Luke Donald and Lee Westwood are handily placed just one shot off the lead after the first round of The Players Championship at TPC Sawgrass. However, a confident feeling Tiger woods is only three shots further back.
Westwood: In with a shout at Sawgrass
Both Englishmen dropped just one shot but enjoyed six birdies in the opening round, while Woods had a shakier, but far more competitive round than that seen at Quail Hollow last week.
American J. B. Holmes and Australian Robert Allenby lead the way on six under but perceived wisdom suggests the course will favour Allenby – and other more strategic players – over the big hitters such as Holmes. That’s why Donald and Westwood will fancy their chances over the next three days.
Woods, too, is clearly feeling better about his game but some of his shots were wayward – not least at the 7th where he skied his shot, making just 190 yards. Another surprisingly low scorer on Thursday was Phil Mickelson. He matched Woods’ 70 for the round and said: “Shooting 70 today isn’t the round you want.”
Indeed not. That it’s an upturn for Woods shows how far he had fallen and how far he has to go to get back to anything close to where he was before his troubles.
We expect J. B. Holmes to fall away over the next 54 holes while Donald and Westwood remain consistent. Woods will consolidate his improvement but not challenge and Mickelson has work to do, but think he’ll finish higher than Woods. So do we predict an English winner at The Players Championship? No, not yet. Allenby has the game to win this and Donald has been disappointing for quite a while. Westwood, however, is in with a great shout.
The weather and subsequent conditions will play their part too. Thursday was ideal, but Saturday looks like being windier and may see some rain. Who will stand up to the changing conditions best is yet to be seen.
Who do you think will win The Players Championship? Will it be a shoot out between Westwood and Allenby or will we have a surprise winner in Donald – or someone else entirely? Give us your thoughts and predictions in the comments.