2023 Arnold Palmer Invitational standings, scores: Jordan Spieth, Xander Schauffele chasing Kurt Kitayama
A day that started with world No. 1 Jon Rahm in the lead ended with Kurt Kitayama topping the leaderboard at the 2023 Arnold Palmer Invitational. With Rahm dropping from 7 under to 3 in the space of an hour, the pitch was given new life after the hottest player in the world could have thoughtful opened the door for someone else to win a golf tournament.
Kitayama was the one to complete the task in the early hours of Friday, signing 68 in the second round to hit the bottom nine for the tournament. This number should hold steady for the rest of the day, although strong winds are forecast to ease later in the afternoon.
During this time, Jordan Spieth hit 7 points below to rank right behind Kitayama. While he’s Kitayama’s closest competitor, it’s just one of many big names within reach; Joining them are US Presidents Cup teammates Xander Schauffele, Patrick Cantlay, Justin Thomas, Cameron Young and Scottie Scheffler on the first page of the leaderboard.
Leader
1. Kurt Kitayama (-9)
At this time last year, Kitayama ranked outside the top 250 in the Official World Golf Rankings. Secure in the top 50 to start the week, the 30-year-old continues to position himself for his first win on the PGA Tour. Kitayama showed bright flashes but was only surpassed by one of the game’s elites. Taking three runners-up places in his last 23 starts, Kitayama has lost to Rahm at the Mexican Open, Schauffele at the Scottish Open and Rory McIlroy at the CJ Cup in South Carolina. If he wasn’t careful, one of those guys might expose him again.
“I think I’ve put myself in a good position. Right now, I feel like I’m just trying to win, you know, it’s tough, especially against the opponents that I’ve played against. head,” said Kitayama. “So just keep putting yourself in that position to give yourself a chance… You get some good rest and it’s really your league. So I just have to try. try to stay there until the end.”
other candidates
2. Jordan Spieth (-7)
T3. Xander Schauffele, Corey Conners (-6)
T5. Patrick Cantlay, Davis Riley, Matt Fitzpatrick, Justin Thomas (-5)
T9. Cameron Young, Ludvig Aberg (a), Scottie Scheffler, Adam Scott (-4)
The main sticking point for this group is the presence of people who are normally absent from the Arnold Palmer Invitational. Before this week, Schauffele, Spieth, Thomas and Cantlay had competed in three tournaments together. With this year’s event’s designated status, the world’s best are proving their game will go no matter the course.
Rahm is human after all
The world No. 1 player hotly finished to take the lead in the first round but turntable on Friday. Defeated by a double-bogey on the par-5 sixth hole, Rahm played the last five holes of the fourth and from the top of the tournament had to catch up at the weekend. With a round 4 of 76 — his worst score since the 2022 PGA Championship — he sits under three strokes and six strokes behind Kitayama.
“Sorry for my language, but it’s too hard,” Rahm said with a laugh. “The course is firm, fast, and 30 mph. It’s a very tough course. I managed almost all day. It was only the last five holes, although I don’t feel I hit it wrong. , I just couldn’t finish it and finished poorly at the end.”
Big day for another number 1
The world No. 1 at the professional level may not be in the top 10, but the world No. 2 amateur does. Ludvig Aberg of Texas Tech fired 70 rounds in a row to climb to 10th at the halfway point. Aberg currently sits at number 1 in the PGA Tour U Leaderboard, which is of considerable importance as the top player upon completion of the NCAA Championship will earn a spot on the PGA Tour.
“I think we’ve talked about it, and I think the more events you play like this, the easier it gets,” Aberg said. “It gives me a lot of self-knowledge. Because it clearly exposes your game more than a regular event. We were playing on very fast rolling grass. Then , you get windy and you have a tough golf course. So it teaches you more about your game. I just try to enjoy it, try to embrace it and absorb as much as I can.”
2023 Arnold Palmer Invitational updated odds and picks
Odds via Caesars Sportsbook
- Xander Schauffele (6-1)
- Jordan Spieth (February 13)
- Kurt Kitayama (February 17)
- Scottie Scheffler (9-1)
- Patrick Cantlay (9-1)
- Justin Thomas (11-1)
- Jon Rahm (11-1)
- Corey Conners (14-1)
- Matt Fitzpatrick (14-1)
- Rory McIlroy (January 22)
- Cameron Young (January 25)
- Max Homa (January 28)
Last year, Scheffler entered the weekend at a pace eight times and continued Bay Hill’s history of serving pursuers. The top of the rankings this year is significantly stronger with names like Spieth, Thomas, Schauffele, etc., but there could still be a gap to get in. It should be wide enough for an interesting pair of outsiders: Cameron Young at 25-1 and Max Homa at 28-1.
Young hit eight under 14 on Friday before finishing with two bogeys and a brace. He is controlling the ball brilliantly and giving himself a look. Homa is also in the same boat, albeit one stroke further behind with a 3 under. Homa ranks in the top 10 in both the putter and stroker approaches, and he will move up the leaderboard should his short-game woes subside.
