The late withdrawal of Tiger Woods takes some of the gloss off the Arnold Palmer Invitational and robs us off the opportunity to get a firm grip on where the 14-time major champion stands in the Masters pecking order.

Reportedly due to a neck complaint he'd made no prior mention of, Woods' absence from an event he's won eight times in another life is a real concern with Augusta approaching and it's hoped he's passed fit in time for next week's PLAYERS Championship, or at least the following week's Valspar.

Clearly, no Woods makes the task of Rory McIlroy slightly more straightforward and he's a worthy favourite after last year's explosive success. McIlroy putted beautifully for an overdue victory at Bay Hill, where he'd threatened before, and having started 2019 in determined form there are few flaws in the case for a repeat.

At 7/1, he'll do as a one-track attack for many but the price looks short enough to me, given the presence of Justin Rose, Brooks Koepka, Rickie Fowler, Jason Day and Bryson DeChambeau, all more prolific than McIlroy over the last three or four years, all with some sort of chance here.