McIlroy makes sluggish start as five share early lead at The Players
Sepp Straka and Sahith Theegala are part of a five-way tie for the early lead at The Players, as Rory McIlroy made a sluggish start to his title defence at TPC Sawgrass. Maverick McNealy set the initial clubhouse target after an opening-round 67 at the PGA Tour's flagship event, where play was halted for 20 minutes mid-round due to dangerous weather.
Straka posted five birdies in his bogey-free start and Lee Hodges made four birdies in a six-hole stretch to also get to five under, with Theegala make it a four-way tie having made a three-birdie start to his round.
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Austin Smotherman also reached five under with one hole remaining when play was suspended at 7.37pm local time (11.37pm) due to darkness, with the American facing a 15-foot birdie putt for the outright lead when he returns on Friday morning.Former Players champion Justin Thomas birdied three of his last five holes to get within one of the lead, with Tommy Fleetwood, Viktor Hovland, Ludvig Åberg and Xander Schauffele all in the logjam two off the pace.
World No 1 Scottie Scheffler carded a level-par 72 as he looks to win the event for a third time in four years, as McIlroy - who only arrived on Wednesday afternoon due to a back issue and entered without a practice round - registered just one birdie in a two-over 74.
"I don't feel like I'm that far away," McIlroy said. "No one went really low this afternoon, which I expected them to, just because the conditions were pretty benign. If I can go out and shoot a good one tomorrow, I feel like I'll be right in it for the weekend."
More to follow... Who will win The Players? Watch throughout the week live on Sky Sports. Live coverage continues Friday from 11.30am on Sky Sports Golf. Get Sky Sports or stream with no contract.
