Kevin Streelman opens with 70 despite cracking driver at Arnold Palmer Invitational presented by Mastercard

ORLANDO – Kevin Streelman had worked his way up near the lead when fate intervened in the first round of the Arnold Palmer Invitational presented by Mastercard. His driver cracked, leading him to play his last six holes in 2 over for a somewhat disappointing 70 that left him five off the early lead of Spain’s Rafa Cabrera Bello. “I had to hit 3-wood all the way in,� Streelman said. Things were going well as he saved par at the third hole, his 12th of the day, to stay at 4 under. Then he smashed his drive at the par-5 fourth hole, and it made a funny sound. “I looked down at my driver and there was a big, old crater in it,� Streelman said. “Which just is demoralizing. I’ve had that thing for like 15, 16 months, and it’s been my baby. We just did a renovation on our house, and I could name the renovation after this driver, it’s been so good to me.� Absent his driver, a Ping G400 Max, Streelman went with a 3-wood, over-swung, and fought a left miss as he double-bogeyed the fourth hole and bogeyed the sixth, both par-5s. “They’re two of the easiest holes on the course,� he said. “It really could’ve been a good day, even though 2-under is still good. This has never really happened to me mid-tournament before. I’ve got two other ones sitting in my locker; I’ve got to go do some testing now.�

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