Thursday’s opening round at the Arnold Palmer Invitational presented by Mastercard saw the field of 72 take advantage of relatively forgiving conditions at Bay Hill Club & Lodge, combining for an impressive 258 birdies and eagles across the course.
Leading the charge was Daniel Berger, who surged to the top of the leaderboard at 9-under-par. Berger caught fire on the back nine, carding six of his nine birdies over his final nine holes to take a two-shot lead heading into Friday’s second round.
The strong performance comes after Berger spent the final months of 2025 rehabbing a broken finger, making his early momentum at Bay Hill even more notable.
“Listen, it’s going to be an incredibly difficult and challenging week,” Berger explained after his round. “You can already see the course is – the greens are like white. A little bit of wind, a little bit less moisture, and it’s just going to be like a U.S. Open.”
Morikawa Close Behind After Late Charge
Two-time major champion Collin Morikawa sits just two strokes behind Berger after an impressive round of his own. Morikawa finished Thursday at 7-under-par, highlighted by an eagle and seven birdies.
His round ended in dramatic fashion, as Morikawa played his final three holes at 4-under-par, including the eagle that vaulted him firmly into contention heading into the second round.
“The wind kind of kept switching throughout the day,” Morikawa said. “We were on 6-iron… switched to 7-iron… I hit three 7-irons to finish the day, three birdies. I’ll take it. But 6-under and to be finished out here, pretty happy with the way Thursday’s started.”
Morikawa may have been underselling his performance slightly. One of those late birdies was actually the eagle that helped him surge up the leaderboard in the closing stretch of the round.
Bay Hill Conditions Expected to Toughen
While scoring was strong early in the day, players believe conditions will only grow more difficult as the tournament progresses. The morning wave enjoyed slightly softer greens and calmer conditions, but the afternoon brought increasing heat and shifting winds that made club selection more challenging.
Players frequently found themselves adjusting mid-round as the wind changed direction between shots, creating uncertainty even on approach shots.
Jhonattan Vegas experienced both the promise and challenge of Bay Hill on Thursday. Vegas appeared poised to finish his round at 6-under-par before missing a six-and-a-half-foot par putt on the 18th hole, dropping him to 5-under after a closing bogey.
Despite the late stumble, Vegas described the round as one of the best he has played on the PGA Tour.
“If I had to compare, it would probably be the 2018 U.S. Open… when I shot 3-, 4-under at Shinnecock on Saturday and went from 60th to tied for the lead,” Vegas said. “So it has that U.S. Open kind of feel to it. I think the course is just going to get tougher as the week goes on.”
Defending Champion Scheffler Stays Within Reach
Two-time Arnold Palmer Invitational winner Scottie Scheffler began his round in promising fashion, moving to 2-under through his first four holes.
However, the defending champion cooled off over the remainder of the round. With two birdies and two bogeys over his final 14 holes, Scheffler finished the day at 2-under-par, leaving him seven strokes behind Berger and tied for 18th place alongside eight other players.
“I think being satisfied is always a bit of a stretch in golf,” Scheffler said after his round. “I felt like I made a couple mistakes that I shouldn’t have, but overall I did some really good stuff out there. Anything under par on this golf course is a decent score.”
With 18 holes remaining before the cut is determined Friday evening, players know Bay Hill can dramatically reshape the leaderboard with just a few swings.
Justin Thomas Returns After Six-Month Absence
Justin Thomas has a tee time again on the PGA Tour, marking his return to competition after a lengthy absence following surgery in November to address a disc issue that caused what he described as “nagging hip pain” for several months.
As he stepped onto the tee Thursday afternoon, Thomas understood the challenge ahead after not playing a competitive round in roughly six months – the longest break from tournament golf he’s experienced since childhood.
“I’ve got to be realistic, I haven’t played a tournament in six months,” Thomas said. “I think the longest I’ve gone not playing a tournament since I started playing tournaments, like when I was 7 or something. I’m going to be rusty in terms of competitiveness.”
Thomas finished his opening round at 7-over-par after carding a 79, tying for 70th.
Foundation Friday to Honor Arnold Palmer’s Legacy
Beyond the competition, the tournament will also highlight the legacy of Arnold Palmer and Winnie Palmer with Friday’s “Foundation Friday” initiative.
The program celebrates the work of the Arnold & Winnie Palmer Foundation and its partners while supporting youth golf and character development initiatives. This year’s effort includes a new leadership and character program being developed with Wake Forest University, Palmer’s alma mater.
Led by Michael Lamb, senior executive director of the university’s Program for Leadership and Character, the initiative will eventually be incorporated into youth golf programs across the country.
Since launching in 2025, Foundation Friday has already supported youth golf programs, scholarships, and equipment donations for organizations such as First Tee, while helping expand opportunities for young golfers in Central Florida and beyond.
Daniel Berger Leads Arnold Palmer Invitational After Round 1 at Bay Hill