

Jason Rouslin advises against drafting Rory McIlroy at his ADP of 16 because Rory is not playing in the Sentry or the American Express tournaments, and may only play three events in Round One, limiting his fantasy scoring potential.