Scottie Scheffler opens under par at Arnold Palmer Invitational with new driver

World No. 1 golfer Scottie Scheffler recovers from slow start to the season with a 2-under 70 in the first round at Bay Hill.

Published on Mar. 5, 2026

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

Scottie Scheffler, the world's top-ranked golfer, opened the Arnold Palmer Invitational with a 2-under 70 on Thursday, bouncing back from a recent string of over-par rounds to start the season. Scheffler credited his improved play to a new driver in his bag, the TaylorMade Qi4D, which he says has provided more consistent spin numbers and better accuracy off the tee. Despite being seven shots behind the early leader Daniel Berger's 63, Scheffler is expected to make a charge up the leaderboard over the weekend.

Why it matters

Scheffler's slow start to the 2023 season had raised some questions about the world No. 1's form, but this under-par opening round at the prestigious Arnold Palmer Invitational suggests he has regained his top-level play. The driver change appears to have been a key factor in Scheffler's improved performance, highlighting the importance of equipment optimization at the highest level of professional golf.

The details

Scheffler opened his round with a birdie on the first hole and added three more birdies, including on the par-5 fourth and par-4 13th and 16th holes. His only blemishes came with a three-putt bogey on the fifth hole and a poor approach shot on the 15th that led to another dropped shot. However, Scheffler was able to offset those mistakes by gaining over half a stroke on the field with his driving, a testament to the effectiveness of his new TaylorMade Qi4D driver.

  • Scheffler opened the first round of the Arnold Palmer Invitational on Thursday, March 5, 2026.

The players

Scottie Scheffler

The world's top-ranked golfer, who is seeking to bounce back from a slow start to the 2023 season.

Daniel Berger

The early leader of the Arnold Palmer Invitational after shooting a 63 in the first round.

Tiger Woods

The host of the Hero World Challenge event, where Scheffler first tested the TaylorMade Qi4D driver that he is now using.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“I feel like what we have seen is more consistent spin numbers. So that will help it be a little bit more accurate off the tee. Directionally, I struggled a little bit with it at the start of the year, but I got to what I thought was a really good spot last week, and I liked what I saw.”

— Scottie Scheffler (pgatour.com)

What’s next

Scheffler will look to continue his improved play over the next three rounds at the Arnold Palmer Invitational, as he aims to close the seven-shot gap to the early leader Daniel Berger and contend for the title on Sunday.

The takeaway

Scottie Scheffler's ability to quickly adapt to a new driver and bounce back from a slow start to the season demonstrates his world-class talent and commitment to optimizing his equipment. This opening round performance at the prestigious Arnold Palmer Invitational suggests Scheffler is regaining his dominant form and will be a force to be reckoned with on the PGA Tour in 2023.