Castro fires 63 for early lead; Woods and McIlroy in the mix too

The 39^th Players Championship at the Tournament Players Club (TPC) at Sawgrass got off to a blistering start on Thursday. Unheralded and unheard of, Roberto Castro set the course alight with a sensational 63 to take the first round honours in his maiden effort at the tournament many consider as the fifth major. The richest tournament in golf also featured solid performances from Rory McIlroy (66) and Tiger Woods (67) – both posting impressive rounds to lurk within striking distance from the first round leader. McIlroy was in a tie for second with Zach Johnson, while Woods is a further stroke behind in a group of six that includes Webb Simpson, Hunter Mahan and Steve Stricker. The defending champion Matt Kuchar had to be content with a 71.

Castro had an unbelievable outing that helped him tie Fred Couples (1992) and Greg Norman (1994) for the best score on the par-72 course. The 27-year-old secured his place in the gallery, with a spectacular bogey-free round. The Texan finished with a flourish – birdies on 16^th, 17^th and 18^th capping off a round that contained an eagle at the second besides seven other birdies.

Woods looked set to accomplish his first bogey free round at TPC at Sawgrass, when he made the fairway at the 18^th hole. Earlier in the day, Woods had strung together birdies from 9^th through 12^th. Par on the 18^th should not have been too hard. But his chip landed short and the 14-time major winner was forced to tap in for bogey. An opening round 67 marked the best ever start at the TPC for the 2001 champion at a course that has tormented him more often than not.

“This is a tricky golf course,” said Woods. “It doesn’t take much to make a bogey around here. I think that’s kind of what Pete (architect Pete Dye) had intended, and I’m sure that most of the guys through their careers really haven’t had too many days that are spotless on their cards.”

McIlroy was assured a peaceful night’s sleep, after posting a bogey-free 66 that left him just three strokes off the leader. The Irishman showed why he is such a rage with a perfectly time tee shot at the “Island Green” – that iconic patch on the 17^th hole. The tee shot left McIlroy less than six feet to the pin and he birdied without fuss. It is hard to see him out of the mix this weekend. Only it was hard to believe that this was McIlroy’s only sub-par round at the event.

“I adopted maybe more of a conservative strategy off the tee this year,” said McIlroy, who has never made the cut at this fearsome course. “But once you put your ball in the fairway that means you can be more aggressive into the greens. So it sort of balances itself out.”

Zach Johnson is collecting 66’s at the Players Stadium course. As he had during the final round in 2011 and on Friday last year, Johnson carded a 66 to join McIlroy in second at the end of the first round. McIlroy’s playing partners – Steve Stricker and Masters Champion Adam Scott – enjoyed a pleasant outing too. Stricker, who made a steady 67, could have tied with McIlroy but for a bogey at the fourth. Not bad for a 47-year-old veteran. Scott was the laggard of the group, reaching the clubhouse in 69.

The day though belonged to Castro. In only his second year on the tour, in his first appearance at TPC, the 27-year-old from Houston had the round of a lifetime. Castro dazzled with his irons – ten of his approach strokes landed within five feet from the pin. The longest putt he needed was not even ten feet from the pin. There is no telling if lightning can strike twice, but if he can make another round like that, Castro can outshine the bright Florida sun.

Select Scores

-9: R Castro (US)

-6: R McIlroy (NI), Z Johnson (US)

-5: T Woods (US), C Wittenberg (US), H Mahan (US), S Stricker (US), R Palmer (US)