McIlroy starts well at Sawgrass

Rory McIlroy, who has yet to make the cut in three appearances in the Players Championship, today found himself at the right end of the leaderboard for a change midway through his opening round at Sawgrass.

McIlroy’s scoring average of 74 in golf’s ’unofficial fifth major’ looked set to tumble after the world number two went to the turn in 31 thanks to five birdies and no bogeys.