Scottie Scheffler of the United States and his caddie Ted Scott (left) talk while playing the 18th hole during the third round of the Arnold Palmer Invitational presented by Mastercard at Arnold Palmer Bay Hill Golf Course in Orlando, Florida. -AFP/Brennan Asplen
Scottie Scheffler of the United States and his caddie Ted Scott (left) talk while playing the 18th hole during the third round of the Arnold Palmer Invitational presented by Mastercard at Arnold Palmer Bay Hill Golf Course in Orlando, Florida. -AFP/Brennan Asplen

FLORIDA, United States: Scottie Scheffler and Shane Lowry of Ireland survived a breezy afternoon to each shoot 2-under-par 70 and claim a share of the lead Saturday at the Arnold Palmer Invitational in Orlando, Fla.

Wyndham Clark fired a 1-under 71 to sit third, with Japan's Hideki Matsuyama (72), Will Zalatoris (71) and Russell Henley (72) in a three-way tie for fourth.

Scheffler, who won this event in 2022, struggled on the front, going out in 38, but birdied five of his first seven holes on the back nine to surge toward the front.

Zalatoris briefly held a five-shot lead with his four birdies from Nos. 3-8 on the front, but stumbled with a bogey at No. 14 and double-bogeys at Nos. 15 and 18.

Harris English, who enters Sunday in seventh place, and Northern Ireland's Rory McIlroy tied for the day's low round, shooting 68.

McIlroy, in a tie for eighth at 5-under, moved quickly up the board with a blazing, bogey-free 30 on the back nine that included six birdies. --REUTERS-Field Level Media