Seamus Power has some work to do on Friday evening in Orlando if he is to make the cut at the Arnold Palmer invitational.
The West Waterford man shot an opening round of level par 72 overnight to take a share of 50th.
He started from the tenth tee on Thursday and began with a more or less clean nine holes, albeit with one shot dropped on the 17th.
He earned his first birdie on the 13th though to close his opening 9 holes level.
Making the turn, he dropped another shot on the 2nd, before earning two more back on the 4th and 7th, but the good work as once again hampered with a bogey to close on the ninth.
The projected cut mark is expected to be around +2 on Friday evening, leaving little room for error if Power is to be there for the full weekend.
Scintillating Spaniard
Elsewhere on Thursday, the world #1 Jon Rahm shot a blistering 65 to lead from -7. The Spaniard is now out in front with a two-shot cushion over the chasing trio of Chris Kirk, Kurt Kitiyama and Cameron Young.
Irish Hopes
Offaly's Shane Lowry is tied with Power on even, while Rory McIlroy and Padraig Harrington are both one further back after opening rounds of 73.
Power tee's off this evening at 6 pm Irish time, Lowry heads to the first tee at 1 pm, while McIlroy will also resume his challenge at lunchtime with Harrington out from 12.16 pm.
