Rory McIlroy Makes His Debut at Arnold Palmer Invitational, Shoots -2

It's hard to believe that the current No.1 player in the world had not made it to Arnold Palmer’s tournament until this year. However, if Rory McIlroy's comments about the tournament to date are any indication, he may book a return trip.

"I felt the reception I got out there today was incredible," he said during the pro-am. "I know it's my first time here, but it feels like the people of the community here in Orlando really support this event for a number of reasons, and it's great that I could be here finally, and it's nice to have a lot of support out there."

He added that he wished he had come sooner. In addition, he discovered he liked the course.

"I feel like it sets up really well for me. You're quite generous off the tee. You can—if you're a long hitter—I feel like you've got a pretty big advantage on some of the holes," he said.

His first round included birdies at the 6th and 8th, a bogey at the par-five 16th and a birdie at the finishing hole for a 2-under, first-round 70.

In recent months, McIlroy has learned more about the importance of Arnold Palmer to professional golf in the US, both in the pre-PGA Tour and post PGA Tour eras.

"Being a European, it's a little different," he explained. "Arnie was sort of our Seve in a way, the one that brought golf to the masses just like Seve did for European golf."

Growing up, McIroy had no knowledge of Palmer.

"I didn't grow up in this country, but when you come over here and understand what he did for the game, what he did for the Tour, you know, if it wasn't for Arnold Palmer, you know, I don't know where the game would be right now, but it might not be in as good a place as it is," he suggested.

One reason McIlroy has skipped the Arnold Palmer Invitational in the past was to play the Texas tournaments as a tune-up to the Masters, but this year he decided to take the two weeks prior to the year's first major for practice.

"Back in 2011, I took three weeks off before the Masters. It worked pretty well for 63 holes, not quite 72," he said, drawing a laugh from reporters who remembered clearly the tee shot he hit on the 10th that started his downhill slide on the back nine at Augusta National.

Swing coach, Michael Bannon, arrived last week.

"We worked Saturday, Sunday, Monday at home and then he's still here yesterday, today, goes back tomorrow," McIroy explained.

"That was sort of an unplanned visit. Hadn't really scheduled that in. The last five days have been really good work with him just one-on-one, no one else around."

As a result, his game is much improved from WGC-Cadillac week when, frustrated after his shot found the water, he threw his club after it into a lake.

But it's not all work on the McIlroy front. He just came back from golf at Augusta National with his father.

"There's four fathers and sons and we had a great time. I spent two days, one night, and it was just about going and enjoying ourselves, and that's really what we did," he explained.

The second day was so cold that McIlroy hit driver and 3-iron on the 18th hole and did not reach the green. While that was tough to take, the benefit is now that his dad understands how hard the course is.  

"He appreciates what I go through one week a year whenever I come off the course and he says 'Why did you do that on 6?' or 'Why did you go there on 14?' It's not that easy," McIlroy added.

As to what he shot, it was in the 60s, one ball, no mulligans.

"Tee to green, I know what I'm doing there, and it's just about being comfortable on the greens and around the greens," he added. "They got the course in very similar shape to what it might be come the tournament. It was a little softer, played a little longer.

"The green speeds were up there. The more you go back to that place, the more comfortable you become with the surroundings and golf course."

Just as he has had talks with Jack Nicklaus in the past, McIlroy now intends to get some insight from Arnold Palmer. The two will have dinner this week.

"As I said, just really delighted to be here, excited to get to spend some time with him," he concluded.

Kathy Bissell is a golf writer for Bleacher Report. Unless otherwise noted, all quotes were obtained firsthand or from official interview materials from the USGA, PGA Tour or PGA of America.