Lucas Glover, J.J. Spaun and Camilo Villegas each shot a 6-under 66, but the top of the leaderboard is jammed after Thursday.

The curious case of Rory McIlroy and the driver continued Thursday at TPC Sawgrass as McIlroy had more birdies than fairways hit. But despite his struggles off the tee, McIlroy is in prime position to win The Players Championship for a second time.

McIlroy had seven birdies in Thursday's opening round even though he hit only four of 14 fairways on the Stadium Course.

On Tuesday at the Players, after Rory McIlroy flared a shot wide into the water at the 18th hole, Potter called out, "Just like the 2011 Masters!" That, you may recall, is where McIlroy coughed up the lead on the 10th hole on Sunday;

Rory McIlroy is just one shot off the lead at the Players Championship after shooting a five-under 67 in his opening round, but the Northern Irishman believes he got lucky

Rory McIlroy kept quiet on Thursday about a practice-round incident at The Players Championship in which he took a heckler's phone, a critic who later apologized to the four-time major champion.Asked about the incident after his opening-round five-under par 67 on Thursday,

After Rory McIlroy returned to the tee box for his second shot, he walked straight to the fan, with the club still in his hand and asked for his phone.