Rory McIlroy trails Wyndham Clark by three at Arnold Palmer Invitational

Rory McIlroy completed the first round of the Arnold Palmer Invitational with a score of 2-under 70, placing him T6 and three strokes behind the leader, Wyndham Clark, who finished at 5-under 67. McIlroy acknowledged that players who teed off later in the day enjoyed slightly easier conditions than those in the morning, where high winds made scoring difficult. Shane Lowry also performed well, carding a 69 to tie for second place. The tournament, held at Bay Hill Golf Course, has a $20 million purse, with the champion set to receive $4 million. Despite challenging conditions, McIlroy expressed confidence in his game, emphasizing the importance of ball striking on the course. A total of 14 players managed to break par amid the tough weather.