The Players Championship 2021 – R-1 Review/Preview
Note: The first round was suspended due to darkness at 6:32 p.m. ET with 21 players left on the course and will resume at 7:30 a.m. Friday. The early Round Tee Times will go as planned (they started at 6:45am).
The 2008 Players Championship winner Sergio Garcia made two eagles and held a two-stroke lead, after partial completion of Round One. His (65) was a tournament record 25th round in the 60s.
Brian Harman stands in solo-second after a (67) that included four consecutive birdies on Nos. 9-12.
Matthew Fitzpatrick (T-3) at (-4) posted his second sub-70 score in 13 rounds at The Players (first: 69, R-1/2016).
FedExCup leader Bryson DeChambeau opened with a 3-under (69), his eighth under-par score in nine rounds at the event. DeChambeau is the only player to win multiple tournaments during the 2020-21 season (U.S. Open, Arnold Palmer Invitational).
Reigning FedExCup champion and World No. 1 Dustin Johnson recorded a 1-over (73) and stands T-60.
Defending champion Rory McIlroy recorded a (79), tying the second-highest opening round score of his PGA Tour career.
Coincidentally, the player in first place (Sergio Garcia) and in last place (Henrik Stenson) won The Players back-to-back in 2008 and 2009.
(Partial) First Round Leaderboard
Sergio Garcia 65 (-7)
Brian Harman 67 (-5)
Matthew Fitzpatrick 68 (-4)
Corey Conners 68 (-4)
Shane Lowry 68 (-4)
The first round was suspended due to darkness at 6:32 p.m. ET with 21 players left on the course and will resume at 7:30 a.m. Friday. The second round will begin as scheduled at 6:45 a.m.