Rory McIlroy (1st/-7) holds a two-stroke lead, his second consecutive 18-hole lead/co-lead at the Arnold Palmer Invitational.
Marks McIlroy’s 18th career 18-hole lead/co-lead on PGA TOUR (3-for-17 to date).
McIlroy has five consecutive top-10s at the event (longest active streak), including a win in 2018.
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This is his sixth 18-hole lead of two strokes or more on TOUR (listed below in bold); 1-for-5 to date converting to victory (lone win: 2011 U.S. Open).
Related: A statistical potpourri ahead of the Players Championship
His 19th career first-round score of 65 or better and second in his last five starts (64/2021 BMW Championship); won three of the previous 18 instances and none of the last 12 (wins: 65/2011 U.S. Open, 65/2012 Deutsche Bank Championship, 64/2012 BMW Championship).
Leads the field in Strokes Gained: Off the Tee (2.383) and SG: Tee-to-Green (5.516).
41-foot, 1-inch eagle putt at the par-5 16th marked the longest made eagle putt of his PGA Tour career.
Is a winner of the 2018 Arnold Palmer Invitational.
Has five consecutive top-10s at the Arnold Palmer Invitational (longest active streak): T4/2017, Won/2018, T6/2019, T5/2020, T10/2021.
In two prior starts this season, has a win (THE CJ CUP @ SUMMIT) and a T10 (The Genesis Invitational).
Tied for 35th on the all-time PGA TOUR wins list (20).
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Billy Horschel (T2/-5) ties his career-low score in 35 rounds at the Arnold Palmer Invitational (previous 67s: R2/2016, R3/2017).
Beau Hossler (T2/-5) entered the week T180th on TOUR in First-Round Scoring Average (71.00) before a 5-under 67 (second sub-70 score in 13 rounds at the event).
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J.J. Spaun (T2/-5) leads the field in Strokes Gained: Putting (3.680).
World No. 1 Jon Rahm (T51/E) is second in the field in Strokes Gained: Approach (2.953) and 114th of 120 in Strokes Gained: Putting (-2.693; missed a 10-inch par attempt on No. 7)
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