Signing out!
That's all from round one at the Players and that means it's time for me to sign off for the day! It's been a fantastic showing of golf to open up this years championship. There's been some brilliant shots and scores and there's been some not so great shots and scores. Thank you for joining us today, see you soon!
DeChambeau: "For the most part, my iron play was beautiful today"
Bryson DeChambeau continued his good run of form after his win last week with an opening three-under 69. Speaking to Sky Sports, the US Open champion had this to say about his round.
"In the most part I was able to strike it really well off the tee. There was a couple errant tee shots - I'm going to go work on that - but for the most part, my iron play was beautiful today. I was really pleased with it and hopefully [I] can take it into tomorrow.
"[On taking driver out of his hands] It doesn't handcuff me per say, it just makes me play in places I usually wouldn't play from had there been no hazards up where I could hit it. You've still got to hit great irons, putt it well and wedge it well to have a chance out here.
Spieth: "Just trying to stay the course and get better each week"
Jordan Spieth spoke to Sky Sports after his round and he seemed like he has found his rhythm that saw him win four majors.
"Obviously when you play well, you're in better moods out there and when you're not playing well, it's a struggle. For me it's more about feeling like I have the freedom to just play golf versus worrying about saving every shot.
"That's been the goal for me and I've put a lot of work in to develop this kind of freedom and trust that I've been trying to build over the last month. [I'm] just trying to stay the course and get better each week."
Johnson, Morikawa and DeChambeau finish round one
The blockbuster group of the late tee offs have just finished their first round. World number one Dustin Johnson ended up on one-over par, Collin Morikawa shot a one-under 71 to open up his first Players Championship and Bryson DeChambeau had the pick of the rounds in the trio, shooting a three-under 69.
Saving the best until last..
Adam Scott has just won the tee shot of the day on 17 as he sticks it to a foot away for a certain birdie. The Australian won the competition back in 2004 and has the joint most birdies on the hole at the Players since 2003 with 15.
DeChambeau the latest to -3
Last week's winner is the latest to hit the three-under mark as he makes a birdie on the tough par three 17th. In his nine rounds at the Players, DeChambeau is -23 from holes 1 through 17 and +7 on the 18th alone, with three double bogeys or worse. He'll face that next as he closes out his round.
Dustin Johnson back to E
He's been quiet up until now! A bogey and birdie on the front nine to go out in 36 before a double on 11 had the world number one sat at +2. He's just eagled the 16th to move back to level after a glorious tee shot was followed by a a pin-point iron to 15 feet and then no mistake with his putter.
Will Zalatoris looking strong
Is Will Zalatoris a name you recognise? Well, get use to hearing it, especially as he closes out his round one. The American is three-under through 13 and has birded his last three holes to get that mark. He's obviously got the difficult par three at 17 and then the challenging drive on 18 left to navigate but he'll be happy with his performance up until now.
A look at the leaderboard
Brian Harman is the closest man to Sergio Garcia at the minute, sitting at -5 as he goes down the last. Shane Lowry is a shot back of him with four holes to play. Collin Morikawa is continuing to impress as he sits tied sixth at -3. At two under in the clubhouse are major champions Keegan Bradley and Gary Woodland, whilst Jordan Spieth is also at -2 with a few holes left.
World Number One struggling..
Dustin Johnson's day is not going according to plan. The World number one is currently sat at two-over par after a double bogey on eleven. Fast forward four holes to the 15th and he has a tough up-and-down from the green side bunker to make his par.
17 causing havoc!
It's another update about the 17th island green. It's been causing havoc for years and today is no different - it has been playing extremely difficult. There has been 31 balls put into the water surrounding the putting surface today and judging by how it's played today, that number is going to continue to rise.
Viktor Hovland penalised..
Viktor Hovland had hit an opening round two-under par 70 but it is now being reported as being a 72. Golf Channel's Ryan Lavner tweeted that Hovland violated Rule 14.7 after picking his ball up from the wrong place. The Norwegian marked his ball, moved his coin one putter head to get out of Justin Thomas' line, and then subsequently re-marked from the wrong spot.
Garcia's lead under pressure?
Sergio Garcia finished his round around two hours ago and since then, no-one has really gotten close to him. A few players have joined the likes of Matt Fitzpatrick and Corey Conners on -4 but no-one has gotten past that until now. It's that man Shane Lowry who has reached five-under and still has the majority of the back nine to play. Could he join Garcia or will he have the clubhouse lead come the end of play?
How to unwind after a poor opening round featuring Ian Poulter, Tyrell Hatton and Rory McIlroy
Bryson going for the green!
DeChambeau pulled off some spectacular drives at the sixth hole last week and he had tried for another again on the drivable par four 12th as he went for the green. The hole stretches 341 yards and Bryson hit it 306 yards as it caught the last of the huge bunker that runs parallel to the fairway else it was green bound. Did you know that DeChambeau is using a driver made four years ago?
Varner III and Hahn go close on 17
Harold Varner III is putting together a decent opening round as he sits at two-under through eight. He would have had the best tee shot of the day on 17 as he stuck it to just over five feet [according to TOURCast] but playing partner James Hahn hit it inside of that to two feet eleven inches. The latter birdied to move to -3.
Experience shows you how it's done
Steve Stricker is 54 years old and is currently tied for second place at -4. The US Ryder Cup captain used his experience and showed how to play the island green as he chose to avoid going for the flag and instead come up short. His putt was destined for the hole as soon as he hit it. An unexpected winner this week?
DeChambeau falls back to E
It's been an up and down front nine for the latest winner on the PGA Tour. He's hit two birdies and two bogeys, given himself opportunities but hasn't taken advantage of them. He's birdied one par five - the second - and has bogeyed the other at the ninth. He's at level par and has the back nine to attack.
Shane Lowry climbing leaderboard!
The 2019 Open champion Shane Lowry is putting together a nice round this afternoon as he reaches three-under with a birdie at the seventh. How low can the Irishman go and can he catch Sergio Garcia who has been unchallenged so far at the top of the leaderboard.
It's gone a bit quiet..
There isn't really much going on out there at the minute. Denny McCarthy has just stuck it to inside a foot away on the par five eleventh for a certain eagle to move to four-under and joint second. Bryson DeChambeau is back in the red numbers and is safely aboard the putting surface on the eighth hole.
Dustin Johnson drops shot at six
World number one Dustin Johnson has fallen back to even par after bogeying the sixth hole. The current Masters champion has had a solid start to this tournament but after birdying the second, he has given a shot back in unlikely fashion, missing his par putt from a few feet away.
What can you do, hey?
Three tee shots in the water at 17
Yes, it's another update on what a horrible hole 17 is. I wonder what Pete Dye was thinking when he created the hole because it is an absolute masterpiece. It's claimed another three victims from the same group as Robby Shelton, Anirban Lahiri and Kyoung-Hoon Lee all find the water with their tee shots. On the bright-side, they won't be the last to take a dip.
Garcia: "I was able to get a lot out of my round"
Speaking to Sky Sports following his opening 65, Garcia believed he wasn't playing his best golf. "I feel like I've been playing really well [but] not getting much out of my rounds. Don't get me wrong, I played nicely but it's not like I was flashing everything.
"I was able to get a lot out of my round which obviously, that helps."
Jon Rahm looking frustrated
Spaniard Jon Rahm is looking a little frustrated out there at the minute. Having negotiated the first two holes to remain at even par, he has bogeyed his next two. He's got to remain calm here or the course is going to snap him up. - he's got the talent to turn this around. Is Rahm one of, if not the, most frustrating players to watch on tour?
Double figures on 17..
I thought Kevin Na's eight on the 17th would be the largest number scored on the hole today, maybe even during the week but I was wrong. Byeong Hun An has carded an ELEVEN, eight-over par on the hole alone. I'm not sure it'll make him feel better but I'm not doing any better than that if I'm stepping up on that tee.
Jordan Spieth off to ideal start
You ideally want to be under par after the first two holes, whether you are starting on the first tee or the tenth tee and that is what Jordan Spieth has done. After an opening par, he has birdied the eleventh to get into the red. Is this the week where the four-time major champion records his first win since the Open Championship in 2017?
Fitzpatrick cards strong opening round
Matt Fitzpatrick has continued his good form over the course of the last few months by carding an opening four-under 68. He led the tournament at points in the round but finds himself three off the lead as he reflects on today's performance.
Bryson gets underway
Big-hitting Bryson DeChambeau has begun his first round fresh off a victory at the Arnold Palmer Invitational. He's joined by world number one Dustin Johnson and the exciting Collin Morikawa.
Kevin Na has horror show on 17
We have seen a host of players fall foul on the island green at 17 today and find the water. Well, Kevin Na is probably feeling the worst out of the lot. First his tee shot was wet, then his next two shots also found the water from the drop zone. The American ended up carding an eight as he shot from three-over to eight-over, in a tie for one-hundredth position.
The perfect ending..
Sergio Garcia cards seven-under 65
Sergio Garcia, who is in a grouping with Rory McIlroy and Webb Simpson, has carded a seven-under 65 to take the clubhouse lead after a strong showing in the opening round that included two eagles. The same can't be said for McIlroy who finished the day with a bogey to end up on +7. Simpson carded a solid round to finish one-under par.
Change at the top..
Fitzpatrick was alone at the top of the leaderboard for about a hole as Sergio Garcia has now joined the Englishman on five-under. Garcia has birdied his last two holes and is now on the green in two on the par five ninth (his final hole) with a putt for eagle.
Fitzpatrick back in front!
He might have dropped a shot - his only one thus far - a few holes ago but Matt Fitzpatrick does what every good player does and responds almost instantly. His second shot on the par four 14th comes up short of the green but he chips the following shot in. He had a two shot lead for a second after Higgs bogeyed his eleventh hole but Garcia birdied to get to -4.
They say that 17 is an issue..
Let's take a look around the course
Phil Mickelson, after a good start, is sitting at level par after three birdies and three bogeys through 16 holes. Fellow American Justin Thomas joins Lefty at even whilst former US Open champion Gary Woodland is a shot better at -1. Tyrell Hatton is one-over after 12 holes as he looks for a strong finish to his opening round.
More trouble off the tee for McIlroy
He's been having swing issues all day and has once again pulled his tee shot on the par four sixth, almost finding the water but it stays dry, just. His natural shot shape is a draw but these have been hooks and pulls, putting him a long way out of position. He's fighting his swing, just as he did in the final round at the Arnold Palmer Invitational last weekend.
Leader Matt Fitzpatrick bogeys 12
The leader of the tournament Matt Fitzpatrick has bogeyed his 12th hole to fall back and join American Harry Higgs on -4. He had made an eagle and three birdies and not dropped a shot up until then.
Realistic target for Rory?
When Rory McIlory woke up this morning, I am sure he was thinking today would go a lot differently to how it is. He's currently sat at seven-over through 13 holes so what is a realistic target for this round? He's got to be looking at a few birdies in his remaining five holes. His last hole is a par five that he can easily reach in two so you're thinking birdie there. Get back to +5 and shoot low tomorrow and maybe he makes the weekend, just maybe.
I'm back after a short break!
Like every good golfer takes a break from playing a tournament, I decided to take one too. Whilst I was gone, Matt Fitzpatrick has risen to the top of the leaderboard, sitting pretty at -5. Harry Higgs is a shot back at four-under through eight holes then is the group at -3 that includes Lee Westwood and Sergio Garcia. Viktor Hovland has got into the red numbers and McIlroy is sat at +6 through 12.
Lee Westwood to the top
The Englishman is the latest to join the group at -3 after he sinks a birdie on 12. Westwood continues his good form after falling just short last week to Bryson DeChambeau at the Arnold Palmer Invitiational.
Misjudement at 17..
17 is having a day. Paul Casey is the next to find the water as his tee shot takes one bounce on the putting surface before finding the wet stuff. Paul McGinley on Sky Sports commentary believes it's down to misjudgment from the players who are taking on a back pin that if you get it a foot wrong, you are in trouble.
Quadruple bogey for Rory..
It's a horror end to the front nine for Rory McIlroy as he records a quadruple bogey to move to +7. He's had little to smile about since his opening tee shot where he hooked it right into the trees and that's continued all the way to 18. He'll have to battle to make the weekend from here.
Webb Simpson and Rory McIlroy find the water at 18
Two years ago, Rory McIlroy hit the perfect drive on 18 on his way to the title. Today, a change of fortune as he finds the water down the left with his tee shot and then again with his third shot. Webb Simpson had gone before the Northern Irishman and found the wet stuff off the tee.
Matsuyama going steady
Hideki Matsuyama flew out of the traps in the first round at last years Players before the tournament was cancelled. He shot a nine-under 63 on the opening day that day but is sitting at even through seven holes today.
Sergio Garcia leads the way!
The 2017 Masters champion is currently at the top of the leaderboard on -3 after a birdie on the par five 16th. He's successfully negotiated finding the green on 17 and has a putt for birdie. The chasing pack are one shot back on two-under.
Corey Conners holes out from the fairway!
Canadian Corey Conners has holed out from the fairway on 14 from 150 yards away. A delicious looking shot pitches about a foot away and just trickles towards the hole and falls in. Conners is in a rich vein of form at the minute.
That's how you play 17!
Billy Horschel has just shown how you play the 17th at Sawgrass. His tee shot finds the dance floor around 18 feet from the hole. He lines up the putt, hits it with the perfect pace and it finds the centre of the cup. The runner-up at the Concession two weeks ago moves into a tie of the lead at -2 with that birdie.
Rory's putter is cold
It's such an opposite of how it performed last week at the Arnold Palmer Invitational. Rory has looked good with the putter in hand over the last few weeks but today it is as cold as ice. The four-time major champion is the wrong side of par at the minute and needs to get something going soon.
Some big names finding it tough out there..
There's some big names that are finding it hard out there early this morning. Tony Finau has had a torrid time through his front nine, sitting at six-over. 2016 Open Champion Henrik Stenson is a shot worse at seven-over whilst defending Players champion Rory McIlroy is +3 and joined by Xander Schauffele at that number.
Birdie chances aplenty!
As daunting as TPC Sawgrass is, it does offer up birdie opportunities. Patrick Cantlay has just birdied the tough 15th hole to get back to even. Keegan Bradley is one-under through three holes. Matt Fitzpatrick and Sebastián Muñoz are at the top of the leaderboard at -2 after Phil Mickelson just bogeyed to fall back to -1.
17 claims it's first!
When you think of TPC Sawgrass, you think of the 17th and it's island green. Well, it hasn't taken long for it to claim it's first victim in Kyle Stanley who hits it long. Lucas Glover almost followed him into the drink but it catches a piece of the long grass and stays dry. Tyler McCumber is the pick of the tee shots as his ball ends up five feet from the hole.
Englishmen off to good starts
No Englishman has ever won the Players, will that change this week? Paul Casey and Matt Fitzpatrick are one-under through one, whilst Lee Westwood joins them on the same score through his first six holes.
Mickelson looking good early on!
Phil Mickelson is looking good through his opening holes here. The American is two-under through four and sits at the top of the leaderboard early on day one of the championship.
Tough start for Rory..
It's an opening double bogey for McIlroy after trouble off the tee. He fourth shot found the putting surface but span back to almost 20 feet leaving a tough uphill put to save bogey. Webb Simpson and Sergio Garcia both settled for a par.
Here's Rory McIlroy!
McIlroy has his first round underway but his first tee shot is pulled into the trees down the left side of the fairway. He reloads and goes again and his second tee shot finds the sand on the left. Sergio Garcia and Webb Simpson find the short grass on 10.
Justin Thomas begins round one
The excellent Justin Thomas has begun his first round and his tee shot is drilled down the centre of the fairway on 10. Patrick Cantlay finds the right rough and Viktor Hovland is just back of Thomas in the fairway.
Phil Mickelson birdies opening hole!
Lefty has got his first round underway in the perfect fashion with a birdie. A glorious second shot pitches 15 feet above the hole and spins back to around eight feet where he makes no mistake. Elsewhere in the group, Tony Finau double bogeys and Charles Howell III settles for a par.
Lee Westwood underway!
Last weeks runner-up has began his first round. He sends his tee shot 275 yards but finds the right rough just off the fairway. The Englishman is paired with Robert McIntyre and Louis Oosthuizen.
Welcome to Thursday at the Players!
Good morning, Ben checking in here! We are about five minutes away from the first groupings getting their 2021 Players Championship underway. Do you have a clear winner this week?
Late Featured Group Coverage
To start the second wave of featured group coverage, former Masters champions Jordan Speith and Patrick Reed are paired with John Rahm. They get their rounds under way at 17:49 PM (GMT). In the last group is World Number One Dustin Johnson, and he is joined by the last two winners of PGA Tour events, Bryson DeChambeau and Collin Morikawa. They go off at 6:00 PM (GMT).
Early Featured Group Coverage
Early featured group coverage begins at 12:29 PM (GMT) with Justin Thomas, Patrick Cantlay and Viktor Hovland making up the first trio. Defending champion Rory McIlroy leads the second featured group that boasts another two past winners in Sergio Garcia and Webb Simpson. They tee off at 12:40 PM (GMT).
Your host for this weekend's coverage
I'm Ben Jones and I'll be on the live blog following the players tackle the famous TPC Sawgrass. I'm a final year sports journalism student in Cardiff and I'm a keen golfer too!
Welcome to the 2021 Players Championship!
It's here! The Players Championship at TPC Sawgrass has arrived and per usual, it boasts a star-studded field full of past champions, major champions and PGA Tour winners.