With the morning groups finished and the afternoon groups making their way at TPC Sawgrass, we have a new leader: J.B. Holmes, who sits in the clubhouse at 6-under. Holmes fired a bogey-free round of 66 that saw him finish with a flurry, notching birdies on three of the final five holes to grab the outright lead.
The 2010 Players Championship At TPC Sawgrass, First Round: J.B. Holmes Leads At 6-Under, Tiger Woods Even
Luke Donald and Ben Crane led a group of five one shot back at 5-under, while a gaggle of golfers are two shots behind at 4-under. Among that group at 4-under are Bill Lunde, Ryuji Imada, Davis Love III, Kenny Perry and Robert Allenby -- all of whom are about halfway through their rounds.
Phil Mickelson wrapped up a 2-under round of 70, finishing with a pair of bogeys that dropped him down. Remember, if Mickelson manages to win The Players Championship and Tiger finishes out of the top-5, Lefty will supplant Woods as the top-ranked golfer in the world.
Speaking of that noted golf enthusiast, Tiger Woods is a slightly disappointing even through eight holes, on a day of favorable conditions when others are going low. Woods has parred every hole, including a nice save on the seventh hole after a disastrous pop-up drive that only went about 190 yards. That continues the trend of shaky play with his driver that has hampered him since his return from his self-imposed post-Thanksgiving Day crash exile.
Go here for an up-to-the-moment leaderboard, and here for a live look-in at the notorious 17th hole, the island par three.
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