Clark shared the 36-hole lead at Bay Hill a year ago and finished second. Lowry shared with 54-hole lead with Scheffler and finished third. Last year was the first time Lowry and Clark broke 70 at Bay Hill, so they appear to have figured something out.

Lowry began the day with a two-shot advantage, but struggled to an error-strewn 76 at Bay Hill which left him at four under par.

A major championship test has produced a major championship leaderboard through the first round of the 2025 Arnold Palmer Invitational. On a day when the scoring average at Bay Hill Club & Lodge was roughly 74.