Friday 6 March 2020 13:53, UK
Rory McIlroy was pleased to continue his strong start to 2020 after setting the early clubhouse target at the Arnold Palmer Invitational.
The world No 1, who has posted top-five finishes in his last six worldwide starts, took advantage of the calm morning conditions at Bay Hill to post a six-under 66 and set the clubhouse target.
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McIlroy recovered from a slow start to card an eagle and five birdies during another impressive display, with the 30-year-old remaining in top spot until late starter Matt Every posted a bogey-free 65 to move into a one-shot lead.
"I think this course has always been about the par-fives," McIlroy told Sky Sports. "If you can play the par-fives well, you can play the rest of the course pretty conservatively and pick your spots
"You're hitting irons off a lot of tees here. Tiger (Woods) won here seven or eight times and he killed the par-fives. He then could pick and choose where he was going to be aggressive. I was trying to follow that plan because it worked pretty well for him."
Beginning on the back nine, McIlroy left his 12-foot birdie attempt at the tenth short of the target and bogeyed the par-four next after finding the water with his approach.
McIlroy missed a four-foot birdie chance at the par-five 12th and was still over par for his round until he followed a two-putt birdie from 30 feet at the 16th by rolling in a 10-footer at the 18th.
The Northern Irishman hit a superb approach into the first to set up a close-range birdie but missed a 10-foot chance for a third straight gain at the next, only to jump up the leaderboard with a stunning second shot from the fairway bunker at the par-five fourth before draining a 25-foot eagle.
A two-putt birdie at the par-five sixth moved McIlroy in a share of the lead alongside Talor Gooch, before he grabbed the outright advantage by holing from 15 feet at the par-four eighth and then converted a 10-footer to save par at the last.
"I made a couple unforced errors starting off," McIlroy added. "I hit it in the water on 11 and actually made a good bogey in the end, then I missed the little one on 12.
"I think with the start and then turning in under par, birdieing 16, birdieing 18, sort of had a bit of a good pep in my step going into the first tee and then I played some great golf after that.
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"I hit two great shots into one, the shots into two, holed a good eagle putt on four. I got a bit of momentum and I kept it going until the end."
Watch the Arnold Palmer Invitational throughout the week live on Sky Spots Golf. Live coverage continues on Friday from midday via the red button.
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