In Orlando, Florida, Collin Morikawa captured a vital lead at the Arnold Palmer Invitational with an impressive 5-under 67 round on a challenging Bay Hill course. On the final hole, Morikawa sank a crucial 12-foot birdie putt, positioning himself in prime contention for his first victory in 17 months.
Russell Henley kept the pressure on, delivering a long bunker shot for birdie on the first hole and then stringing together four consecutive birdies at the start of the back nine. He concluded the day with a 67, placing him one shot behind Morikawa. Meanwhile, Corey Conners of Canada faltered on the 18th fairway. Unable to secure par, he settled for a bogey, ending his round at 69 and placing two shots back.
Despite the absence of strong winds, the intense heat and constant sun had transformed the greens and fairways, making them exceptionally firm and fast. Birdie putts, even from achievable distances, often rolled well past the hole, adding a layer of difficulty to the course conditions.
Shane Lowry, who led after 36 holes, found himself struggling with the challenging conditions. His tee shot on the 18th narrowly avoided the water, thanks to the collar of the rough. A potential birdie from nearly 25 feet sailed past the hole by seven feet, resulting in a round of 76 and leaving him six shots off the pace. Rory McIlroy encountered similar difficulties, posting a 73 to finish seven shots behind after bogeying three of his last four holes.
Scottie Scheffler faced his own challenges with birdies hard to come by. A short approach on the 13th hole resulted in a bogey, and he finished the day with a 71, trailing by eight shots. Morikawa’s fine play saw him at 10-under 206 by day’s end. “You have to hit good shots out there,” Morikawa remarked, underline the danger posed by the challenging conditions.
The latter part of the day was a tussle among Morikawa, Henley, and Conners, with players frequently exchanging the leadership position. Morikawa was the sole contender to avoid a bogey in the challenging concluding four holes. He strategically laid up on the par-5 16th, delivering a lob wedge and watch a 6-foot birdie sneak into the cup. His last hole saw a delicately handled 12-foot birdie attempt find success.
Every moment, whether navigating the fairway or orchestrating a putt, required precision and care. “Some of these pin locations, I feel I have to putt very defensively,” commented Henley on the intense pressure.
Jason Day, following a first-round 76, came back strong with a tournament-low 64 in the second round and followed up with a bold 69 on Saturday. However, he struggled on the front nine with three bogeys but regained ground with a sequence of three birdies, including a 20-footer on the 17th. Observing the firmness of the greens was a part of the challenge he noted.
Michael Kim made a charge with two eagles on the back nine, producing a 67 to join ranks with Tony Finau at 5-under 205. Kim enters the final day as the only top-five player not already secured for the Masters, with this tournament potentially offering him the needed qualification.
Morikawa, a two-time major champion, is eyeing his first win since October 2023 at the Zozo Championship in Japan. He has returned to working with his coach, Rick Sessinghaus, aiming to refine the precision that characterizes his play. Reflecting on the time since his last victory, Morikawa humorously remarked on the day count, focusing instead on the upcoming 18 holes.
