Shane Lowry roared to the highest of the leaderboard on the Arnold Palmer Invitational, with a birdie on the par three seventeenth securing a one-shot lead after the opening spherical.
After dropping out within the Cognizant Traditional in disappointing vogue final week, Lowry carded a six-under 66 to maneuver a shot in entrance of Justin Decrease and Japan’s Hideki Matsuyama at Bay Hill.
After going by the entrance 9 holes one-under par, Lowry began the again 9 birdie-birdie-eagle-birdie – chipping in from 18 ft for eagle on the par-five twelfth – earlier than a bogey halted his run on 14.
A candy tee on 17, landed inside eight ft of the pin to arrange the go-ahead birdie which secured the clubhouse lead.
Lowry, although, sounded a observe of warning, at a course the place he has historically struggled – lacking the reduce 5 out of six instances.
“I putted better today probably than I ever have around here. It’s only one day,” he stated. “I am not taking something without any consideration going on the market tomorrow. I am nonetheless going on the market and attempting to hit the primary fairway and attempting to hit the primary inexperienced and attempt to gap my first putt.
“I’m not going to get ahead of myself. I think, obviously, we have huge tournaments coming up, and I did say after last week, it will be a nice time to find a bit of form with this week, THE PLAYERS, and obviously the Masters only around the corner. Yeah, we’ll just see what happens over the next few days.”
Behind closest chasers Decrease and Matsuyama, Russell Henley, Lee Hodges, Sam Burns and Sahith Theegala are tied for fourth at four-under par then a big group at three beneath contains notable names reminiscent of Justin Thomas, Jordan Spieth, Brian Harman, Will Zalatoris and Canadian Nick Taylor. World No. 1 Scottie Scheffler, in the meantime, is a shot additional again after going spherical in 70, as are Collin Morikawa and Australia’s Jason Day.
McIlroy struggling to make the reduce at Bay Hill
Although the Arnold Palmer Invitational is a signature occasion with a $20 million purse, as a player-hosted invitational it includes a 36-hole reduce all the way down to the highest 50 gamers and ties. That is unhealthy information for Northern Eire’s Rory McIlroy and Englishman Tommy Fleetwood, who’re among the many group tied for forty ninth at one-over 73.
Patrick Cantlay (74), Matt Fitzpatrick of England (74) and Rickie Fowler (75) additionally had tough begins whereas defending champion Kurt Kitayama had a horrible and sits six-over par, second-to-last within the 69-player subject.
What golf is reside on Sky Sports activities this week?
The PGA Tour stays in Florida for the Arnold Palmer Invitational, the place Rory McIlroy and Scottie Scheffler are among the many massive names who characteristic. Early protection begins from Bay Hill on Friday at 12.45pm, with full protection from 7pm. Stream the PGA Tour and extra with a NOW Sports activities Month Membership – simply £21 a month for 12 months. No contract, cancel anytime.
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