Rory McIlroy was under water early but sitting high and dry by the end of his opening round at the Arnold Palmer Invitational in Orlando, Florida on Thursday.
McIlroy had held the lead after completing his round but Matt Every's 65 later in the evening saw the American cement himself in the lead by a single shot on seven under, with the Northern Irishman dropping back to second.
McIlroy, the 2018 champion, made an inauspicious start when he plunked his approach shot into a lake at his second hole at Bay Hill, but it was as if he was merely giving the field a headstart as he roared back with five birdies and an eagle.
After an early bogey, @McIlroyRory didn't look back.
— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) March 5, 2020
The 2018 @APInv champ had that pep in his step today.#LiveUnderPar pic.twitter.com/M6ilIAvI9L
At six-under-par 66, the world number one headed American Talor Gooch by one stroke with half the field back in the clubhouse, before Every's late charge.
A freshening breeze was making for difficult conditions for the late starters.
Brooks Koepka, who McIlroy recently displaced at the top of the rankings, had a less pleasing morning, bogeying his final two holes for an even-par 72.
But Koepka, still trying to find form on his return from a knee injury, fared considerably better than Adam Scott.
The Australian, a winner three weeks ago at Riviera, followed McIlory into water at the par-four 11th and dropped three shots there en route to a 77.
Meanwhile, Northern Ireland's Graeme McDowell is in a tie for fifth on four under after carding a 68, including six birdies.
Three-time major winner Padraig Harrington is six shots further back on two over, with the Dubliner having completed his opening round after a 74.
The event is featuring a high quality field though notably missing eight-times champion Tiger Woods, who is playing a very limited schedule ahead of defending his Masters title next month.
