Rory McIlroy denied any wrongdoing over his handling of a rules controversy as he took the day-one lead at the Players Championship.
McIlroy found the water on the 7th hole – what was his 16th of the round – and there was debate over whether his ball had landed above or below the red hazard line.
The Northern Irishman argued it had landed above, enabling him to take a drop near from near the entry point to the water rather than having to return to the tee box.
Playing partner Jordan Spieth said in a lengthy rules debate with McIlroy and the officials, “Everyone I’m hearing that had eyes on it, which is not what matters, is saying they are 100% certain it landed below the red line. It’s what you guys thinks.”
The officials eventually sided with McIlroy, who went on to make a double bogey on his way to a round of seven-under par and a share of the lead with Xander Schauffele and Wyndham Clark.
“I feel like if I’ve done something wrong, it’ll play on my conscience for the rest of the tournament,” said McIlroy. “I’m a big believer in karma and, if you do something wrong, I feel like it’s going to come around and bite you at some point.
“I obviously didn’t try to do anything wrong out there. I tried to play by the rules and do the right thing. I was adamant that I saw it bounce above the red line. It’s up to you to be comfortable enough with your decision that you did see what you saw. I’m comfortable, I think that’s the most important thing.”
McIlroy had 10 birdies in all while Schauffele did not drop a single shot for his matching 65.
Matt Fitzpatrick, bidding to become the first Englishman to win the Players in its 50-year history, was a shot back from the leading trio.
His fellow Englishmen Justin Rose and Tommy Fleetwood both carded rounds of two-over par while Ryan Fox managed back-to-back eagles, including a hole in one on the infamous 17th, to be one shot better than the English duo.
