Daniel Berger fired a bogey-free 9-under 63 to claim a three-shot lead after the opening round of the Arnold Palmer Invitational presented by Mastercard at Bay Hill Club & Lodge. Collin Morikawa and Ludvig Åberg sit tied for second at 6-under 66, while Scottie Scheffler carded a 2-under 70 in his first sub-par opening round of the season. Rory McIlroy struggled to an even-par 72, and Justin Thomas posted a 7-over 79 in his return from back surgery.
The Arnold Palmer Invitational, the PGA Tour's third signature event of 2026, got underway on March 5 at Bay Hill Club & Lodge in Orlando, Florida. Daniel Berger, returning from injuries including a back issue that sidelined him for 18 months and a fractured finger last August, seized control with nine birdies, eight inside 10 feet. His score was nearly nine shots better than the field average of 71.69 and established a three-shot advantage over the chasing pack.
Collin Morikawa closed strongly with an eagle-birdie-birdie finish for 66, gaining nearly four strokes on approach. Ludvig Åberg matched that total despite back-to-back bogeys early on the back nine, highlighted by a 25-foot eagle putt on the par-5 12th amid gusting winds and firmer conditions in the afternoon wave. Cameron Young posted 67 with seven birdies, while Xander Schauffele and Adam Scott each shot 68. Only 32 of 72 players broke par on a course known for its firm greens and thick rough, often likened to a mini U.S. Open.
Berger compared his round to a 66 he shot in the third round of the 2018 U.S. Open at Shinnecock Hills. "It has that U.S. Open kind of feel to it," Berger said. "The course is just going to get tougher as the week goes on. The greens are going to get firmer."
World No. 1 Scottie Scheffler birdied holes 1, 4, 13 and 16 for 70 but bogeyed the fifth after a three-putt and the 15th after a poor approach. He debuted a new TaylorMade Qi4D driver, noting more consistent spin for better accuracy. "Anything under par on this golf course is a decent score," Scheffler said.
Rory McIlroy, the 2018 champion, endured a double bogey on the 13th after hitting rocks into water and a bogey on 18 for 72. Justin Thomas, absent 158 days following microdiscectomy surgery, struggled with putting—losing nearly four strokes—and concentration, carding 79 with doubles on 11 and 16. "It kinda sucks, to be honest," Thomas said. "The rust aspect... was a little bit of what I anticipated."
Round 2 tees off March 6 from 7:40 a.m. ET, with Scheffler paired with Russell Henley at 1:30 p.m. A 36-hole cut to the top 50 and ties, or within 10 shots of the lead, awaits. Coverage airs on Golf Channel from 2-6 p.m. ET.
