(Orlando) Rory McIlroy started the Bay Hill tournament turning in a 65 (minus-7) card and had reason to believe he was going to perform well, but not because of the course rather because of the day of the week.
Posted at 8:28 p.m.
Getting off to a hot start hasn’t been a problem for McIlroy at the Arnold Palmer Invitational in the past two editions. He must now maintain the pace until the finish line.
Thanks in part to a 40-foot par-5 eagle, McIlroy had his best start at Bay Hill and built a two-stroke lead over Billy Horschel, Beau Hossler and JJ Spaun.
Adam Scott, Graeme McDowell and Ian Poulter, who sported the colors of the Ukrainian flag, were part of the group that delivered a 68 (minus-4) card.
“I believe when you come to a golf course that you’ve had success with in the past, well, automatically you’re going to present there with confidence,” noted McIlroy, who won the 2018 tournament. but hasn’t finished in the top-10 in the last five years.
He started by playing 66 the last two years, but he failed to reach par in the weekend rounds.
Canadians Nick Taylor and Adam Svensson are part of a group of 20 golfers who played under-2 on Thursday and who split the 21and rung.
The other Canadians in the running, Taylor Pendrith and Corey Conners, respectively took the 41and and 51and rank considering card of 71 (minus-1) and 72 (zero).