Conservative McIlroy relies on irons to unlock Sawgrass

Rory McIlroy had never made the cut or finished under par in any of his three previous appearances in the Players Championship over the TPC course at Sawgrass, but he never put a foot wrong in yesterday’s opening round of the 2013 tournament.

A superb six-under-par 66 left him three strokes behind the unknown American Roberto Castro, who equalled the record of Greg Norman and Fred Couples with a remarkable round of 63, but that didn’t worry the world No 2 in the slightest. McIlroy had decisively proven to himself and his fans and critics alike that the famous Pete Dye design no longer held any fears for him and that he was in the kind of form to make a serious challenge for the coveted title and the winner’s cheque of $1.71 million, the highest on the US PGA Tour.

McIlroy began his round at the 10th and picked up birdies at the 11th, 12th, 14th and 16th before gaining a huge psychological boost with a two at the dreaded par-three 17th, famous for its island green. He duly reached the turn in five under and settled happily for a homeward 35 that contained just one birdie, at the par-five second, his 11th.