Fleetwood opens THE PLAYERS with 7-under 65

PONTE VEDRA BEACH, Fla. – Tommy Fleetwood is a big fan of the Stadium Course at TPC Sawgrass.

“If you like golf, you should like this golf course,” Fleetwood said. “It's just about as fair as you're going to get a test.”

The Englishman was rarely challenged on a breezy Thursday, too, as he fired a 65 to set the early pace at THE PLAYERS Championship. When the morning wave was complete Fleetwood owned a one-stroke lead over Brian Harman and Ben An.

Rory McIroy – who has finished sixth or better in his last six starts -- was alone in fourth after a 67 while Brendan Steele and Rory Sabbatini were another stroke behind. Xander Schauffele, who leads the FedExCup standings, shot a first-round 70.

For Fleetwood, it was his fifth straight subpar round on the Stadium Course where he tied for seventh last year. He went out in 30, closing with three straight birdies, and then added another in the 12th hole for the round of 7 under.

Fleetwood came to the PGA TOUR’s signature event riding the momentum of a tie for third at the Arnold Palmer Invitational presented by MasterCard. He held a share of the lead at Bay Hill through two rounds but shot a 76 on Saturday and played catch-up after that.

On Thursday, the 28-year-old was dialed in tee to green. He hit 10 of 14 fairways and all but two greens in regulation while taking just 26 putts. Fleetwood said keeping the ball in play off the tee was instrumental in his success.

“The course feels different then,” Fleetwood said. “Like if you're in the fairway all the time, the course feels very, very different, and it's a massive key."

“Then I just started picking a few shots up, and then you get on a run like 7, 8, 9, and it feels great after that. Just one of them would feel like a great round, so three of them is -- I'll take it.”