Stenson, DeChambeau tied for early lead at Bay Hill

ORLANDO, FLA. » Henrik Stenson struggled from the start in weather that was chilly even for his Swedish blood. He made enough par putts to keep momentum, ran off three straight birdies late in his second round and wound up with a share of the lead in the Arnold Palmer Invitational.

Stenson played bogey-free for a 3-under 69 and goes into the weekend with another shot at winning Bay Hill.

Bryon DeChambeau also sputtered early and came on strong at the end with a 7-foot eagle putt on the 16th and an approach to 4 feet for birdie on the 18th for a 66.

“I think every week I’m good enough to win or play my best,” DeChambeau said. “It’s just sometimes a kick here, a break here and that’s just what happens.”

Stenson and DeChambeau were at 11-under 133.

Tiger Woods played in the af-

ternoon and went through the front nine with no birdies and two bogeys, dropping him nine shots behind. He is coming off a runner-up finish at Innisbrook last week and has won eight times at Bay Hill.

The co-leaders had a little separation over the morning wave. PGA Tour rookie Talor Gooch had five birdies on the back nine for a 70 and was two shots behind. Rickie Fowler (71), Billy Horschel (70) and Luke List (67) were five shots behind.

Rory McIlroy again was slowed, this time by a pair of bogeys to start his back nine, and he shot 70. He was six shots behind, along with Ernie Els (70).

“Henrik has played great,” McIlroy said. “I’m going to have to play very, very good golf on the weekend to catch him, but I’m in a better position this Friday than I was last Friday, so I’ll take anything I can get.”