Jonathon Vegas was second out on day one but quickly proceeded to produce a sizzling putting display and put himself high up the board on day one of the Arnold Palmer Invitational here at Bay Hill.
Vegas needed just 23 putts in a super opening round of a five-under 67 to still be among the leaders early in the afternoon of the $20m event.
The effort is his best score in 13 rounds this new season.
The very affable 41-year-old Venezuelan has won four times on the PGA Tour and could be staring at a fith this week and, if so, thanks to a new LAB putter he’s added to his bag.
VEGAS SIZZLES THANKS NEW @Swing_LabGolf PUTTER …
The four-time @PGATOUR Venezuelian needed just 2⃣3⃣ putts in a super opening 6⃣7⃣ day one @APinv
Read: https://t.co/0j1JAf3Nek
✅ @TOURMISS pic.twitter.com/ifTJRJCV1y
— Fatiha (@TOURMISS) March 5, 2026
“Nothing has changed. It’s just, you know, the putting was working right”, he said.
“Obviously the past few years dealing with injuries and that kind of slowed things down. I spent the Fall to get my body healthy, and I didn’t really quite spend the time necessary into the game as I should have.
“Just kind of working to get the body right for the year. I feel like I’m very close and obviously it showed today”.
This journalist asked Vegas about his about his ‘equipment’ and revealing he has a new putter in the bag.
“Nothing new, equipment-wise I got a new putter and it seems to be working well, especially around these greens. Hopefully we can keep that magic going”.
And Vegas, and after one of best rounds all season, revealed the nature of his injuries.
“Right shoulder. I had surgery in 2023 and, I don’t know, it just hasn’t felt the best and it just hadn’t felt that great ever since.
“So, you know, I mean obviously it’s never fun playing that much golf as we do with injuries, because it’s hard to really get a hundred percent. So it’s a work in progress every day.”
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