Shane Lowry leads on -6 after day one of Arnold Palmer Invitational

Bay Hill Golf Course is the venue for this week’s Arnold Palmer Invitational. This is the fourth PGA Tour Signature Event of 2024 with a prize fund of $20,000,000. Bay Hill is a par 72 which includes four par fives. A worldclass field is assembled for this event which includes Scottie Scheffler, Rory McIlroy, Viktor Hovland, Jordan Spieth, Collin Morikawa and Justin Thomas.

McIlroy played alongside Collin Morikawa whereas Shane Lowry was paired with Ludvig Aberg. McIlroy and Lowry both reached-1 after incredible birdies at the second hole. The two par fives on the front nine are hole four & six and McIlroy played these holes in a disappointing +1. Lowry started the back nine brillantly with birdies at 10 and 11 to reach -3.

McIlroy took advantage of a 331 yard drive at 11 as he returned to level par. Lowry moved up the leaderboard to joint first on-5 after an eagle at the par five 12th hole. A two-putt birdie was good enough for McIlroy to remain +1 after 16. Lowry played holes 13 to 17 in one under to take the lead on -6.

Northern Irishman finishes with a par to shoot an opening round of +1. Offaly native finishes with a par to shoot an impressive round of 66. Seamus Power played the back nine in one under to shoot level par. Morikawa shot an opening -2 round of 70. Aberg is seven shots behind Lowry on +1.

A two-way tie in second on five under which includes 2024 Genesis Invitational winner Hideki Matsuyama. Sam Burns got the better of his playing partner Scheffler on day one with a -4 round of 68. Major champions Thomas, Spieth and Brian Harman all had good opening rounds of -3. Scheffler only managed one birdie on the back nine to shott 70 and is on -2. Hovland is tied 25th on -1 with Max Homa and 2023 US Open champion Wyndham Clark.