Shane Lowry made six birdies in a 5-under round to establish a two-shot lead midway through the Arnold Palmer Invitational on Friday in Orlando, Florida.

A day after blustery conditions produced the highest first-round scoring average (74.624) since 2011, the wind relented and the temperature rose into the mid-70s to present a course ripe for

Shane Lowry aim to achieve his best-ever world ranking when he competes at the prestigious Arnold Palmer Invitational this week. The Irishman moved to 17th in the official world golf ranking after a superb finish at the Cognizant Classic on Sunday.

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Then, he shook hands with Rory McIlroy. Lowry’s superb round at Arnie’s Place may have moved him into the lead, but McIlroy’s second successive 70 for 140 meant the Northern Irishman, too, entered the weekend in contention, if cast in the role of one of Lowry’s pursuers.