Shane Lowry leads, Justin Lower’s awesome Arnie story among takeaways at Arnold Palmer Invitational

ORLANDO, Fla. – Based on his track record, Shane Lowry was as surprised as anybody to be doing media at the Arnold Palmer Invitational.

“It’s horrific,” Lowry said of his record at Bay Hill Club & Lodge, breaking into a laugh. “My best finish here is tied 67th or something.”

So how does he explain shooting 6-under 66 to grab the first round lead at the signature event?

“I have no idea,” said Lowry, laughing again, and well aware that he had posted his first sub-70 score in 13 rounds at Bay Hill. “I played here six times, I missed the cut five times. Last year I made the cut and shot 80 on Saturday and finished 67th or something around there. Going out there with very low expectations today. I knew I was playing well. Golf’s a funny game. Just had it under control today.”

Lowry, who is a MasterCard ambassador received a sponsor invite (MasterCard is the presenting sponsor), and held the 54-hole lead at the Cognizant Classic at the Palm Beaches, before shooting a final-round 71 and settling for a T-4 finish.

API: Best photos from Bay Hill | Friday tee times

The Irishman didn’t like Florida golf initially, but he set up camp in the Sunshine State beginning in 2015 and has made his base here full time the last few years and has changed his tune.

“Bermuda grass is not for me, I thought,” he said. “When I moved down to Florida and started playing more and more, week in, week out on the stuff, it’s, I figured out a way to do it and, yeah, I quite enjoy Florida golf now.”

He quite enjoyed the start of the back nine at Bay Hill on Thursday. Beginning at the 10^th, he played the next four holes in 5 under. That included a 35-foot birdie putt at No. 11 and chipping in for eagle at No. 12. He became the first player since at least 1983 (when the Tour started keeping official records) to play that stretch in four three’s.

“You get on a run like that it does feel pretty easy,” Lowry said.

Rain earlier this week have made the greens a bit more receptive, and the lack of wind resulted in lower scoring on opening day at Arnie’s Place, though no one went too low — it marked the first time no player recorded a score of 65 or better in the first round of a Tour event since the 2023 British Open.

“This is as benign as I’ve seen it for a while,” Lowry said, “but I’ve never had the mindset to go out and get Bay Hill, Bay Hill usually gets me.”

Here are four more things to know after the first round of the Arnold Palmer Invitational.