Six tied for lead at Palmer Invitational
Shane Lowry set the target with a 1-under 71 at Bay Hill, and as tough as the course plays, he would not have imagined how much company he would have at the top in the Arnold Palmer Invitational in Orlando, Fla.
Scottie Scheffler chipped in for eagle and holed a 45foot birdie putt on his way to a 67. U.S. Open champion Wyndham Clark birdied five of his last six holes — he had nine birdies for the round — and shot 66. Hideki Matsuyama, coming off a win at Riviera, had a 70 to put himself in the mix for another $4 million payoff.
All that movement late led to a six-way share of the lead that includes British Open champion Brian Harman (68) and Russell Henley (69). They were at 7-under 137. It was the largest logjam through 36 holes on the PGA Tour since 2011.
• Tiger Woods opted out of The Players Championship next week, opening questions about whether or where the five-time Masters champ will play before Augusta National. There was not an immediate reason Woods chose not to play at the TPC Sawgrass, where he has won twice.
• Joe Highsmith did his best to create separation in the PGA Tour's Puerto Rico Open, making a pair of late birdies to get the lead before darkness prevented the rain-delayed second round from being completed.
Highsmith, 23, out of Pepperdine, was at 13-under par. He will return to Grand Reserve today morning to finish his last three holes. He was one shot ahead of six other players, including Rafael Campos (67), Matti Schmid (65), Kevin Streelman (67) and Ryo Hisatsune (67).
• Abraham Ancer and Dean Burmester shot 7-under 63s to share the firstround lead at the inaugural LIV Golf tournament in Hong Kong.
• Narin An shot a 7-under 65 to join Sarah Schmeizel (69) in the lead after the second round of the Blue Bay LPGA on China's southern island of Hainan. Both golfers had a 9-under total of 135.
• Matteo Manassero shot a career-low round of 11-under 61 to take a oneshot lead in the Jonsson Workwear Open in Edenvale, South Africa on the European tour.