Power Rankings, Round 2 Pairings and Betting Angles at the Arnold Palmer Invitational

Emerson Raymont

Published: March 6, 2026 2:22 PM ET

Power Rankings, Round 2 Pairings and Betting Angles at the Arnold Palmer Invitational

The second round at the Arnold Palmer Invitational begins Friday morning at Bay Hill in Orlando, and the tournament’s tight field and tough course are shaping storylines across the leaderboard. Scottie Scheffler is searching for a second win of the year as players adapt to a setup that has historically pushed scoring above par.

Arnold Palmer Invitational power rankings and Bay Hill course profile

The early-season stretch has produced a variety of winners and breakout results, and the Arnold Palmer Invitational presents a different test. Bay Hill has produced a scoring average above par for nine straight editions, with a 72. 577 average recorded in 2025. That sustained toughness underpins the event’s status as a Signature Event and influences power-ranking decisions this week.

Course traits that matter for rankings and matchups this week:

Length and driving: Bay Hill can play up to 7, 466 yards but has been in the 15th-to-25th percentile for average driving distance among measured courses, so pure length is not the dominant factor it might be elsewhere.
Approach and green targets: The Bermudagrass greens average about 7, 500 square feet and are not overseeded. They are undulating and run very fast on the Stimpmeter—about 13½ feet—making approach proximity and angles especially valuable.
Rough and recovery: Overseeded rough has been managed to around 4 inches, raising the penalty for missing fairways and placing a premium on tee-to-green precision.
Weather: Unseasonably warm daytime highs in the mid-80s with daily afternoon rain threats and some breezes are expected, a combination that can alter course firmness and influence scoring windows.

Those features create a profile where players who combine steady ball-striking, smart course construction from the green back to the tee, and touch on fast greens will gain an edge. The limited field of 72 concentrates top performers, intensifying the competitive dynamic.

2026 Arnold Palmer Invitational Friday tee times: Round 2 pairings (ET)

The second round begins Friday morning. Key pairings and full Round 2 tee times (all times ET) are listed below. Scottie Scheffler will begin his second round at 1: 30 p. m. ET alongside Russell Henley.

7: 40 a. m. – Nicolai Højgaard, Austin Smotherman
7: 50 a. m. – Si Woo Kim, Bud Cauley
8: 00 a. m. – Lucas Glover, Ryo Hisatsune
8: 10 a. m. – Ryan Gerard, Jason Day
8: 20 a. m. – Taylor Pendrith, Denny McCarthy
8: 30 a. m. – Kurt Kitayama, Pierceson Coody
8: 40 a. m. – Jordan Spieth, Sam Stevens
8: 50 a. m. – Jake Knapp, Matt Fitzpatrick
9: 05 a. m. – Sam Burns, Sungjae Im
9: 15 a. m. – J. J. Spaun, Nick Taylor
9: 25 a. m. – Keegan Bradley, Maverick McNealy
9: 35 a. m. – Ben Griffin, Tommy Fleetwood
9: 45 a. m. – Nico Echavarria, Ludvig Åberg
9: 55 a. m. – Jacob Bridgeman, Chris Gotterup
10: 05 a. m. – Justin Thomas, Hideki Matsuyama
10: 20 a. m. – Rory McIlroy, Viktor Hovland
10: 30 a. m. – Rickie Fowler, Michael Kim
10: 40 a. m. – Chris Kirk, Sahith Theegala
10: 50 a. m. – Joel Dahmen, Daniel Bennett
11: 00 a. m. – Jhonattan Vegas, Tom Hoge
11: 10 a. m. – Ryan Fox, Billy Horschel
11: 20 a. m. – Brian Campbell, Patrick Rodgers
11: 35 a. m. – Matt McCarty, Max Greyserman
11: 45 a. m. – Taylor Moore, Andrew Putnam
11: 55 a. m. – Daniel Berger, Alex Noren
12: 05 p. m. – Min Woo Lee, Michael Thorbjornsen
12: 15 p. m. – Harry Hall, Corey Conners
12: 25 p. m. – Cameron Young, Sepp Straka
12: 35 p. m. – Harris English, Patrick Cantlay
12: 50 p. m. – Andrew Novak, Robert MacIntyre
1: 00 p. m. – Brian Harman, Akshay Bhatia
1: 10 p. m. – Collin Morikawa, Justin Rose
1: 20 p. m. – Xander Schauffele, Shane Lowry
1: 30 p. m. – Scottie Scheffler, Russell Henley
1: 40 p. m. – Aldrich Potgieter, Adam Scott
1: 50 p. m. – J. T. Poston, Keith Mitchell

How to bet the Arnold Palmer Invitational: course factors and DFS considerations

Betting and daily fantasy lineups should reflect the specific stresses Bay Hill imposes. The course’s scoring history—above par across multiple years—points toward valuing accuracy, approach proximity, and short-game reliability over pure bombing and gauging birdie frequency.

Target players with strong proximity and scrambling metrics; missing fairways into 4-inch rough can be costly.
Consider the putter’s role: large, fast greens reward players who can adapt quickly to subtle breaks and speed.
Account for weather timing: afternoon rain and shifting winds can compress scoring windows, making morning-to-midday starting times relevant for strategy.
Given the compact, high-quality field, variance is lower in outright markets but lineup construction in DFS should still prioritize form on similar green complexes and recent comfort on firm, fast surfaces.

Final note: some event details in the available material were incomplete. Recent updates indicate key structural and cut information may be clarified as the week progresses.