McIlroy expressed disappointment after ending the first round seven shots off the pace at the Arnold Palmer Invitational Cliff Hawkins/Getty ImagesMatt Fitzpatrick claimed a share of the lead in the Arnold Palmer Invitational as pre-tournament favourites Rory McIlroy and Henrik Stenson struggled to make an impression. Fitzpatrick carded a flawless 67 at Bay Hill to join Argentina’s Emiliano Grillo at the top of the leaderboard, with compatriot Paul Casey a shot behind alongside Lucas Glover and Charley Hoffman. In contrast, McIlroy’s 74 included four bogeys and a double bogey, while Stenson — who has finished in the top 15 in his last five appearances in the event — double-bogeyed the 18th in a 75 matched by Blayne Barber. Stenson, pictured on the tenth, fared worse than McIlroy Cliff Hawkins/Getty Images“It was very disappointing,” McIlroy said. “I didn’t hit the ball really the way I wanted, I lost a few shots to the right, put myself out…

Source: The Times March 17, 2017 08:48 UTC