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Elliott Heath

Players Championship Leaderboard And Live Updates: Rory McIlroy Starts Strong As Ryan Fox Makes Hole-In-One On 17th At TPC Sawgrass

Rory McIlroy Jordan Spieth Viktor Hovland TPC Sawgrass Patrick Cantlay Scottie Scheffler Players Championship PGA Tour Anthony Kim Justin Thomas
(Image credit: Getty Images)

It's the biggest event of the year so far as the PGA Tour's best descend on TPC Sawgrass for the 50th Players Championship.

Rory McIlroy is the biggest name out in the morning, playing with Viktor Hovland and Jordan Spieth, and he got off to a stunning start with a five-under-par 31 on his front nine. Xander Schauffele is going along very nicely, as are Tommy Fleetwood and Ludvig Aberg.

Elsewhere, Ryan Fox went eagle-eagle at 16 and 17 as he recorded a hole-in-one on the iconic, island green par 3.

World No.1 Scottie Scheffler, who defends his title and is in hot form after a five-stroke victory at Bay Hill last week, plays this afternoon with Rickie Fowler and Justin Thomas at 1.40pm ET.

NOTABLE PLAYERS GROUPS (ET):

Big groups out on the course this morning:

  • 8.24am: Sam Burns, Xander Schauffele, Tommy Fleetwood
  • 8.35am: Viktor Hovland, Rory McIlroy, Jordan Spieth
  • 8.46am: Ludvig Åberg, Patrick Cantlay, Adam Scott

Big groups in the afternoon:

  • 1.29pm: Hideki Matsuyama, Matt Fitzpatrick, Max Homa
  • 1.40pm: Scottie Scheffler, Rickie Fowler, Justin Thomas
  • 1.51pm: Wyndham Clark, Collin Morikawa, Brian Harman

Players Championship Leaderboard

  • -7 Xander Schauffele
  • -6 Rory McIlroy
  • -6 Nick Taylor
  • -5 Ludvig Aberg
  • -5 Tom Hoge
  • -5 Nate Lashley
  • -5 Jason Day
  • -4 Taylor Montgomery
  • -4 Michael Kim
  • -4 CT Pan
  • -4 Sepp Straka
  • -3 Lee Hodges
  • -3 Christiaan Bezuidenhout
  • -3 Ryan Fox
  • -3 Ryo Hisatsune

Updates from...

Hello and welcome to our live Players Championship blog, where the PGA Tour's best are set to face the challenge of the famous TPC Sawgrass.

We have 2019 champion and World No.2 Rory McIlroy out this morning alongside Jordan Spieth and Viktor Hovland. Defending champ Scottie Scheffler is out in the afternoon, where he'll get his title defence underway.

Follow along all day - and all weekend with Golf Monthly - where we'll be keeping you updated with the goings-on in Florida.

The STADIUM COURSE IS READY

RORY MCILROY OUT AT 8.35AM ET

The World No.2 is off in 50 minutes' time alongside Jordan Spieth and Viktor Hovland. He won here in 2019 - one of a number of venues he's a past champion at...

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HOW MUCH DOES IT COST TO PLAY TPC SAWGRASS?

A peak green fee at the Stadium Course costs a whopping $900.

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NOTABLE PLAYERS CHAMPIONSHIP TEE TIMES:

(ET)

Big groups this morning:

  • 8.24am: Sam Burns, Xander Schauffele, Tommy Fleetwood
  • 8.35am: Viktor Hovland, Rory McIlroy, Jordan Spieth
  • 8.46am: Ludvig Åberg, Patrick Cantlay, Adam Scott

Big groups in the afternoon:

  • 1.29pm: Hideki Matsuyama, Matt Fitzpatrick, Max Homa
  • 1.40pm: Scottie Scheffler, Rickie Fowler, Justin Thomas
  • 1.51pm: Wyndham Clark, Collin Morikawa, Brian Harman

TIME TO FOCUS ON THE GOLF

There's no LIV players here this week and the Players Championship is no longer golf's fifth Major, but there's still a super strong field at TPC Sawgrass.

So far this week we've had a huge Jay Monahan press conference - his first since August - as well as strong comments from Rory McIlroy, Scottie Scheffler and Viktor Hovland.

But it's now time to focus on the golf. It's set to be a superb week in Florida over what is one of the greatest courses in the professional game. 

PLAY UNDERWAY

Play has begun at TPC Sawgrass on a beautiful morning. Troy Merritt is off to the perfect start with a birdie at his first hole.

RORY MCILROY'S SPECIAL SHOES

Look out for these beauties today. McIlroy is wearing a pair of special Nike Players Championship shoes this week at TPC Sawgrass, with hold accents to pay homage to the trophy.

A GORGEOUS FLORIDA MORNING

(Image credit: Getty Images)

FIRST BIRDIE OF THE 2024 PLAYERS CHAMPIONSHIP

A perfect start for Troy Merritt.

OTHER NEWS: ANTHONY KIM STRUGGLES ON ASIAN TOUR

Anthony Kim is making his first start back in a non-LIV event this week on the Asian Tour, where he's well down the leaderboard at the Macau Open.

Read more on Anthony Kim's Macau Open struggles

(Image credit: Getty Images)

PERFECT START FOR TROY MERRITT

The American has started birdie-birdie to take the early lead.

PLAYERS CHAMPIONSHIP PRIZE MONEY PAYOUT

There's a huge $25m up for grabs this week, with the winner walking away with a massive $4.5m.

(Image credit: Getty Images)

RORY MCILROY IS OFF

Huge crowds around the 10th tee as McIlroy, Spieth and Hovland get started.

Hovland steps up first and stripes a fairway wood down the middle, McIlroy does the same while Spieth pushes one up the right into the pine straw.

MCILROY IN TIGHT AT 10

From 117 yards, the World No.2 knocks a wedge down and it checks and spins to within around 6ft.

He'll have that for an opening birdie, while Hovland spun his ball off the green and Spieth missed in the bunker short, right.

KUUUUCHH

The 2012 Players Champion has a two stroke lead at the top after a birdie-eagle start. Kuch chipped in for a three at the par 5 11th.

Forgotten about Kuchar? He hasn't won in five years but remains in the world's top 100 at 87th, although he's missed three consecutive cuts leading into this week.

BIRDIE FOR RORY

A superb start from McIlroy who converts his six-footer for an opening birdie at the 10th.

Par 5 11th up next.

THE CADDIE CHAMP

Vincent Norrman's bagman Sean McDonagh hit it to within 3ft on the island-green 17th yesterday to take the caddie title - fair play!

SPIETH BOGEY

The Texan dropped a shot on the 10th, his 1st hole, after failing to get up-and-down from the bunker.

On the par 5 11th, McIlroy and Spieth find the fairway as Hovland pulls it left.

MCILROY'S OPENING BIRDIE

MCILROY ON THE GREEN IN TWO ON THE PAR 5 11th

A very solid iron shot from the World No.2 from just inside 230 yards. He's got a two-putt to start birdie-birdie.

MCILROY BIRDIES AS SPIETH BOUNCES BACK

It's a birdie-birdie start for Rory McIlroy, who two-putts at the par 5 11th for a dream start.

Jordan Spieth makes his sandy birdie to get back to level.

CANTLAY TO THE TOP

Kuchar drops a shot at the 13th to fall back to -3, while Patrick Cantlay starts birdie-eagle to join him at the top. What a start!

And Rory McIlroy has 5ft at the 12th to join them...

MCILROY JOINS THE LEAD

He slots home from 5ft at the short par 4 12th to start birdie-birdie-birdie!

WHAT A START FROM RORY

(Image credit: Getty Images)
  • Hole 10: Birdie
  • Hole 11: Birdie
  • Hole 12: Birdie

HOW MCILROY MADE BIRDIE AT 12

SPIETH STRUGGLING AT 13

Jordan goes long of the par 3 and his chip barely makes the green. Going to have around 15ft to save his par to stay at level.

Hovland also went long and he's got the putter out - and he's rolled it up to within tap-in range.

MCILROY FROM 22FT...

The World No.2 has a right-to-lefter on the 13th for birdie and it falls short and left. He's got 3ft for par to stay three-under.

BIG PAR SAVE FROM SPIETH

He rolls it in from 15ft to remain at level par on the 13th. Huge save!

McIlroy does indeed tap in for par to stay three-under.

Huge galleries following this group.

HUGE DRIVE ON 14 FROM MCILROY

He flights one down, with a massive 184mph ball speed, and it's a 320+ yard rocket on the 490 yard par 4.

A tricky hole but he'll have a mere short iron in. This is a very promising start for the World No.2

FIRST GROUPS REACH THE 17TH

Taylor Montgomery - the PGA Tour's best putter - almost holes his iron shot and spins it off the front of the green. Luckily there's some rough to catch his ball.

Troy Merritt has stuck it in close for what should be the first birdie on the infamous par 3. No water balls...yet.

(Image credit: Getty Images)

MCILROY WITH ANOTHER BIRDIE CHANCE AT 14

From 167 after a 325 yard drive, McIlroy's 9-iron comes up just short but right on line. He's going to have another good look at birdie just up the hill on the 490+ yard 14th.

CANTLAY BOGEY

The American drops a shot at the par 3 13th after missing the green right. He's back to two-under.

HUGE BIRDIE PUTT FROM HOVLAND, SPIETH HOLES TOO

Viktor rolls in a 28-footer on the 14th to get to one-under.

Spieth has 18ft for a three, and he holes it too!

McIlroy's birdie putt is 15ft - can he convert?

MCILROY FROM 14'8" AT 14...

An uphill right-to-lefter for Rory...and it's in!

CT PAN TO -3

The Taiwan star is the third player today to start birdie-eagle on the back nine!

MCILROY IN THE FAIRWAY AT 15

Another excellent tee shot from Rory on 15, the dogleg-right par 4. He's 311 yards down there with 148 yards left in.

An incredible start. Once he gets through 15, he's got the par 5 16th and then the famous 17th. 

VAN ROOYEN ALSO TO -3

The South African has started birdie-birdie-birdie. The PGA Tour's best are ripping up the back nine on this calm morning.

TAYLOR PENDRITH'S NIGHTMARE STRETCH

The big hitting Canadian was having a lovely morning after four consecutive pars but it's gone drastically downhill with a four-hole stretch of double-double-bogey-bogey to fall six-over after 8 holes. Ouch.

Update: He birdied the 18th! Back to five-over and hopefully his morning has just got a little better.

MCILROY'S FOURTH BIRDIE IN FIVE HOLES:

MCILROY INTO THE 15TH

From the middle of the fairway and with just 148 yards in, he pushes it right and his ball just about clings on to the green. 

MCILROY PARS 15

From 44ft he's rolled it up to inches and taps in for par. A solid hole there and he's four-under after six. Remains top of the leaderboard.

Kuchar has just gone in the water on 16 so will do well to avoid dropping back to two-under.

MCILROY BOMB ON 16

He carries it 327 yards up the right side of the par 5, and 338 total, to leave just 176 yards in from the second cut. Surely another good birdie look is coming up.

The Northern Irishman is 27-under-par in 40 rounds on the 16th. That might go to 28-under in about 15 minutes' time.

WHY ISN'T TIGER WOODS IN THE FIELD THIS WEEK?

(Image credit: Getty Images)

We expected Woods to be making his second start of the year this week at TPC Sawgrass, but it now looks like his next appearance will be at Augusta next month.

RORY MCILROY'S HOT START

(Image credit: Getty Images)

For those catching up, McIlroy has got off to a stunning start at TPC Sawgrass this morning.

He opened with a birdie thanks to a lovely knocked down wedge into the 10th, then birdied the par 5 11th and the short par 4 12th.

His fourth birdie of the day came at the 490 yard 14th, where he rolled in a 15-footer after a big drive and just a 9-iron in. He currently on the 16th hole after a 338 yard drive.

MCILROY'S SECOND INTO THE 16TH

From the first cut he finds the front of the green and will have 26ft up the hill for eagle.

That must have only been a 9-iron in to this 516 yard par 5.

MICHAEL KIM TO -3

The Twitter sensation, who has one win on the PGA Tour, got to three-under with this birdie on 17 before dropping a shot on 18.

FLEETWOOD TO -2

The Englishman opened with five consecutive pars but has just gone birdie-birdie at 15 and 16 to jump up into the logjam at two-under.

MCILROY TO FIVE!

The World No.2 rolls his eagle putt up from 26ft right next to the hole and he's tapped in for another birdie. Gets him to five-under and now two clear at the top. 17 up next.

VAN ROOYEN CHARGING

The South African started birdie-eagle and he's just picked up another birdie at the long 14th to move within one of McIlroy's early lead.

MCILROY ON THE 17TH

WOW! His wedge shot lands just long and right of the pin on the iconic island par 3 and spins back to leave a putt of just 6'6".

If he holes that, he's six-under after eight.

MCILROY BIRDIES 17!

He holes from just inside 7ft and he's SIX-UNDER after EIGHT holes. Wow.

EAGLE FOR LUDVIG

The Swedish star, who makes his TPC Sawgrass debut this week, moves to three-under after an eagle at 16, with playing partner Cantlay also joining him at -3 thanks to a birdie.

RORY IN THE WATER AT 18

Ouch. He pulls his drive up the left and splash.

WHERE DID RORY'S BALL CROSS?

McIlroy, Spieth and Hovland are still on the 18th tee debating where the Northern Irishman's ball crossed into the water. 

It looked like he might be hitting three-off-the-tee but they've started walking up now. He and Viktor Hovland's caddie are in agreement that it crossed further up.

SCHAUFFELE BIRDIES 18

The American sticks it to within 3ft on the 18th hole and he turns in three-under.

MCILROY'S BIRDIE ON 17

MCILROY DROPS ON 18

He's taken his drop and is 293 yards out and finds the front of the green thanks to stunning 3-wood.

A bogey would be a brilliant result here.

SCHAUFFELE'S BIRDIE ON 18

MCILROY TAPS IN FOR BOGEY AT 18

A very good result in the end after his drive found the water left. A brilliant 3-wood from 290 yards got him onto the green and he managed a two-putt from long range.

Could be worse, and a five-under front nine is a superb start to his week at TPC Sawgrass.

Leads by one after Nick Taylor reached 4-under.

SCHAUFFELE TO -4

The American moves up to T2nd after a birdie at the 1st, where he holed from 10ft.

His playing partner Tommy Fleetwood also birdied to move to -3.

MCILROY SPLITS THE FAIRWAY AT THE 1ST

No signs of frustration after that bogey as he splits the fairway on the 1st with a 271 yard fairway wood.

He's got 141 left - but a poor approach comes up short, right and spins off the front of the green.

MCILROY WITH ANOTHER GREAT LAG PUTT

From 48ft just on the edge of the 1st, McIlroy rolls it up to tap-in distance. He's been very good on the greens so far today, ranking 2nd for the field currently.

HOLE-IN-ONE ON 17

Ryan Fox just aced 17!

He's just gone eagle-eagle!!

TOM KIM OUT

"Tom Kim WD during the first round of THE PLAYERS Championship due to illness," the PGA Tour says.

HOW ABOUT THIS STAT?

RYAN FOX'S HOLE-IN-ONE!

SCHAUFFELE JOINS MCILROY

Xander makes a long two-putt from the front of the par 5 2nd green to join Rory McIlroy at the top.

Elsewhere, Tommy Fleetwood has done the same to reach four-under.

MCILROY SETS UP EAGLE CHANCE ON 2, MAKES BIRDIE

From 229 yards, McIlroy hits it to within 36ft on the par 5 2nd and once again he's hit a brilliant lag putt.

It's the easiest of birdies for the World No.2 and he's back on top of the leaderboard.

SCHAUFFELE MATCHES MCILROY!

The American birdies the par 3 3rd courtesy of a 25-footer and he's now gone birdie-birdie-birdie-birdie!

He joins McIlroy at the top.

MCILROY WITH 17FT FOR BIRDIE AT 3

He's perfectly pin high at the par 3 3rd and has a good look at birdie to regain the lead.

MCILROY PARS 3

His putt just stays left and he taps in to stay six-under-par and T1st.

LUDVIG ABERG!

The Ryder Cup star hits it to just 12ft with his second shot on the 2nd and he is now up to five-under-par! What a player the young Swede is, who is now inside the world's top 10 just nine months after turning pro.

FLEETWOOD TO FIVE

The Englishman stuck his second into the 4th to within 5ft and he has moved up to five-under-par too. What a great looking leaderboard this is.

JUSTIN ROSE FROM THE BUNKER!

HOW TOMMY FLEETWOOD REACHED FIVE-UNDER:

MCILROY TO SEVEN!

The Northern Irishman holes from 10ft on the 4th to move up to seven-under-par. He hit a lovely wedge into the back-right pin that landed past it and checked up.

He's looking very good with the flat stick today.

FOX'S ACE FROM A FAN'S VIEW:

XANDER SCHAUFFELE...WOW

Somehow his tee shot stayed dry on the 5th and he has just played a beauty to set up birdie.

His ball was well below his feet and in the rough from 150 yards away, yet he gets it high enough to stop on a dime on the front of the green and right next to the pin. It's 2ft 8inches away and I'm giving him that - his fifth birdie in six holes.

Stay tuned to this page and we'll hopefully have a highlight to show you from the PGA Tour's social pages.

Rory McIlroy, in the group behind, has just found the bunker.

XANDER SCHAUFFELE'S STUNNING BIRDIE AT 5

This is the shot I was just talking about...

SUPERB BUNKER SHOT FROM MCILROY ON 5

From the fairway bunker, McIlroy hits a brilliant iron from 159 yards. It's not quite as close as Schauffele's but it leaves him with 19ft for birdie.

'VIDEO GAME RORY'

THE DEFENDING CHAMP HAS ARRIVED

SCHAUFFELE MISSES HIS FIRST GREEN OF THE DAY

Xander has just spun it off the green on the 6th after hitting 14 consecutive greens in regulation. That's poor from 100 yards.

MCILROY PARS 5

His 19-footer just scrapes the right side of the hole and he has to settle for par there.

Still seven-under with the short par 4 6th ahead.

SAWGRASS PLAYING 'EASY'

"This is about as easy as I've seen this golf course play," Andrew Coltart says on the Sky Sports broadcast.

"It has no teeth," Rich Beem says.

MCILROY TO 8-UNDER!

He hits a lovely wedge into the short 6th after finding the fairway with a long iron and converts from 15ft.

He has been brilliant today.

NINE BIRDIES FOR MCILROY IN 15 HOLES

How about this scorecard?

(Image credit: PGATour.com)

SCHAUFFELE IN TROUBLE ON 7

The American hits it miles right into the trees and pine straw on the 7th and he can't reach the green in two. He hits what looks like a full wedge and has done a great job to advance it to within pitching distance. 

Could be a bogey though.

Schauffele's playing partner Tommy Fleetwood is also having some troubles on the 7th after finding the water left off the tee. He's had four shots and is still 120 yards away. Looks like it could be a triple bogey incoming.

MCILROY LEFT ON 7 - I THINK IT'S WET

He tried to play a fade off the water on the 7th and double crossed it. Looks like he's followed Tommy Fleetwood into the water, who he's just been waiting on the tee for.

MCILROY DID INDEED GO IN THE WATER ON 7

It's the second time he's pulled it left into water today. They're just working out where to drop it.

SAD NEWS FOR FLEETWOOD FANS

The Englishman went on to make triple bogey after hitting it into the water off the tee. Huge shame as that drops him back to two-under after having a brilliant round going.

CONFUSION OVER RORY'S DROP

McIlroy, Spieth and Hovland all in discusson over where Rory McIlroy's drop should be. Nobody knows.

MCILROY'S NINTH BIRDIE OF THE DAY:

STILL CONFUSION HERE

Players, caddies and officials aren't sure where McIlroy's ball crossed the line on the 7th and we're still in discussions. 

HANDING OVER...

Elliott Heath signing off here as Joel Kulasingham takes over for the remainder of the day's play.

RORY BACK IN PLAY

So after a long period of discussion with rules officials over where Rory's ball crossed before going in the water, he finally gets to hit his third shot of the 7th after the much-debated drop. Both Speith and Hovland didn't sound happy with where McIlroy got to drop the ball. Rory only manages to get it on the edge of the green with his third, and his chip almost hits the cup but leaves him with a testy 10-foot bogey putt.

DOUBLE BOGEY FOR RORY

Big setback for McIlroy as he can't convert his 10-foot bogey putt on the 7th after finding the water. So that puts him back to -6, a shot behind current leader Schauffele.

THE MCILROY DROP DRAMA:

SCHAUFFELE ENDS WITH A PAR

Schauffele posts 65 for his first round after a par on the 9th, his 18th hole. He'll be disappointed with that finish after hitting his chip on his third shot over the green. He currently has a one-shot lead over McIlroy and Nick Taylor. 

His playing partner Fleetwood also completes his round with a par to end on -2, while Sam Burns cards a one-over 73.

BIG NAMES GETTING READY TO TEE OFF

World No.1 Scottie Scheffler will tee off for his first round in about 10 or so minutes, as the big names for the afternoon session start to get their tournaments going. Here are three big groups teeing off soon (time in ET):

1.29pm: Hideki Matsuyama, Matt Fitzpatrick, Max Homa

1.40pm: Scottie Scheffler, Rickie Fowler, Justin Thomas

1.51pm: Wyndham Clark, Collin Morikawa, Brian Harman

ANOTHER BIRDIE FOR ABERG

Aberg bounces back from his first bogey of his round on the 7th with a birdie on the 8th to move to -5 alongside Tom Hoge and Jason Day, who have both finished their rounds.

NICK DUNLAP PIN HUNTING:

MCILROY FINISHES WITH A BIRDIE

Despite an up-and-down final few holes, it's a return to form for Rory as he posts a seven-under 65 to join Schauffele for a tie for the lead. He managed to knock in his 15-footer on the par-5 9th to end his round on a high. That's 10 birdies, with one bogey and a double. 

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