ORLANDO, Fla. — If you’re surprised to see Rory McIlroy at the top of the leaderboard after the first round of the Arnold Palmer Invitational at Bay Hill, you haven’t paid a lot of attention to McIlroy’s history at the event.

McIlroy, the 32-year-old Northern Irishman, shot a scorching 7-under 65 Thursday to take a two-shot lead entering Friday’s second round.

Beau Hossler and J.J. Spaun, both playing in the afternoon wave of tee times, each shot 67. Adam Scott, Graeme McDowell, Will Zalatoris, Sungjae Im, Billy Horschel, Ian Poulter and Charles Howell III all shot 68 to stand three shots back.

McIlroy won the tournament in 2018, has four finishes in the top six and in the seven times he’s played it, McIlroy has finished out of the top 11 only once (a tie for 27th in 2016).

“I think you turn up at any golf course where you’ve had success, and automatically you’re going to have some confidence coming in,’’ McIlroy said after carding six birdies and an eagle to set the pace. “I’ve shot some really nice scores here. I think the last couple of years I’ve opened up the tournament really well with scores similar to what I shot today.’’

Indeed, McIlroy shot 66 in the opening round last year and in 2020, but both of those weeks ended in disappointing finishes after final-round 76s. He finished tied for fifth in 2020 and tied for 10th last year.

McIlroy is still irritated by losing a final-round lead in January at the Dubai Desert Classic.

“I think with the experience that I have and the tournaments that I have closed out in my career, if you’re two ahead with five to play, I think you should win that, yeah,’’ McIlroy said. “This is my fourth start of the calendar year and I’ve had one really good chance to win and probably one other half chance.

“I feel like I’m playing well enough to have chances to win golf tournaments, but all you can ask of yourself is to keep putting yourself in those positions on Sundays, and then you see where your game really is. Hopefully, this is another week where I put myself in a position where I can really see where my game is when the pressure’s on.’’

McIlroy was paired with Scott, who he said inspires him with his silky swing.

“Anyone could watch Adam Scott swing the club all day long,’’ he said. “He’s got a nice rhythm. If he feeds off me, I certainly think I feed off him a little bit too.’’

Scott sounded like the feeling is mutual.

“He’s a guy I can watch play and get positive swing thoughts for myself,’’ Scott said. “I love watching him swing a golf club. I think almost everyone in the world would say that. Generally, he can lift my level of golf, especially when he’s playing the way he did today.

“He drove it well, but I thought his speed, his putting was beautiful today. You’ve got to hole a few putts to get to 7-under around here. I thought all of his game looked really good. And of course, when he throws a driver at 330 [yards] in the fairway, that’s a nice spot to start coming into a green from.

“His driving is so impressive when he’s hitting it straight like today, it’s easy to kind of make any course look fairly simple from there.’’

McDowell marveled at McIlroy’s prowess off the tee.

“When Rory’s on with his driver, there’s no one better in the world than Rory with a driver,’’ McDowell said. “You can really kind of bring this course slightly to its knees. He obviously feels comfortable here. I was going along nicely, got it up to 5 [under], and I looked up, and he’s 6. I thought, ‘Of course, he’s 6.’ He’s just good, isn’t he?’’