Spencer Levin leads after first round of Arnold Palmer Invitational – Golf news
Spencer Levin smashed a score of six-under par 66 in the first round of the Arnold Palmer Invitational to push Rickie Fowler and Hunter Mahan to the second place.
The 15th Professional Golfers Association Tour tournament is taking place at the par-72 Bay Hill Club and Lodge in Florida.
Levin reeled six birdies in the opening round with the help of some excellent putting. The American could not attain accuracy in the driving due to the strong winds but managed to hit ten greens in regulation.
Meanwhile, the 2010 PGA Rookie of the Year, Fowler teed off from the back and managed to entertain the spectators with his long hits. The 22-year-old birdied the opening hole and left the next four holes for the pars. However, on the 15th fairway,
Fowler hit a 4-iron onto the left side of the green, which helped him sign for a birdie. The beautiful delivery compelled the American to attack the pin from three yards on the 16th green, which he successfully did and managed to add the first eagle
of the tournament.
Fowler wrapped the back nine with a score of four-under par 32. The crowd thought that it was only the start of a birdie fiesta but in fact, it was the end. The Californian dropped three shots against two birdies and ran out of the realms of par. Fortunately,
the early birdies and the eagle saved him from trouble and helped him settle at three-under par.
Mahan also rocketed into lead owing to his performance in the back. He picked two birdies and one eagle against a bogey. However, he could not maintain the same pace in the faster greens of the front and par equalled the score after countering two bogeys
with equal birdies.
Despite the poor putting, the player topped the Green Hits in Regulation stats and remained fifth in driving accuracy. Knowing the amount of threat offered by the wind, Mahan was happy with his performance.
He said, “It was good ball-striking. Hit a lot of fairways, a lot of greens. Conditions like this, you want to be a little safer and just hit the ball in the middle of the green and give yourself a lot of looks. Only negative was two three-putts. So I've
got to get a little better feel for the greens but other than that, it was nice.”
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