Rory McIlroy, the 2018 champion at Bay Hill, carded a seven-under 65 to sit two ahead of Billy Horschel, JJ Spaun and Beau Hossler; watch the Arnold Palmer Invitational throughout the week live on Sky Sports Golf
Friday 4 March 2022 16:00, UK
Rory McIlroy maintained his impressive Bay Hill record to race into a two-shot lead after the opening round of the Arnold Palmer Invitational.
The former world No 1, who won the event in 2018 and has posted top-10 finishes in his last five appearances at Bay Hill, carded a stunning seven-under 65 to set a tough clubhouse target for the afternoon wave to chase.
McIlroy mixed an eagle and six bogeys with a lone bogey to finish three strokes ahead of the rest of the morning starters, only for his lead to be cut to two when Billy Horschel, JJ Spaun and Beau Hossler carded opening-round 67s.
"I feel there's a nice flow to this golf course where you can really build a score," McIlroy said. "You have par-fives, one every few holes, and you've got a couple of scorable par-fours. As long as you don't do anything stupid and you keep it in play, you feel like you can sort of methodically build a score on this golf course. That's what I tried to do today.
"I played the par-fives particularly well, and that was the bulk of the score. You can play within yourself here and still shoot a good score, I feel, if you're just disciplined and pick off the birdies where you're supposed to."
Beginning on the back nine, McIlroy missed an eight-foot birdie opportunity at the 10th and failed to get up and down from off the green to save par at the next, before bouncing back by following a two-putt birdie at the par-five 12th by holing from the fringe at the 13th to pick up another shot.
The Northern Irishman drained a 40-foot eagle at the 16th and birdied the 18th to reach the turn in 32, with back-to-back birdies from the third then lifting him to six under and into the solo lead.
McIlroy made a two-putt gain at the par-five sixth and found himself three ahead when compatriot Graeme McDowell - who briefly held the solo lead - posted a closing bogey from the back of the ninth green.
The four-time major champion rolled in an eight-footer to save par at the eighth and splashed out of the sand to close range on his final hole, maintaining his blemish-free second nine and giving him a commanding advantage over the rest of the field.
McDowell sat alongside Sungjae Im, Will Zalatoris and Adam Scott on four under heading into the afternoon, only for Ian Poulter to make a bogey-free start and Charles Howell III card a four-under 68 to complete the group tied-fifth.
Viktor Hovland and former Bay Hill champion Tyrrell Hatton both started with opening-round 69s, while world No 1 Jon Rahm missed a putt from inside a foot as he stuttered to a level-par 72.
Watch the Arnold Palmer Invitational throughout the week live on Sky Sports! Live coverage continues on Friday from 3pm on Sky Sports Golf.
Get the best prices and book a round at one of 1,700 courses across the UK & Ireland
