Shock Aussie in mix for $6.8m prize as golf’s brutal test wreaks havoc: Players Champs Wrap

The first round at golf’s unofficial fifth major - the Players Championship - delivered moments of magic and utter horror in equal measure.

That included an ace on the iconic Island Green 17th hole, as well as a former top-ten player three-putting from close range on that same hole - and another player shooting a horrible 10 on the 18th hole after finding the water three times in succession.

The Australian contingent, hoping to emulate the now-banned Cam Smith’s brillliant victory last year, started strongly at TPC Sawgrass with a host of players shooting strong opening rounds as they bid to claim the $6.82 million prize.

World number 50 Min Woo Lee is leading the Australian charge in Florida, tied for sixth after shooting a four-under 68 despite battling cramp at times in the back nine.

American underdog Chad Ramey leads thanks to an eight-under 64 on his maiden appearance at the Florida course, ahead of Collin Morikawa on seven under after a brilliant 65. Both went bogey-free in the opening round, with world number 225 Ramey chasing just his second-ever PGA Tour win.

Canada’s Taylor Pendrith - who impressed on the same course last year - shares third at five-under after shooting 67 alongside American duo Ben Griffin and Justin Suh share third with a five-under 67.

Of the other Australians, Cam Davis carded a three-under 69 to sit tied for 11th, with five birdies mixed with three bogeys - including on the 18th - in an up-and-down round.

Jason Day, with top 10 finishes in his last four starts this season, finished his opening round two-under 70 after a clutch par save on the 18th. He is tied with another Aussie Harrison Endycott in a big group tied for 21st. Adam Scott is tied for 47th after an even-par 72.

It was a disastrous day for compatriot Lucas Herbert, however, who is in last place after carding a 10-over round.

The highlight of the day’s play was Hayden Buckley on the iconic 17th hole – the famed Island Green – with a sensational ace leading to wild celebrations.

The world number 107 was in just the second group to play the 17th hole on the opening morning at Ponte Vedra Beach, sending crowds into raptures with his early moment of magic.

But it was a different story for Nick Watney on the 17th, who three-putted from just a couple of feet to cop a nightmare quadruple bogey.

The former top-ten ranked player found the water - one of 16 balls that ended in the water on the 17th on the first day - before his torrid putting effort saw him card a seven on the par-three.

Aaron Wise hit three tee shots straight into the water on the 18th hole, before overcompensating by hitting his fourth attempt into the rough and the trees. He finished with a 10, the second-worst score in the history of the tricky hole - and seeing his score blow out to an eight-over 80.

Rory Battles as top three bemoan 'no joke' rough

World number three Rory McIlroy endured a disastrous start to his weekend, shooting a four-over 76 in his first round at TPC Sawgrass.

The four-time major champ suffered four bogeys and a double-bogey as well as two birdies on a wild day.

It’s not the first time McIlroy has struggled at the difficult course, missing the cut on five of his last 12 appearances at the venue.

His day began in dismal fashion, hitting a double-bogey six on the par-four tenth hole after overhitting a chip shot from the rough before needing two shots to escape a bunker.

The 2019 champion was playing alongside Jon Rahm and Scottie Scheffler – the top three ranked players in the world – with Scheffler nailing three birdies in the final four holes to finish on a four-under 68 that puts him tied for fourth. Rahm, who has five wins in his last 10 starts, had a tough day with the putter but still managed a one-under 71.

He said: “It’s difficult. You don’t have a lot of margin to miss out here. Even when you’re in the fairway, you have to hit a lot of quality shots to give yourself a birdie chance... It’s thick. It’s thick out there. It’s no joke. It’s very few times you’re going to have a ball in the rough where you can confidently think you can put it on the green.”

McIlroy said: “I feel like this is as penal as I’ve seen it out of the rough for a long time. I think you’d have to go back to when the tournament was played in May, when we were in Bermuda rough, for it to be as penal as that. Yeah, you don’t hit it on the fairway here, you’re going to struggle.”

He added that he was battling with a new driver in his bag, saying: “I wish I could use my driver from last year, but I can’t just because of -- you use a driver for so long, and...basically it just wouldn’t pass the test.

“I’ve just struggled a little bit off the tee the last couple weeks.”

Scheffler said: “I’m more satisfied with how I finished, I didn’t have my best stuff at all, I had a pretty bad warm-up this morning and didn’t feel too good coming out.

“I made a bunch of pars on the front nine so got something going there, but I’m proud of how I finished.”