Players Championship 2024: 3 Instant Reactions to Thursday Leaderboard Scores
Rory McIlroy, Xander Schauffele and Wyndham Clark landed in a three-way tie for first place after the first round of The Players Championship.
McIlroy had the most eventful round of the three leaders, as he needed a birdie on his final hole to get back to seven-under.
Clark and Schauffele extended their fantastic starts to the PGA Tour season with strong rounds.
The leading trio holds a one-stroke lead on Nick Taylor and Matt Fitzpatrick, while reigning Players champion Scottie Scheffler is lurking two shots back.
Rory McIlroy's Eventful Day Results In Tie For Lead
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McIlroy had one of the most eventful days on course at TPC Sawgrass.
The four-time major winner rolled in 10 birdies despite some adventurous tee shots that led to some debate on course.
McIlroy had a lengthy chat with rules officials as well as playing partners Jordan Spieth and Viktor Hovland about the proper spot to drop at No. 7 after his tee shot flew into the water.
The Northern Irishman discussed the situation at length after his round, per PGATour.com.
"I was pretty sure that my ball had crossed where I was sort of dropping it," McIlroy said. "It's so hard, right, because there was no TV evidence. I was adamant. But I think, again, (Spieth) was just trying to make sure that I was going to do the right thing.
"If anything, I was being conservative with it. I think at the end of the day we're all trying to protect ourselves, protect the field, as well. I wouldn't say (the debate) was needless. I think he was just trying to make sure that what happened was the right thing."
He put the double-bogey on No. 7 behind him with a par at No. 8 and a birdie at No. 9 that completed his round.
Six of McIlroy's birdies occurred on his first nine holes, which were the back nine on Thursday, and his only blemish on the second nine was the double at No. 7.
The seven-under 65 had to be a welcome sight for McIlroy, who shot three rounds in the 70s last week at the Arnold Palmer Invitational.
Wyndham Clark, Xander Schauffele Continue Solid Starts to PGA Tour Season
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The PGA Tour form guide suggested Clark and Schauffele would be in the mix at The Players.e
Clark won the shortened AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am and finished second last week at Bay Hill. Schauffele finished in the top 10 in four of his six PGA Tour starts this season.
Schauffele jumped into a tie for the lead with McIlroy from Thursday's early session, while Clark joined the three-way tie from the afternoon groups.
Schauffele produced seven birdies and did not give a shot back to the course, while Clark finished with three birdies on his final four holes.
The pair of seven-under 65s from Clark and Schauffele should serve as a signal to the rest of the field that they will be in contention all week and that low scores are mandatory to keep up with their rampant pace.
Scottie Scheffler Had Solid Start to Title Defense
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The pre-tournament favorite sits just two shots adrift of the leaders.
Scheffler produced his 18th round in the 60s this season with a five-under 67.
The reigning champion's remarkable consistency has had him in contention for every tournament he entered so far this season.
Scheffler's round opened with a bogey and then he produced six birdies and 11 pars to move up the leaderboard.
Last week's winner at the Arnold Palmer Invitational could set the pace on Friday at TPC Sawgrass from the morning wave of players.
He could reside in the outright lead by the time Schauffele and McIlroy hit the course on Friday afternoon.
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