(Scroll down for the latest updates from TPC Sawgrass)
It surely will still be entertaining, perhaps in a different way than we’re used to. On Saturday, when it’s likely that competitors will be finishing their second rounds, there are sustained winds of 15-22 mph forecasted, with gusts up to 41 mph. It’s very common for there to be a wave advantage in big events like majors, and it sure seems like if you finish your second round early on Friday, you’ll be in the better part of the wave splits.
If the above theory holds true, that puts pressure on players teeing off Thursday morning. That includes marquee names such as Jon Rahm, Patrick Cantlay and Viktor Hovland (teeing off at 8:51 a.m., by the way). That’s certainly the biggest group of the morning.
Players 2022 live updates:
10:30 a.m.: Tommy Fleetwood went with a clean-shaved look this week and now he’s shaving strokes off his game. After narrowly qualifying for this event, the 31-year-old Brit is off to a fantastic start after birdieing the difficult 18th hole to shoot three under on his opening nine. A five-time winner on the DP World Tour, Fleetwood is still searching for his first PGA Tour title—something Paul Azinger won’t mind pointing out this week.
10:22 a.m.: We’re going to see plenty of water balls on 17 this week, but how about a highlight-reel shot on the famed par 3? Doc Redman provides the first one of those of the week after aggressively firing at that back pin and finishing about two feet from the hole. Guessing we wouldn’t see this without the soft conditions!
10:06 a.m.: We’ve got our first player at the PLAYERS to three under par. Kramer Hickok birdies the par-5 ninth hole to make the turn in 33. Hickok, if you recall, gave the interview last month in which he revealed he knew of 17 players who were joining the Saudi-backed Super Golf League. So far, that hasn’t happened, because those players would not be playing in the PLAYERS.
9:29 a.m.: There are now 20 players who are tied at 1-under currently at TPC Sawgrass. They’re all T-4 right now, trailing Kramer Hickok, who birdied the second and sixth holes so far to start his day; Will Zalatoris, who has made up for an opening bogey at 10 with three birdies (at 2, 4 and 6); and Cameron Smith, who has birdied two of his opening three holes (11 asnd 12).
9:20 a.m.: Ouch, Jon Rahm had a great tee shot cutting the corner at the par-5 11th hole, but his ball ended up in the first cut. And there ain’t no lift, clean, place in the first cut. The effects of the overnight rains are showing already … forcing Rahm to have to lay up short of the water on a hole that’s playing as one of the easiest early on Thursday.
Though Rahm probably made the prudent play with the unpredictability of the mud on his ball, he hit a very sub-standard approach to 34 feet but gets away with a par after running the birdie putt about 4 feet past. No harm, no foul … good call Mr. Hayes.
9:05 a.m.: The marquee group of the morning is now on the course. Patrick Cantlay and Jon Rahm both burned the edge with their long-range birdie putts at 10, and Viktor Hovland, who looks like he got a fresh haircut since Sunday when he held the lead for much of the final round at Bay Hill, just missed his 13-footer for birdie.
By the way, you might not remember but last year, Viktor Hovland’s mother informed her son of a penalty she saw him commit on the par-4 14th hole, which led to a two-stroke penalty and his eventual WD. We wonder what kind of viewing setup Miss. Hovland’s has this morning.
8:37 a.m.: The 11th hole appears to be playing quite easy so far this morning—Tommy Fleetwood joins the group at 1-under par early with a nine-footer for birdie. Will Zalatoris made up for a dropped shot at 10 with a birdie at 11 as well.
Going the other way early is Webb Simpson, whose tee shot at the 10th hole went out of bounds, never to be found again. It’s been a tough couple months with some injuries for Webb, and it looks like the former Players champion will be behind the eight-ball early here at TPC Sawgrass.
8:30 a.m.: We got some under-par scores folks. Mito Pereira buried an 11-footer for birdie at the 10th hole to start his round at 1-under. Beau Hossler and Russell Knox each converted birdie putts at the par-5 11th and Kramer Hickok started his day with a birdie at No. 1.
We hope their families are here for the screenshots to memoralize their guys topping the leader board in one of the biggest tournaments of the year. What a time to be alive.
8:15 a.m.: Will Zalatoris has started his Players Championship with a bogey at the opening hole. The 24-year-old is on everyone’s watch list for the season with his success in the biggest events thus far. But not an ideal start for boy wonder.
8:04 a.m.: The PGA Tour JUST announced that Hideki Matsuyama has withdrawn from The Players, and he’ll be replaced in the field by Patrick Rodgers.
Hideki apparently met with some media from Japan last night and told them his neck is still not 100 percent. Of course, his sights are set on his Masters defense in a few weeks, but this was a late announcement for a WD. If you’re in a Players pool or play fantasy golf … well, Hideki is not your favorite person right now, costing you a precious spot on your team. Hideki of course is one of a handful of players to hold the course record at TPC Sawgrass when he shot the opening 63 during the first round of the canceled 2020 Players.
7:45 a.m.: OK, play has started after an hour delay to the first round following heavy rains overnight.
We have a few big numbers already: Adam Schenk dropped a shot on the first hole, which is no handshake opener from Pete Dye. And Brian Harman is 1-over through 1 starting on the 10th hole, which is also a tough one to get your round going on.
6:30 a.m.: The PGA Tour announced lift, clean and place will be in effect for Round 1 due to the overnight rain. That speaks to just how much rain Ponte Vedra Beach got last night—even with the TPC Sawgrass’ SubAir system, it couldn’t pump out enough moisture.
Now things have been delayed an hour (so far) and they’ll be playing the ball up. Not quite the start you’d envision to the biggest golf tournament of the year so far.
Here are all the pin positions for the first round at TPC Sawgrass: