Wyndham Clark Seizes Early Lead at Arnold Palmer Invitational

Posted : 07 March 2025

Wyndham Clark surged to an early lead at the Arnold Palmer Invitational, finishing his first round with a five-under-par 67 at Bay Hill. The 2023 US Open champion closed his round strongly, sinking an 18-foot birdie putt on the 16th hole before setting up an easy birdie on the 18th with a precise approach shot.

His performance gave him a two-shot advantage over the rest of the field on a day where swirling winds presented a formidable challenge. Reflecting on his start, Clark expressed confidence in his momentum heading into the rest of the tournament.

Despite gusts reaching up to 30 miles per hour, Clark capitalized on a brief lull in the afternoon, allowing him to make crucial birdies in the closing stretch. His round began with a birdie on the second hole, though a bogey on the third briefly set him back. However, he recovered with consecutive birdies on the fifth and sixth, making the turn at two under.

A bogey-free back nine, highlighted by three more birdies, propelled him to the top of the leaderboard. His nearest challengers, Keegan Bradley, Corey Conners, Christiaan Bezuidenhout, and Shane Lowry, all finished at three under after carding rounds of 69.

Lowry came close to joining Clark at the top, especially after an eagle on the 16th, where his second shot left him a six-foot putt that he converted with ease. He acknowledged that playing in the later group helped him avoid the worst of the wind, which had battered players in the morning.

His playing partner, Rory McIlroy, had a mixed round, posting six birdies but also four bogeys to finish at two under. McIlroy admitted that the late tee-off provided some relief, making conditions slightly more favorable as the wind died down.

Defending champion Scottie Scheffler ended his round at one under, part of a group that included Collin Morikawa, Justin Thomas, and Patrick Cantlay. Scheffler noted the unexpected chill in the morning, which forced him to adjust his attire before heading out.

He also pointed out the tricky course conditions, with soft fairways contrasting against firm, almost concrete-like greens, making approach shots particularly difficult. With several big names in contention, the tournament remains wide open as the second round approaches.

Wyndham Clark Seizes Early Lead at Arnold Palmer Invitational

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