Rory McIlroy and Shane Lowry didn't have their best stuff, but they can head for The Players and the countdown to the Masters with high hopes after the Arnold Palmer Invitational at Bay Hill.

After changing golf balls at Pebble Beach, Rory McIlroy has adjusted his wedges, changed his driver and fairway woods and even added a new 3-iron.

A day after blustery conditions produced the highest first-round scoring average (74.624) since 2011, the wind relented and the temperature rose into the mid-70s to present a course ripe for

Rory McIlroy aimed directly at the crowd in a mesmerising tee shot on the 10th hole at last year's Arnold Palmer Invitational. The Northern Irishman is one of the longest hitters on the PGA Tour and he used that to his advantage at Bay Hill, achieving something no other player had managed before.

Northern Irish duo Rory McIlroy and Shane Lowry played alongside each other on day one of the Arnold Palmer Invitational at Bay Hill Golf Club in Orlando, Florida

The 2024 runner-up Wyndham Clark seized a 2-shot lead on a challenging opening day at Bay Hill Club and Lodge.

Russell Henley’s dry spell is finally over. Henley overtook Collin Morikawa late with a perfect eagle chip-in to grab a one-shot win at the Arnold Palmer Invitational at Bay Hill Club and Lodge in Florida on Sunday afternoon.