Wyndham Clark opened with a 5-under 67 to take the first-round lead at the Arnold Palmer Invitational.
“There’s a lot of water, there’s a lot of trouble out here, and I think I’ve just gotten more comfortable with some of those tee shots. Maybe a little more conservative on some holes, maybe a little more aggressive on others. Then just I think thinking my way around the course better,” said the American.
“I think in the past sometimes I would get out of position and I would try to make up for it and then I make a big number. I’ve just kind of learned to maybe put it back in play and just maybe make your par or bogey and not try to get those big numbers. So that’s maybe been it. It’s nice to put some good numbers on this golf course and, you know, if anything it’s really good momentum for the rest of the week.
Clark has three career PGA Tour titles to his name, including one major at the 2023 US Open and two Signature Events at the 2023 Truist Championship and 2024 AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am. His best result of the 2025 season was a T15 at The Sentry in January.
Shane Lowry made three birdies, two bogey and an eagle at the par-5 16th to finish at 3-under 69, in T2 two shots off the lead.
Also tied in second place are American Keegan Bradley, Canadian Corey Conners and South African Christiaan Bezuidenhout.
2018 Arnold Palmer Invitational champion Rory McIlroy, who won the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am in his season debut, signed for a 70 and lies in T6. He moved to No. 2 in the Official World Golf Ranking this week, passing Xander Schauffele, who had held the No. 2 position since May 2024.
World No. 1 and defending champion Scottie Scheffler of the United States posted a 71 and sits four shots off the lead in T11.
Xander Schauffele, making his first start since The Sentry following a rib injury, recorded a 5-over 77 and lies in T52, his highest score in 13 rounds at Bay Hill. He has had a round of 74 or worse in each of three previous starts at Bay Hill.
One of three Signature Events to feature a cut, the field will be reduced after 36 holes to the low 50 players and ties and any additional players within 10 strokes of the 36-hole lead.
