ORLANDO, Fla. – Bay Hill was bustling Thursday morning, just like golf before the pandemic. The fans were limited in numbers but they all wanted the same dose of entertainment provided by Rory McIlroy and Bryson DeChambeau.
First it was McIlroy, slowly feeling better about his game, and with good reason. Starting with a 55-foot putt on the par-3 second hole, he ran off five straight birdies and took the early lead in the Arnold Palmer Invitational with a 6-under 66.
In the group behind him was DeChambeau, who has been contemplating a shot across the water to cut the 528-yard sixth hole down to size by going for the green.