Players Championship: Sergio Garcia shines bright on day of misery for Rory McIlroy

ROUGH TIME: Rory McIlroy considers his options as he looks on from the 10th hole during the first round of The Players’ Championship at TPC Sawgrass, Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida. Picture: Kevin C. Cox

Sergio Garcia and Rory McIlroy have played a lot of golf together through the years. Rarely have the two former Players champions ever seemed as far apart on the golf spectrum than yesterday morning at TPC Sawgrass.

While Garcia finished birdie-birdie-eagle to stake himself to a three-shot lead in the Players Championship at 7-under par, McIlroy finished with one last desultory bogey to shoot 7-over 79 and walk away 14 shots arrears of his friend and playing partner.