The first round of the Arnold Palmer Invitational at Bay Hill in Florida saw Shane Lowry and Rory McIlroy navigating tricky conditions to position themselves competitively. Lowry carded a three-under par 69, tying for second place alongside Keegan Bradley, Corey Conners, and Christiaan Bezuidenhout. Meanwhile, McIlroy, the world number two, finished with a 70, merely three shots behind the American leader, Wyndham Clark, who managed an impressive five-under 67 with three birdies in the final six holes.

Both Lowry and McIlroy experienced setbacks on the 18th hole, where high winds severely constrained scoring, allowing only 14 players to break par. Clark handled the adverse conditions most effectively, his three birdies in the closing six holes earning him a two-shot lead.

Justin Rose from England had briefly led on the front nine but ultimately finished at two under, alongside McIlroy, after pushing his tee shot out of bounds on the ninth hole, resulting in a double bogey. Scottie Scheffler, the world number one and last year's champion, posted a 71, matching Justin Thomas, who recovered from a disastrous start with two double bogeys in the first four holes.

Other notable struggles included Matt Fitzpatrick, the former US Open winner, who recorded a quadruple-bogey eight on the par-four 11th hole, concluding with a 78. Xander Schauffele, the reigning Open champion, fared slightly better, dropping six shots in the first 10 holes but still finishing just one stroke above Fitzpatrick.

This round showcased the challenges posed by the weather and the tough course conditions, setting the stage for an exciting tournament as top players vie for the title.