The 2010 Players Championship At TPC Sawgrass, First Round: Robert Allenby Leads At 7-Under, Tiger Prowling At 3-Under

As the afternoon groups finish up their opening rounds at TPC Sawgrass, Australian Robert Allenby has emerged as the new leader at 7-under through 16 holes. Allenby has thus far recorded a bogey-free round, finishing his front nine at 4-under, then recording three consecutive birdies after the turn followed by a string of pars.

J.B. Holmes is alone in second place at 6-under, with six players two shots back at 5-under, including Lee Westwood and Luke Donald. Davis Love III and Kenny Perry headline a group of eleven golfers a shot behind that, at 4-under.

A host of big names aren’t too far behind at 3-under, with Vijay Singh, Jim Furyk and K.J. Choi among them -- as well as one Eldrick Woods. Tiger got off to a slow, if solid, start, parring his first eight holes, before knocking in three birdies to sit at 3-under through 15 holes. With one more par-5 left, it’s certainly possible that Woods could end his day even lower.

Among other notable names, Phil Mickelson shot a 2-under 70, and 20 year-old phenom Rory McIlroy has followed his record-setting -- and first career -- win at Quail Hollow last week with an even round through 16 (although McIlroy did nearly all of his damage on the wekeend at Quail Hollow, barely making the cut).

For the latest on The Players Championship, check out the leaderboard here and a live view of the 17th hole (which TIger will be playing imminently) here.