McIlroy, Scheffler Strong in Players Championship Opening Round

Rory McIlroy opened The Players Championship with a 5-under 67, placing him just one shot behind leaders Lucas Glover, J.J. Spaun, and Camilo Villegas, who each shot 6-under 66. Despite struggling with his driver, hitting only four of 14 fairways, McIlroy showcased his recovery skills with a series of birdies, including an impressive shot from the trees on the 18th hole. His performance drew attention alongside World No. 1 Scottie Scheffler, who carded a 3-under 69 as he aims for a historic third consecutive title at this event. McIlroy acknowledged that while he capitalized on receptive greens, he needs to improve his driving accuracy as the tournament progresses. He remains a strong contender, having won the championship previously in 2019. Other notable performances included Billy Horschel and Min Woo Lee, who also positioned themselves well on the leaderboard.