Daniel Berger shoots a 63 and builds a 3-shot lead at Bay Hill

Berger posts a bogey-free round to take early lead at Arnold Palmer Invitational

Published on Mar. 6, 2026

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Daniel Berger fired a 9-under 63 to take a 3-shot lead after the first round of the Arnold Palmer Invitational at Bay Hill. Berger's bogey-free round was nearly 9 shots better than the field average, with Collin Morikawa and Ludvig Aberg tied for second at 66. Scottie Scheffler shot 70 while Rory McIlroy struggled to a 72.

Why it matters

Berger's impressive opening round has him in prime position to contend for the title at the prestigious Arnold Palmer Invitational, one of the PGA Tour's signature events. His early lead could set the tone for the rest of the tournament, which is known for its challenging course conditions that often produce high scores.

The details

Berger made 9 birdies in his round, with all but one coming from within 10 feet of the hole. He took advantage of the morning conditions before the wind and greens became more difficult in the afternoon. Morikawa and Aberg both had strong finishes, with Aberg's 66 in the afternoon being particularly impressive given the tougher playing conditions.

  • Daniel Berger posted his 63 in the morning wave of tee times.

The players

Daniel Berger

An American professional golfer who has 5 PGA Tour victories, including the 2021 Charles Schwab Challenge.

Collin Morikawa

An American professional golfer who has 6 PGA Tour wins, including the 2020 PGA Championship and 2021 Open Championship.

Ludvig Aberg

A Swedish amateur golfer who plays at Texas Tech University and received an exemption to play in the Arnold Palmer Invitational.

Scottie Scheffler

An American professional golfer who is the reigning Masters champion and world #1 ranked player.

Rory McIlroy

A Northern Irish professional golfer who has 4 major championship titles and is one of the most prominent players on the PGA Tour.

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What they’re saying

“It has the that U.S. Open kind of feel to it. I think the course is just going to get tougher as the week goes on. The greens are going to get firmer. … So yeah, just hit it in the fairway and try to make as many putts as you can.”

— Daniel Berger (The Associated Press)

“It's a little bit like a mini U.S. Open playing Bay Hill. You can shoot your way out of it on the first round because the score can get away from you. So if you're 5 over today, it's a long way back — especially when there was a 9 under out there, which is hard to see.”

— Adam Scott (The Associated Press)

“Not ideal, but also knowing that bogeys might happen at Bay Hill when it's tricky.”

— Ludvig Aberg (The Associated Press)

What’s next

The players will continue their pursuit of the title at the Arnold Palmer Invitational over the next three rounds, with the cut line likely to be quite high given the challenging course conditions.

The takeaway

Daniel Berger's stellar opening round has him firmly in control early at the Arnold Palmer Invitational, one of the PGA Tour's most prestigious events. His ability to navigate the difficult Bay Hill layout while the rest of the field struggled is an impressive feat, and he will look to maintain his lead over the next three days.