World No 1 Jason Day has thrown down the gauntlet early at the Players Championship, surging to the lead with a course record equalling nine-under 63 in the morning wave.
Having struggled at TPC Sawgrass in the past, Day smashed his old personal best of 68 with a sublime bogey-free performance to lead by two over England's Justin Rose, Ireland's Shane Lowry and Americans Bill Haas, Brendan Steele and Cameron Tringale who are in the clubhouse with 65s.
A year ago Day left the course after shooting an 81 in round two to miss the cut. He was 18 shots better this time around.
He joins Greg Norman, Fred Couples, Roberto Castro and Martin Kaymer with the course record.
Norman famously went on to shoot a record 24-under total on his way to winning in 1994 by four strokes.
"I would have loved to shoot 10-under and be the only guy to hold that record, but I'm in pretty good company with the guys that have shot that, especially with Greg Norman," Day said.
"The way he played shooting 63 and three straight 67s... If I can keep that up, that would be great to be able to shoot three 67s over the next three days, but right now I've just got to try and focus on trying to win this tournament and trying to play a good round two."
Starting on the 10th hole the nine-time PGA tour winner came out firing, making three consecutive birdies out of the gate, the first from 30 feet.
He needed just 24 putts all day, adding birdies on the island green 17th hole, plus the first, second, fourth, and seventh holes to put the record in focus.
A 40-foot birdie effort on the eighth lipped out and then an eagle attempt on the last from a greenside bunker ended up just a foot from the hole for a tap-in birdie.
Aaron Baddeley, who was a late inclusion into the field off the alternate list, finished with a 69.
Baddeley, who is fighting to earn a tour card back this season, was six under after 15 holes before dropping strokes at the finish.
Marc Leishman shot 70 to be two under where Matt Jones (six holes) and John Senden (five holes) join him as they get into the meat of their rounds.
Former champion Adam Scott is one under after five holes while Steven Bowditch dropped seven shots in his last four holes to plummet to an 80.
Meanwhile Kiwi Danny Lee shot a opening round of 67 and has a share of 10th palce.
