Rory McIlroy trails by three after 18 holes at Arnold Palmer Invitational

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Rory McIlroy admitted the golfers that teed off in the afternoon wave of the Arnold Palmer Invitational at famed Bay Hill got 'a reprieve'. 

After 18 holes of the $20m signature PGA Tour event, McIlroy is only three strokes adrift of early leader Wyndham Clark. 

The Northern Irishman teed off at 1pm ET alongside his good friend Shane Lowry and carded a 2-under 70 courtesy of six birdies and four bogeys.

Former Open champion Lowry went one better than McIlroy. 

Earlier in the day conditions were brutal but that didn't stop runaway World No.1 Scottie Scheffler carding a 1-under 71. 

Max Homa and Cameron Young both failed to break 80. 

Xander Schauffele, making his first start since sustaining a rib injury, struggled and carded a 5-over par 77.

"I think the guys that teed off a little later got a little bit of a reprieve," McIlroy told reporters. 

"It was still breezy, but not quite as tough as the guys got it this morning."

McIlroy said the test wasn't as brutal compared to an event like the Scottish Open. 

"It's more of a mental challenge," he said. 

McIlroy has a decent record here. He was the champion in 2018. 

Asked why he likes the course, he said: "I think it demands good ball striking. 

"You have to really control, especially today, control your flight and distance very well with your irons. 

"That's something that I've been working on quite a lot and feel like I'm pretty good at that. I think that's the big thing. 

"It's not, there's not a tonne of drivers out there, you can get away with being a little more conservative off the tee. 

"But it's a great second-shot golf course and I feel like that's why I've excelled here."

Despite only having a field of 72 players, there is a 36-hole cut. 

The top 50 players and ties, plus any player within 10 shots of the lead, will make it through to the weekend. 

The champion will take home a cheque for $4m.