You can’t win a PGA Tour tournament on a Thursday, but you can certainly lose it. After the opening Thursday morning rounds at TPC Sawgrass, all the big names are still squarely in contention at the 2017 Players Championship.
The Players Championship 2017 leaderboard: Jason Day, Rickie Fowler, Phil Mickelson all in position at TPC Sawgrass
Will McGirt sits atop the leaderboard, but Jason Day was the story of the morning at Sawgrass.
Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images
Defending champion Jason Day, Rickie Fowler, and Phil Mickelson all turned in solid 2-under-par rounds to open the championship, but they’re still three behind William McGirt, who’s out in front after the first half of the first-round action on Thursday in Ponte Vedra Beach. The career journeyman pro and 2016 Memorial winner turned in a 5-under-par round of 67 to lead J.B. Holmes & Alex Noren by two shots heading into the afternoon.
While it’s a nice start to the event for Day after a rough 2017, it could’ve been so much more. Day raced out to a 5-under-through-11-holes start, before giving it all back at the close. Starting on the back nine, the Aussie made bogey three of his final four holes at the 6th, 8th, and 9th to close with a 2-under-par 70. Still, he’s far from out of it at just three behind. If he’s able to defend his title, it’ll make for as memorable of a Mother’s Day as we’ve ever had on the PGA Tour. Day’s mom, Dening, is battling lung cancer.
Still, that’s just half the field or so to complete the opening round. Things ramp up this afternoon with Dustin Johnson, Rory McIlroy, and Justin Thomas all taking the course together. Sergio Garcia, your newly minted Masters champ, will take the course for the first time since his win here shortly as well.
Position | Player | Total | Thru | Today | Round 1 |
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