Despite the presence of nine members of the world’s top 10 and 44 representatives of the top 50, it is the modest American Chad Ramey who takes the lead after the first day of the prestigious Players Championship interrupted by the night. Scottie Scheffler is the best placed of the trio who are vying for the world number one spot with Rory McIlroy and Jon Rahm.
The first round of the Players Championship was stopped by darkness, but this first day has already confirmed that the TPC Sawgrass is one of the most spectacular courses of the season! The hole in one at 17 of Hayden Buckley in the morning launched hostilities at full speed. And the sequence 16, 17 and 18 once again revived some and sank the others.
Chad Ramey leader suprise
In the midst of all these traps, two men stood out. Americans Chad Ramey (-8) et Collin Morikawa (-7) did not commit any bogey to settle in the first two places by taking a small margin on the last step of the podium. If Morikawa, double winner in Major, was expected, the presence at such a level of Ramey, winner of the modest Corales Puntacana Championship in 2020 and who discovers this tournament this week, remains a surprise.
What a shot ???? @ChadRamey2 birdies the iconic 17th and now owns the solo lead @THEPLAYERSChamp. pic.twitter.com/Bg1DyHIr7Y
— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) March 9, 2023
Three men complete the podium, including the American Justin Suh, stopped at 16 per night. The best player of the afternoon, disturbed by a light wind, was notably dazzling putter in hand with five birdies in a row from his exit from the bunker returned to the 7th. A real click!
Golf shot ????@Just_Suh | @THEPLAYERSChamp pic.twitter.com/wJBm02Zaap
— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) March 9, 2023
Rory McIlroy beyond the provisional cut
Played in ideal playing conditions, the highlight game of the morning was rather disappointing with a Rory McIlroy at +4, unable to adjust sights on tees and failing at wedging and putting. Jon Rahm (-1) limited the breakage with a single bogey on his seventeenth hole, the very long and very difficult par 3 of the 8. Only the world number two Scottie Scheffler (-4) did honor to his status with a one-way trip to detention (9 pars!) and a score of -4 on his return trip, punctuated by a nice birdie at 9. In the event of a victory, the three men will be assured of first place in the world on Sunday evening.
This shot from Rory ????@McIlroyRory escapes from the pine straw and somehow finds the green on the par-5 16th @THEPLAYERSChamp. pic.twitter.com/2rEQ1OR5Mz
— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) March 9, 2023
Classification
Photo David Cannon/Getty Images
