Rory McIlroy slapped together an opening 67 and is now one back of the lead. Here are the tee times for Round 2 at The Players.

Rory McIlroy is near the top of the PLAYERS Championship, but he had to earn his 5-under 67 the hard way as his struggles off the tee continue.

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

If you watched how Rory McIlroy birdied the 18th hole on Thursday at The Players, you will likely remember his closing three for quite some time. After missing the short grass again off the tee, McIlroy’s ball settled down in the pine straw to the right of the fairway.

Rory McIlroy has been known to take some sharp U-turns on his opinions over the last few years, particularly as it relates to the PGA Tour and LIV Golf. He was willing to state another position Wednesday as strong as any.

There is a phrase used in the PGA Tour’s Shotlink system that we’ve rarely noticed: “tree outline.” Maybe it’s more prominent in the Players Championship at TPC Sawgrass because there are several nurseries worth of trees here,

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 is one shot off the lead after the opening round of the Players Championship at TPC Sawgrass in Florida. The Holywood native registered a five-under-par 67. An excellent start saw him secure birdies on the first two holes,