Orlando, Florida ….
World No. 1 Rory McIlroy insists all he’s doing is copying Tiger Woods’ aggressive style in muscling his way straight into the clubhouse lead with a 66 early on day one of the Arnold Palmer Invitational in Orlando.
McIlroy bogeyed the second hole of his round before completing his closing 11 holes in seven-under par and capped by an eagle ‘3’ at the par-5 fourth hole and the 13th of his round on Palmer’s beloved Bay Hill course.
And while missing three of the 14 fairways, McIlroy was three-under on the four par-5s and deadly accurate with the putter in posting just 25 putts.
It is McIlroy’s fifth event in succession since his second event of the 2019/20 wraparound PGA Tour schedule in winning last November’s WGC – HSBC Champions event in Shanghai has shot in the 60s on day one.
Rory McIlroy on route to a 66 on day one 2020 Arnold Palmer Invitational (Photo @PGAtour)
“After the bogey on my second I played some great golf after that including holing a good eagle putt on my 13th hole,” he said.
“The thing about Bay Hill is that it’s always been about the par-5s and if you can play the par-5s well and play the rest of the course pretty conservatively and pick your spots, well that’s why Tiger (Woods) won eight times around here.
“He just killed the par-5s and he would pick and choose where he was going to be aggressive and I am just trying to follow that plan.”
High Wycombe’s Tyrrell Hatton is two shots back of McIlroy posting a 68 in the first of seven events the current World No. 2 will play in eight weeks.
And the highpoint of the seven for the 28-year old will be his fourth Masters appearance.
“I just putted really well and I actually feel like I struggled a bit with shots into the green, but just putted nicely and that was a big part of the score today,” said Hatton who had just 26 putts.
