Maverick McNeely hits the rough on the 18th hole during the first round of the Players Championship golf tournament at TPC Sawgrass on March 12, 2026 in Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida. March 12, 2026. (Doug Engle/Florida Times-Union) PONTE VEDRA BEACH, Fla. — Former world No. 1 amateur Maverick McNeely had five birdies in the first 12 holes to take an early one-shot lead in the weather-challenged opening round of the Players Championship on Thursday.
The 30-year-old McNealy, who won his lone PGA Tour title at the 2024 RSM Classic, briefly moved two shots clear of the elite field after hitting a superb approach to 5 feet and sinking a birdie putt on the par-4 12th hole.
McNealy offset a bogey on No. 15 with another birdie on the 16th hole en route to a 5-under par 67 on a blustery and occasionally rainy day at TPC Sawgrass.
“I’ve really mastered the vagaries of change that the golf course throws at us,” McNealy said.
“It was all a mixed bag, it felt like four different seasons. When the wind changed, I knew the 16th hole was going to be my last birdie opportunity. So I put an 8-iron on that hole and was happy to take advantage and held on really well the last two.”
With thunderstorms moving in from the west, play was halted at 12:09 PM ET and resumed at 12:30 PM. As a result, the afternoon tea time was pushed back 30 minutes.
World No. 6 Russell Henley, who won the event in 2021 and is making his second PGA Tour start this year after undergoing back surgery in November, and fellow American Justin Thomas opened with 68s on a packed leaderboard.
World No. 3 Tommy Fleetwood (England), Tony Finau of the United States, Ludvig Aberg of Sweden, and Viktor Hovland of Norway recorded 69 strokes. Top-ranked Scottie Scheffler, seeking a rare third win at the Players Championship, produced a mixed bag, opening with an even 72.
“We did some good things, like changing the weather, but overall I felt like we gave ourselves a little bit of a chance,” said Scheffler, who won his 20th PGA Tour victory at the American Express in January. “I’d like to get things sorted out over the next few days.
“When there’s a strong wind like it did this morning, it can be very difficult. It can be even more difficult when you’re playing in the rough. I felt like I did too much today. … I played better on the back nine. I just made a few mistakes mentally and just need to be a little sharper over the next few days.”
The elite field is one of the strongest in the game, with 47 of the world’s top 10 and top 50 golfers converging on TPC Sawgrass for the 52nd tournament.
However, Colin Morikawa, ranked 4th in the world, withdrew from the tournament due to a back injury after playing only one hole. After teeing off on the 10th hole and hitting par, I felt uncomfortable while taking a practice swing at the tee box on the 11th hole.
Morikawa said, “I felt good while warming up.” “Like I never had any signs of a back problem. Then I teed it up on the 11th hole and took one practice swing and I thought it was gone. I felt it before when it happened. But I just can’t swing. Trust me, I would play if I could. It’s the worst thing in the world.”
Also on Thursday, Ryan Fox withdrew due to illness before the start of the opening round. He was replaced on the field by David Ford.
–Mark Lamport-Stokes, Field Level Media
