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.

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

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

He isn't the only major champion to be lurking in the shadows, however. World No. 1 Scottie Scheffler looks sharper by the round and signed for a 71 to put him alongside his Ryder Cup teammates Collin Morikawa, Justin Thomas and Patrick Cantlay.

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

The top five golfers in the world rankings -- and 47 of the top 50 -- are gathered at Bay Hill Club & Lodge for the Arnold Palmer Invitational starting this Thursday in Orlando, Fla.