Rahm leads as Irish quartet start slowly

World number one Jon Rahm shot a seven-under-par round of 65 to lead after day one of the the Arnold Palmer Invitational at Bay Hill.

The Spaniard started and finished his round in brilliant fashion, beginning with three birdies and closing with an eagle and a further two birdies to take a two-shot lead over American trio Chris Kirk, who won last week's Honda Classic, Cameron Young and Kurt Kitayama, who came agonisingly close to an ace on his penultimate hole – the par-three eighth.

It was a frustrating day for the Irish contingent with none of the four inside the top 50.

Seamus Power and Shane Lowry are in a tie for 50th and sit on level par with Lowry ruing a messy finish having moved to three-under-par at one stage.

Early starter Power, who teed off at the 10th, was also looking good for an under-par score but bogeyed the 18th.

FULL LEADERBOARD

Rory McIlroy and Padraig Harrington sat a shot further back after opening rounds of 73.

McIlroy started with a bogey and also carded a double-bogey at the 6th as his 266-yard tee shot found the water.

That left him out in 38, but birdies at the 12th and 16th did help to repair some of the damage.

Harrington also was out in 38 and home in 35 with the Dubliner starting with a double bogey.

Returning champion Scottie Scheffler got the defence of his title off to a strong start with an opening round of four under..

The world number two, starting on the back nine, turned in two under but three birdies coming home saw him move into a share of second place among the morning groups, only for his second bogey of the day at the last to drop him back as he signed for a 68.