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A18 SPORTS
Friday 6 March 2020
Every delivers again at Bay Hill, leads McIlroy by 1 shot

By DOUG FERGUSON ter."
AP Golf Writer With two balls left, he went
ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) — The with the 4-iron. And he fin-
leading two players at Bay ished the round and signed
Hill are no surprise, even if for his score.
they have next to nothing The card he signed Thurs-
in common. day was much better.
Rory McIlroy, the No. 1 play- McIlroy has gone six con-
er in the world who hasn't secutive events worldwide
finished out of the top 10 in without finishing worse than
any tournament since Sep- sixth, so this was expected.
tember, shot a 6-under 66 Even after his bogey on No.
on Thursday morning in the 11, and missing a 3-foot
Arnold Palmer Invitational. birdie putt on the par-5
Matt Every, the No. 309 12th, he was never really
player in the world whose bothered.
only two PGA Tour victories "One over through six,
in 237 starts were back-to- there's still 66 holes left in
back at Bay Hill, played in this golf tournament," he
the tough afternoon wind said.
and was one shot better He began turning it around
with a 65. with a 5-iron into about 25
Not only was it Every's low- feet for a two-putt birdie
est round at Bay Hill, it was on the 16th, and a flaw-
20 shots better than his last Matt Every watches his putt on the ninth green during the first round of the Arnold Palmer Invita- lessly played 18th hole with
round six days ago in the tional golf tournament, Thursday, March 5, 2020, in Orlando, Fla. a 3-wood off the tee and a
Honda Classic, when he Associated Press 9-iron to 10 feet behind the
shot 85. flag.
What a game. to get strong at the end. He made three birdies and and faster under a warm "Sort of had a bit of good
Every, who served a three- McIlroy had his sixth con- an eagle — a 3-iron from a Florida sun. pep in my step going into
month suspension at the secutive opening round of fairway bunker to 25 feet — It felt that way for Phil Mick- the first tee, and then I
end of last year for us- 68 or lower, another great and was most satisfied by elson in the afternoon and played some great golf af-
ing cannabis that he said start. taking advantage of easier Adam Scott in the morning. ter that," he said.
was prescribed legally for It just didn't feel that way scoring conditions. Both shot 77. Only 18 play- It was that 3-iron from the
mental health treatment, early. Scottie Scheffler boosted ers from the 120-man field bunker on the par-5 fourth
played bogey-free and put Trying to hammer an 8-iron his bid for a Masters invita- broke 70. that provided the strongest
on a clinic with his irons, the to a back flag on his sec- tion with a bogey-free 67 Every, even with his Bay Hill illustration that this is a play-
strength of his game. He ond hole of the day at No. and joined Talor Gooch victories in 2014 and 2015, er in full flight as the Masters
poured it on his back nine 11, the ball landed short two shots behind. Scheffler, had a round out of no- — the only major keeping
with birdie putts of 35, 45 and left of the green and the player of the year on where. His 85 at the Honda him from a career Grand
and 30 feet. rolled into the water. He the Korn Ferry Tour, is No. 51 Classic last Friday is a little Slam — is right around the
"I just didn't want to shoot took a penalty drop, hit a in the world and needs to misleading. He was on his corner.
myself out of the tourna- pedestrian chip and es- get in the top 50 after the way to missing the cut His caddie, Harry Diamond,
ment with the way the caped with a bogey by Match Play at the end of when he was determined told him it was his best shot
weather was," Every said. making a 10-foot putt. the month. to hit the proper shot to a of the year. It's early March.
"The putter was a little "To hole that putt for bo- Another Masters hopeful, back pin on a par 3 over But it was special.
shaky. It's always a little gey ... making 5 instead of Christiaan Bezuidenhout, the water. He hit 5-iron four "I had 260," McIlroy said. "I
shaky. It was a good day 6 there is a big deal," McIl- was in the group at 68 times into the water. He hit said to Harry, 'If I can catch
for me." roy said. "One over through along with Keith Mitchell 4-iron onto the green and this 3-iron good and maybe
It wasn't bad for McIlroy. 2 instead of 2 over is sort of and Graeme McDowell. made 11. pitch 10 or 15 yards short,
He avoided a big number a different feeling. And to Bay Hill was plenty tough "I wasn't leaving that tee maybe trundle up the hill' ...
early and delivered his best turn that nine around and even before the wind ar- until I hit the shot I wanted," but short was always better
shot late for the best score turn in 1 under, I felt pretty rived because of the thick Every said. "And I flushed than long. At it just came
among the early starters, good about myself going rough framing fairways and every one of them, exactly out perfectly and got up to
when the wind only started to the front nine." greens that became firmer in the same spot in the wa- pin high."q

Piercy loses 2 endorsements over homophobic Instagram posts

ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) — the news Buttigieg has sus- Titleist, which confirmed it individuals we know will employees, and other am-
Four-time PGA Tour winner pended his campaign that terminated his contract on represent us well on and bassadors know we sup-
Scott Piercy lost two en- included a reference to his Tuesday. Piercy had a full off the golf course. The port all communities and
dorsement deals Thursday sexuality as a gay man. deal with Titleist and Foot- claims from Scott Piercy have no room for hate or
for sharing a homopho- He doesn't have a large Joy products. were unacceptable and discrimination in our com-
bic meme poking fun at following on Instagram -- According to Golf Digest, far from our views and be- pany."
Democratic presidential just under 17,000 followers clothing maker J. Line- liefs," the statement said. Piercy told the Morning
candidate Pete Buttigieg -- but posted an apology bergh issued a statement ""We, J.Lindeberg, as a Read website he under-
and referencing far-right Tuesday "if any of my re- Thursday that it ended its company do not stand stood why Titleist ended
conspiracy theory QAnon. cent story posts have been contract with Piercy. by the statements made the contract and de-
Piercy this week shared a offensive. I will do better!" "When we choose our by Piercy and we want to scribed his posts as "a ter-
meme on Instagram on That wasn't enough for ambassadors, we choose make sure our customers, rible lack of judgment."q