Following his top-5 finish at last week’s Cognizant Classic, Shane Lowry is still in good form and produced an eagle at the par-5 12th, five birdies and a single bogey for a 6-under 66 to take a one-shot lead at the Arnold Palmer Invitational where he is playing on a sponsor exemption.

“I played here six times, I missed the cut five times. Last year I made the cut and shot 81 on Saturday and finished tied 67 or something around there. Going out there with very low expectations today.

“I knew I was playing well. Golf’s a funny game. Just had it under control today,” said the Irishman. “I can give you, going back on my career around this place, I can, last year was my first year in a few years to play it, so I feel like I was a bit of a different golfer then. But, yeah, it’s one of these places where some people love it. I’ve struggled with it over the years. I come here, it’s a nice place to come, it’s a good, obviously a great tournament, a huge tournament, and I’m very happy with that today. Maybe that’s the kind of score I need to shoot around here to just give myself the confidence to go out and play my game around here.

American Justin Lower qualified for the event via the Aon Swing 5 and lies in a share of second place at 7-under alongside Japan’s Hideki Matsuyama.

In fourth place at 4-under are Americans Russell Henley, Lee Hodges, Sam Burns and Sahith Theegala.

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