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.

Riley Hamel pointed out that Justin Thomas has been winless on the PGA TOUR since his 2022 PGA Championship victory but has shown strong recent form. Thomas finished runner-up at The American Express and earned top-10 finishes at both the WM Phoenix Open (T-6) and Genesis Invitational (T-9). Hamel emphasized that Thomas has made the cut in all three of his API starts and improved each time (T-49 in 2015, T-21 in 2023, T-12 in 2024), suggesting an upward trajectory that could culminate in a win.

Riley Hamel highlighted Will Zalatoris’s consistent early-season play in 2025, with three finishes of T-26 or better across four starts, including a T-24 at the Genesis Invitational. Zalatoris has made the cut all four times he’s played Bay Hill, placing T-10 in his debut (2021) and earning fourth place last season. Hamel believes the demanding conditions at the Arnold Palmer Invitational align well with Zalatoris’s strengths, making him an appealing betting option.