Donaldson leads, McIlroy lurks in Dubai

Here are nine tidbits from the first round of the THE PLAYERS Championship that gamers can use tomorrow, this weekend or down the road. THE PLAYERS Stadium Course TPC Sawgrass in Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida, has been the host since 1982 and plays 7,189 yards to a Par-72. Know Thy Enemy These were the top-10 picked golfers in PGA TOUR Fantasy Golf game presented by SERVPRO. With warm temperatures and light winds, relatively speaking, TPC Sawgrass was there for the taking. The PGA TOUR radio crew suggested that these were some of the easier pin placements they have seen in recent memory. There were six bogey-free rounds, which reinforces that point. It appears the cut is going to take a red number as the forecast looks fantastic again tomorrow. People’s Choice For the second week in a row, gamers have run Rickie Fowler to the top of the list above. For the second week in a row, gamers will have to cross their fingers heading into Friday. His 74 sees him needing 69 or better on Friday to play the weekend. The good news is his Round 2 scoring average is the best of the bunch. The bad news is his last round in the 60’s was his unbelievable 67 on Sunday in 2015 to force a playoff. The better news is he’ll be out first with a clear plan of what it takes. I’m on board. Number 1 Dustin Johnson knows that finishing outside of the top 10 this week could see him lose his perch on the OWGR rankings. He also is keenly aware that he’s never collected top-10 cash in nine previous attempts. His bogey-free 66 is his best ever in 31 loops and his only clean card as well. He’ll share the lead with five others to begin Round 2. He was in my lineup today and he’s not going anywhere. Defense It was incredible to watch 21-year old Si Woo Kim win by three shots last year to become the event’s youngest winner. Even though there has never been a champion repeat in the previous 36 events at TPC Sawgrass, Kim’s opening round of 67 deserves mentioning because it’s the best from a defending champion since the tournament moved to TPC Sawgrass. The only player to hit the top 10 this century defending was Adam Scott with T8 in 2005 and that was in March. Kim was on point today as he had it to seven-under thru 15 before bogeys at Nos. 7 and 8 knocked him out of solo lead. The Auld Guard Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson were choices Nos. 11 and 12 on the list above so there’s PLENTY of interest again this week. Woods holed an 11-foot bogey on the last to finish even as he scraped through the afternoon. Mickelson was even through 13 holes before closing double, bogey, double, double and par for 41. I tried to warn gamers that Mickelson annually arrives here on a high from Quail Hollow Club but that it never translates. His last top-10 finish was in 2007 when he won. His last round in the 60’s was in 2011. Connect the dots. Woods knows he doesn’t need 64 or lower to make the weekend so if you have to choose, it’s a simple one. Wrong Patrick? Patrick Reed entered the week with five straight finishes inside the top five plus his first major victory at the Masters. He matched Woods on 72 and will need something decent Friday morning to extend his streak. Patrick Cantlay was four shots off the 54-hole lead last year before learning a valuable lesson. His 77 knocked him out of contention (T22) but he continues to prove he’s a quick learner everywhere. His eight birdies in Round 1 were T1 and his round of 66 matched. #51Watch The ageless Steve Stricker continues to pop up on difficult courses and demands to be counted. He’s made the weekend the last four years at TPC Sawgrass and he made the cut in all four majors last season. The 51-year old is tormenting the Champions Tour and had a share of the lead before a late bogey knocked him to T7. Glass Half-Full or Half-Empty? Jordan Spieth played in the final group in 2014 in his debut, shot 74 and finished T4. He has one round in the red (71) and a trio of MC in the following three seasons. His 75 to open in the morning wave burned plenty of investors. Those who decided to play him have a very difficult decision tomorrow. I’m glad I faded him and will use him next week at Trinity Forest where he’s a member. Study Hall This will be the last PLAYERS to be held in the month of May. Mickelson was the first winner when event moved in 2007. Next year’s edition will move to St. Patrick’s Day weekend. Sorry Moms! … Round 1 played 72.014 (+0.014). … The six players tied for the lead are the most since eight were knotted up back in the old days at Sawgrass Country Club. … Paul Casey (back) WD on Wednesday so 49 of the top 50 in the OWGR are playing this week. Casey’s replacement Keith Mitchell opened his round with four consecutive birdies before signing for 67. … David Lingmerth said on his Twitter feed that his neck was giving him issues today and restricting his swing. … Brice Garnett added up 88 of them last Sunday at Quail Hollow Club. He only needed 69 of them today. Golf, bloody hell!  

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Tom Brady is back … on the links? On Tuesday, Brady launched his performance and tech focused golf collection for which he continues working with college athletes.

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