Rory McIlroy produced an early birdie burst and was involved in a heated rules debate with Jordan Spieth during an eventful opening round at The Players.
McIlroy came into the event without a top-20 finish on the PGA Tour this year but shrugged off early-season struggles with his irons to share the clubhouse lead with Xander Schauffele. The world No 2 mixed 10 birdies - his career best in one round at TPC Sawgrass - with a bogey and a double-bogey to post a seven-under 65 in calm conditions on Thursday morning.
I feel like I obviously did that those two drops.' McIlroy makes fast start at SawgrassBeginning on the 10th tee, McIlroy made the perfect start when he opened with a birdie and then two-putted from 60 feet to take advantage of the par-five 11th. McIlroy followed a five-foot birdie at the 12th by rolling in from 15 feet at the 14th, with the Northern Irishman jumping clear of the field when he added a tap-in birdie at the par-five 16th.
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