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.
The Players - Round Two Tee Times begin today at 6:45am (ET/local) through 2:17pm (ET/local). (link)
Weather for today: Friday’s forecast calls for mostly sunny skies with winds ranging from East/NE at 9 mph. Expect Partly Cloudy skies and similar weather and 10-11 mph winds on the weekend.
Next Week: The Honda Classic
THIS WEEK on the PGA TOUR: The Players Championship
COURSE: TPC Sawgrass, Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida
PRIZE Money/First Place Winnings: $15,000,000/$2,700,000
DEFENDING Champion from 2019: Rory McIlroy (2019 Leaderboard link)
PAST RESULTS: (link)
PAST CHAMPIONS of Event: (link)
FEDEx CUP Points Available/Winner Share: 3,375/600
SOCIAL MEDIA: #PGATour #FedEXCup @ThePlayersChamp
TV COVERAGE: Friday, March 12: 12:00pm to 6:00pm (ET) on Golf Channel. Saturday, March 13 and Sunday, March 14 - 1:00pm to 6:00pm (ET) on NBC.
STREAMING: PGA Tour Live will offer streaming coverage of Featured Groups on Friday from 6:30am to 6:00pm (ET); and on Saturday (7:45am-6:00pm ET) and Sunday (7:45am-6:00pm ET), PGA Tour Live will stream Featured Holes on Saturday (3:00pm to 6:00pm ET) and Sunday from 2:30pm to 6:00pm (ET).
PGA Tour is also offering “Every Shot Live” on Friday from 6:45am to 8:00pm ET and on Saturday and Sunday from 7:50am to 6:00pm (ET).
PGA TOUR RADIO COVERAGE: Friday, March 12 - 11:00am to 6:00pm (ET); then Saturday, March 13 and Sunday, March 14: (12:00pm to 6:00pm (ET)) on Sirius XM Satellite Radio. PGA Tour Radio is available on Sirius 208/XM 92) or online on PGATour.com.
Remember: Eastern Standard Time switches to Eastern Daylight Time on Saturday night. (clocks will “Spring Ahead” one hour).
TOURNAMENT SITE (link)
What They’re Saying:
Big Finish Provides First Round Lead for Garcia (ESPN)
Sergio Goes Low (CBS Sports)
Round One Review (PGATourCom)
Having Fun with the Struggles (For the Win)
Kevin Na Meltdown and WD (Golf Digest)
Ben An Recorded Second Highest Score Ever (CBS Sports)
The Players Cut Predictions - (+1), (+2) or (E) - (PGATourCom)
#SportsBiz and Golf Industry News
Hovland Two Shot Penalty (PGATourCom)
Players Question Green Conditions at The Players (GolfCom)
Florida A&M Goes Behind Scenes (PGATourCom)
On This Day in Golf History:
March 12, 1978 - Tom Weiskopf withstood a furious charge from Jack Nicklaus and holds on to defeat The Golden Bear by one stroke on a 36-hole final day at the Doral Eastern Open in Miami. Nicklaus fired a “Back 9” 30 with only nine putts with a round that included Eagle chip-ins at Nos 10 and 12. Weiskopf held on in a playoff to win. (Courtesy of Randy Walker), Author of On This Day in Golf History, available via Amazon.com and by clicking HERE
While We’re Young (Ideas):
Be SURE to test drive the weekly Sunday Sports Notes Column, “While We’re Young (Ideas)” by @TerryLyons. Sent once a week for your (late) Saturday night or Early Sunday morning entertainment. You can sample and subscribe HERE
Parting Putt:
Agony on 17
