Keith Mitchell is aware that most golf fans at the Arnold Palmer Invitational don’t know who he is, and the winner of last week’s Honda Classic is okay with that. Mitchell enters this week with more people being able to recognize him than two weeks ago.
Mitchell is not getting much respect from oddsmakers either. Several sportsbooks have him listed at 100/1 to win for the second week in a row, well behind API favorite Rory McIlroy, who is at 7/1. The last person to win back-to-back events was Bryson DeChambeau last September.
When Mitchell held off three-time major winner Brooks Koepka, as well as 56-year-old Vijay Singh, and Rickie Fowler, the local newspaper ran a headline that said, “No Name Champion.†The newspaper’s sports editor later apologized for the insult, but Mitchell wasn’t overly upset.
“I just kind of used it as a potential to keep playing well to hopefully one day my name might be on the headline and it will be familiar,†Mitchell said. “So I definitely didn’t take any negative light to it. A lot of my friends and family were texting me about it and it was fine. The context that it was written, it sounds like was in good light and that’s all that matters. I’ve probably said things a hundred times that came off the wrong way and so it’s great. That part of this story is an important part because that’s what helped me play well on the weekend and so I think it’s kind of cool that it ended up happening that way.â€
No Tiger at Bay Hill
Tiger Woods, who began the week as the second pick at 10/1, withdrew on Monday citing a neck strain. He did quickly point out that it was unrelated to his back, which has had four operations.
“Unfortunately due to a neck strain that I’ve had for a few weeks, I’m forced to withdraw from the API,†Woods wrote on his Twitter page. “I’ve been receiving treatment, but it hasn’t improved enough to play. My lower back is fine, and I have no long-term concerns, and I hope to be ready for The Players. I’d like to send my regrets to the Palmer family and the Orlando fans. Its connection to Arnold makes it one of my favorite tournaments and I’m disappointed to miss it.â€
Especially since he has been so dominant there. Woods has won this event eight times, though the last victory was in 2013. He did finish tied for fifth last year.
Woods has finished inside the top 20 in his three starts this season, his latest a tie for 10th at the World Golf Championships–Mexico Championship.
McIlroy, Rose Ones to Watch
McIlroy is the defending champion, and certainly has shown that he enjoys playing at Bay Hill. The Irishman finished second to new No. 1 Dustin Johnson in the WGC-Mexico Championship and has three other top-five finishes in four PGA Tour starts this year. McIlroy tied for fourth in the 2017 API.
Justin Rose is at 11/1, along with Koepka, and has already won once this year at the Farmers Insurance Open in San Diego. He finished third in Mexico, and was also third at this event last year.