Séamus Power suffers on greens as 'healthy' rough hits McIlroy and Lowry

Much of the field struggled with the conditions at TPC Sawgrass.

PONTE VEDRA BEACH, FLORIDA - MARCH 09: Seamus Power of Ireland plays an approach shot on the tenth hole during the first round of THE PLAYERS Championship on THE PLAYERS Stadium Course at TPC Sawgrass on March 09, 2023 in Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida. (Photo by Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images)

Since the Players Championship moved back to March in 2019 after 12-year run in May, the rough hasn’t been a major subject of concern. But an unusually hot early spring has let the Bermuda mingle with the overseeded rye and created a huge problem for anyone missing the fairway on the Stadium Course.

“This week I would say is as healthy as I've seen,” said Scottie Scheffler, who shot a 4-under 68 to sit tied fourth. “You have a little bit of Bermuda in there, and then with the overseed it's extremely thick.”