Adam Scott shot an impressive four-under 68 in the first round of the Arnold Palmer Invitational – but still felt embarrassed by the form of his playing partner. “Rory made me feel like a turkey today,” Scott said.
Rory, is of course, Rory McIlroy and with a four-iron in his soul he obliterated the par fives at Bay Hill. His seven-under 65 obviously not only boosts his hopes of a second Orlando title on Sunday, but also bodes well for next month’s Masters.
The 32-year-old has not recorded a lower opening score in more than seven months and his scorecard showed why. He was five-under for the four par fives on the famous Orlando layout.
While the 40-footer he holed for eagle on the 16th (his seventh, having started on the 10th) lit up his round, he took more pleasure from the four-irons he hit from roughly 240 yards on to the greens at the 12th and then the sixth.
“They were probably two of the best long irons I have hit in a while,” said McIlroy, who has been working with his boyhood coach, Michael Bannon, in Florida. “When I start hitting long irons like that, I know my swing’s in a pretty good place. It certainly gives me some confidence.
“I’ve long said it, but here you just need to take care of the par fives and be disciplined on the rest.”
As he gunned for his first title of 2022, McIlroy’s brilliance was evident on the leaderboard. As the afternoon wave teed off, McIlroy was three ahead in the clubhouse of compatriot Graeme McDowell, as well as Scott and the young American Will Zalatoris. Scott was humbled by what he saw.
“It’s a little bit one-dimensional just to say ‘Rory drives it good’,” the 2013 Masters champion said. “Yeah, he drove it well, but he did everything well and the speed of his putting was beautiful.
“I love watching him swing – he lifts my level when playing like that. But I did feel like a turkey next to him.”