Bay Hill shows its teeth in day one of the Arnold Palmer Invitational

ORLANDO, Fla. – Life on the PGA Tour comes at you fast. Each week presents a new challenge, opportunity, and, sometimes, a new name for golf fans to learn.

Thursday’s opening round of the Arnold Palmer Invitational certainly featured the first two and might produce the third.

The Challenge

Each year, the course conditions at Bay Hill take center stage, and this year is no different. “Arnies House” as it’s affectionately called, was quick to punch some of the world’s best in the mouth, surrendering only 14 under-par rounds. 

While the rough, which can engulf a player’s ball at times, was much of the talk going into the week, it was the wind that sent players adrift. 

“It was blowing,” World No. 1 Scottie Scheffler stated concisely when asked about the wind. “Coming out early with it being cold and with the wind being stronger than it is right now, it was definitely pretty challenging.” 

Despite the conditions, Scheffler pushed through, ending the day T11 with a 1-under par 71. 

Gator Great Billy Horschel, however, wasn’t as lucky. The 16-year vet played the first eight holes at 1 over, but a double bogey on the 488-yard ninth hole gave viewers a glimpse of things to come. His round would take a turn for the worse on the back nine, only finding two fairways in regulation. 

The low point of Horschel’s round came on 18, where an out-of-bounds tee shot led to a morale-depleting double bogey. Horschel finished the day at 7 over and tied for 65th.

The Opportunity

While some golfers crumbled under the conditions, others rose to the occasion. 

Round 1 leader Wyndham Clark is one of those risers, taking a commanding two-shot lead over the field into Friday. Clark’s success was aided by slightly easier conditions and a bit of pre-round reconnaissance. 

“I always watch a little bit, just to see kind of how certain shots are playing,” Clark said. “Sometimes you can pick up little, you know, putt broke this way, or it’s firmer here, or don’t hit it into that spot. I knew it was going to be really challenging.” 

The 2023 U.S. Open champion has now taken the 18-hole lead in two of his last three starts 

Familiar face Justin Thomas was also able to make the best of a crummy situation. Trouble found the two-time major winner early as double bogeys on holes No. 2 and 4 got him off to a +4 start. Thomas found a way to battle back, carding six birdies down the stretch to finish 1 under. 

A New Name 

Last week, FSU’s Luke Clanton became the first amateur of the season to earn his TOUR card. This week, Jackson Koivun has the opportunity to do the same. 

On a day categorized by treacherous conditions the Auburn Tiger stood tall, carding an even-par 72 to close the day at T15. 

The sophomore and 2024 PING All-American came into the tournament needing two PGA TOUR University accelerated points to reach the magic number set at 20. Both those points are up for grabs, with a point a piece to be earned by making the cut and finishing top 10. 

“I think I kept a pretty good level head, managed my golf ball well, put it in good spots to make some birdies, and try to avoid the big numbers,” the Chapel Hill, North Carolina native said. “Just being really smart and trying to predict the wind is tough.”

While his mistake mitigation skills shined, it was Koivun’s putting that allowed him to separate from the field. 

Koivun made 98 feet of putts, which was good for eighth place in the field, while his 2.85 shots gained, putting him within the top 5. 

Despite his early success, Koivun said it’s important to keep his mind on the here and now, even with his ultimate goal just within reach. 

“I feel like it’s kind of like a carrot dangling in front of me, I just got to go get it,” Koivun said. “It definitely adds a little bit of pressure, but the less I think about it the better.”