Rory McIlroy gets boost from a bogey to make the early running at Bay Hill

Rory McIlroy made the early running at the Arnold Palmer Invitational with an impressive six-under-par round of 66 at Bay Hill.

Rory McIlroy shot an impressive six-under 66 in the first round of the Arnold Palmer Invitational. Picture: Phelan M. Ebenhack/AP

It was the Irishman’s sixth consecutive opening round of 68 or lower, another great start for the world’s No 1 player. But it didn’t feel that way early on.

Trying to hammer an 8-iron to a back flag on his second hole of the day at the 11th, the ball landed short and left of the green and rolled into the water. He took a penalty drop, hit a pedestrian chip and escaped with a bogey by making a ten-foot putt.

“To hole that putt for bogey... making 5 instead of 6 there is a big deal,” McIlroy said. “One over through two instead of two over is sort of a different feeling. And to turn that nine around and turn in under, I felt pretty good about myself going to the front nine.”

Three birdies and an eagle – a 3-iron from a fairway bunker to 25 feet – gave him an early one-shot lead over Talor Gooch, who did all his scoring in a six-hole stretch.

The group at 68 included Sam Burns and Christian Bezuidenhout of South Africa, who is facing a big stretch of golf as he tries to get into the Masters. Burns was the only player to reach seven under at any point in the round, but he finished with a bogey-double bogey to spoil an otherwise solid day.

Bay Hill was tough with thick grass framing the fairway and greens that began to quicken under a warm Florida sun. Those playing in the afternoon, such as Phil Mickelson and Patrick Reed, faced a much stronger wind.

Scotland’s Russell Knox was three over after a round of 75.