PONTE VEDRA BEACH, Fla. (AP) — For all the hype over Rory McIlroy and Jordan Spieth playing together, and the constant curiosity over Tiger Woods, one element at The Players Championship didn't change Thursday. The big star was the golf course.
Charley Hoffman had eight birdies in a round that showed the TPC Sawgrass can strike at any time. A triple bogey on his 10th hole turned a great day into a good one, and his 5-under 67 gave him a share of the lead with Hideki Matsuyama, David Hearn and Kevin Na.
McIlroy lived up to his end of the bargain with a 3-under 69. So did Jason Day, who joined golf's new power group. Spieth went the other direction, racking up five bogeys for a 75 that matched his highest score of the year.
Woods made double bogey on the 18th hole for a 73.