GOLF: Maverick McNealy, Sepp Straka among 5 tied for The Players lead

PONTE VEDRA BEACH, Fla. — Maverick McNealy, Lee Hodges, Sahith Theegala, and Sepp Straka formed a four-way tie for the lead in Thursday’s opening round of The Players Championship, which was interrupted by fading light and weather delays.

Surprise contender Austin Smotherman, one of four players yet to complete his round, could take the outright lead when play resumes on Friday, facing a 15-foot birdie putt on his final hole, the par-5 ninth. Smotherman was at 5 under after four birdies and one bogey on his back nine but decided to mark his ball and return the next morning to finish his round.

“It was just getting so dark,” said Smotherman, a three-time Korn Ferry Tour winner and runner-up at last month’s Cognizant Classic in The Palm Beaches. “The greens softened with the rain, and all the spike marks and footprints were adding up. Do I wish I hit the chip this morning as well? Maybe, but I’ll get fresh greens tomorrow, which is the benefit.”

McNealy, Hodges, Theegala, and Straka all shot 5-under-par 67s on a day of mixed conditions at TPC Sawgrass, where firm morning greens were softened by afternoon thunderstorms.

McNealy, a former world No. 1 amateur, fired five birdies in his first 12 holes to take an early lead before being caught late by Hodges, who birdied two of his last three holes, and Straka, who eagled the par-5 16th with a 50-foot chip-in.

“It was a very straightforward chip,” said Straka, a four-time PGA Tour winner whose most recent victory came at last year’s Truist Championship. “It was just off the green, upslope in the first cut. I was able to take advantage of it.”

Theegala also joined the leaders after a 3-under back nine, highlighted by a hole-out eagle on the par-4 12th, where his 99-yard approach from the right fairway bounced sharply off the fringe and into the cup.

“I hit it a little skinny and to the right,” said Theegala, whose only PGA Tour win came at the 2023 Fortinet Championship. “It was a nice bonus that it went in.”

World No. 6 Russell Henley and former champion Justin Thomas, making his second start of the year after back surgery in November, were among a group tied at 4 under after opening with 68s.

Top-ranked Scottie Scheffler, seeking a rare third Players Championship victory, opened with an even-par 72, birdieing the final hole after consecutive bogeys.

“I did some good things despite changing weather, but I gave away some shots,” Scheffler said. “Hoping to clean it up over the next few days. The winds this morning and playing from the rough made it challenging, but I struck it better on the back nine.”

Defending champion Rory McIlroy, recovering from a back injury that forced him out of last week’s Arnold Palmer Invitational, struggled to a 74. He mixed three bogeys with a lone birdie, finishing seven strokes behind the leaders.

“The most discomfort was when the ball was below my feet or chipping,” McIlroy said. “Overall, it was fine. Just got a little tired at the end.”

The field at The Players Championship remains one of the strongest in golf, featuring the top 10 in the world and 47 of the top 50 players. However, World No. 4 Collin Morikawa withdrew after experiencing back discomfort following his opening hole.

—Mark Lamport-Stokes, Field Level Media/Reuters