Charley Hoffman wasn’t expecting to be at Bay Hill until he didn’t qualify for a World Golf Championship next week. The change in plans has worked out nicely so far.

In only his fourth appearance in the Arnold Palmer Invitational over the last decade, Hoffman made seven birdies Friday in Orlando for a 6-under-par 66 that gave him a one-shot lead over Emiliano Grillo of Argentina.

‘‘I played halfway decent the first round last time I was here,’’ said Hoffman, who was at 10-under 134. ‘‘In the schedule, it hasn’t fallen where I would like in the past. I wasn’t in Match Play, and then obviously honoring Arnie is not a hard thing to come here and play.’’

Grillo made two eagles on his opening nine, holing a 35-yard bunker shot on the par-5 12th and chipping in from just off the green on the par-5 16th. He made birdies on the par-5s on the front nine that carried him to a 68.

Matt Fitzpatrick of England had four birdies on the back nine for a 69 and was two shots behind.

Sam Saunders, the 29-year-old grandson of Palmer, had three straight bogeys around the turn and never caught up. He wound up with another 74 and missed the cut by one shot. Saunders played with Rory McIlroy, who had another mixed bag and shot 71 to finish at 1-over 145, leaving him 11 shots out of the lead.

LPGA — Michelle Wie shot a 5-under 67 on another hot and low-scoring day at the Bank of Hope Founders Cup in Phoenix to enter the weekend a stroke behind leaders Stacy Lewis and Ariya Jutanugarn.

Lewis and Jutanugarn each followed an opening 64 with a 67 to reach 13 under in the tournament that set the LPGA record for the lowest 36-hole cut at 5 under. Jeong Eun Lee shot 64 to join Wie, Mi Jung Hur (66), and Vicky Hurst (67) at 12 under.

Champions — Fred Couples shot an 8-under 65 in the Tucson Conquistadores Classic, leaving playing partner Steve Stricker two strokes back is his Champions debut.