The Players Championship: Lucas Glover shares lead, Rory McIlroy joint-second after first round
Former U.S. Open champion Lucas Glover is one of three players to win the lead after the first round of the Florida player championship.
Glover, 45, birdieged in his last four holes at TPC Sawgrass, gaining a low lead in PAR six 66 before compatriot JJ Spaun and Colombia’s Camilo Villegas joined him in the lead floor.
World No. 2 Rory McIlroy also took advantage of sun-drenched conditions to shoot an impressive five-five 67 with seven birdies, including three birdies in the 18th and two bogeys.
His initial journey on four-four ended up on pine straw in the trees to the right of the fairway, but his second shot was only 8 feet from the cup, and he leaned from there.
2019 winner McIlroy said: “I just wanted to leverage five chips in front of the green and run out four and get out there.”
“In the green and in the hole, putting is a lovely way to end, and that’s a bonus.
“I certainly didn’t drive it like I wanted. I didn’t hit it on the fairway like I wanted.
“I think you can get rid of it a little bit with the green so accepting. I won’t be able to get rid of it for the rest of the week.
“I’m a little lucky.”
The Northern Irish avoided his star-studded group, including the world’s No. 1 Scottie Scheffler and No. 3 Xander Schauffele.
Defending champion Scheffler ended the game with a 69 stroke as he began his third straight player victory attempt while Schauffele hit 72.
The field of competition includes the top 50 players in the world.
