Rory McIlroy is among the star names at Bay Hill this week, with the PGA Tour continuing with the Arnold Palmer Invitational.
McIlroy should like his Arnold Palmer Invitational chances, although American duo Scottie Scheffler and Xander Schauffele are also both involved.
The Bay Hill greens are firm and fast, with McIlroy among the players to have taken on the Florida course in practice ahead of the tournament getting underway.
He is searching for a 28th PGA Tour title at the Arnold Palmer Invitational, having already tasted success this season.
The four-time major champion won the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am on his 2025 debut, before finishing T17 at the Genesis Invitational.
Rory McIlroy cards one-under 35 in Bay Hill back nine practice round
As documented by TaylorMade Golf, McIlroy took on plenty of bold lines at Bay Hill, where there was certainly plenty of wind.
And he started his back nine with back-to-back pars on the par-four 10th and 11th, before clinching back-to-back birdies on the par-five 12th and par-four 13th.
McIlroy then made par on the 14th, 15th, 16th and 18th holes, having made bogey on the par-three 17th, carding on a one-under 35.
Rory McIlroy playing with four new clubs at Arnold Palmer Invitational
Conditions look certain to play a major role Orlando this week, but McIlroy has, of course, seen it all before.
He will, however, likely face a very tough challenge from world number one Scheffler, who picked up his first win of 2024 at the Arnold Palmer Invitational.
Scheffler would go on to clinch six more PGA Tour titles as the season progressed, furthering his status as the world’s best golfer.
But McIlroy has made a strong start to 2025, with the Northern Irishman already looking in good shape at Bay Hill.
And as per TaylorMade Golf, has been testing out new equipment this week, with four new clubs in his bag; the Qi35 Driver 9º, Qi35 3-wood 15º, Qi35 5-wood 18º and Proto 3-iron.
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