At Bay Hill, Arnold Palmer Invitational 2021, Round two: Canadian Corey Conners leads by one

PGA TOUR 2021 - Arnold Palmer Invitational at Bay Hill - Round Two

Halfway through the Arnold Palmer Invitational, Canadian Corey Conners leads on 9-under par followed by Scotsman Martin Laird, who won here in 2011, on 8-under. Viktor Hovland, Rory McIlroy and American Lanto Griffin are tied third on 7-under. Jason Day, the sole Aussie to make the cut, is tied 21st on 2-under.

From ESPN:

Corey Conners spent more time grinding out pars than chasing birdies, and that proved to be the right recipe Friday at the Arnold Palmer Invitational as Bay Hill began to bake under a warm sun.

Conners surged into the lead with a 25-foot eagle putt on the par-5 16th hole -- his second eagle on that hole in two days -- for a 3-under 69 and a one-shot advantage over former Bay Hill winner Martin Laird (67).

Rory McIlroy was poised to at least join Conners in the afternoon until he hit a couple of loose drives that cost him one shot when he could only pitch back to the fairway, leading to bogeys. He closed with five straight pars for a 71 that he figures could have been worse.

From The Scotsman:

Corey Conners leads the way at the halfway stage at the Orlando venue on nine-under, but the Canadian has Scot Laird, Norwegian Viktor Hovland and Northern Irishman Rory McIlroy all breathing down his neck in the $9.3 million event.

From Sportsmole:

Norway's Viktor Hovland continued his excellent recent form on day two of the Arnold Palmer Invitational.

Hovland has finished no worse than sixth in his last four starts and recorded his second runner-up finish of the season in last week's WGC-Workday Championship.

And the 23-year-old carried on where he left off at Bay Hill, adding a second round of 68 to his opening 69 to reach seven under par, two shots behind clubhouse leader Corey Conners.

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