Golf | 2024 Gamers Championship leaderboard: Rory McIlroy, Xander Schauffele, Wyndham Clark prime in Spherical 1

The primary spherical of the 2024 Gamers Championship is sort of within the books, and whereas there wasn’t fairly as a lot hype surrounding the fiftieth version of the match as in comparison with The Gamers occasions of the previous few years, it nonetheless precipitated fairly a stir when the motion came about. The thrill began when Rory McIlroy and Xander Scheffley each shot 65s within the morning wave, scores that stood till the tip of the day when Wyndham Clarke matched them with a 65 of his personal within the afternoon.

The remainder of the leaderboard can be stacked, with large winners highlighting a fascinating listing of contenders. All of it units up what must be a spectacular subsequent few days at TPC Sawgrass.

Let’s take a better take a look at the leaders, what occurred in Spherical 1 — pushed into Friday after being suspended attributable to darkness — and some ideas on an excellent day of golf.

2024 Gamers Championship Leaderboard

T1. Rory McIlroy, Xander Schauffele, Wyndham Clark (-7): McIlroy and Schauffele set off early and there have been bumpy rides on the way in which house. McIlroy had two drops that had been questioned by his taking part in companions., whereas Schauffele noticed each pine needle on the entrance of the golf course after beginning on the tenth gap. Someway, they broke up after 18. Whereas McIlroy’s early hitter is slightly unpredictable after a run of mediocre play (for him) over the past month or so, Schauffele will not be. He has completed within the prime 10 in 4 of his final six PGA Tour occasions and has a declare to be among the many prime two or three gamers on this planet to date in 2024.

Toss Clark’s late cost — he birdied three of his final 4 holes — as Schauffele information. Clark has been taking part in nice golf of late, taking pictures 60 (and successful) at Pebble Seashore earlier than almost successful the Arnold Palmer Invitational final week (till Scotty Scheffler ran away late). With McIlroy and Clarke each close to the highest, it feels a bit like a US Open Redux. All three have large endurance.

T4. Matt Fitzpatrick, Nick Taylor (-6): Fitzpatrick was 1 over via six holes earlier than roaring house with seven 3s in his final 12. He is been horrible to date this yr (no prime 10 finishes), so this was a bit shocking. Nonetheless, like most guys on this board, he has a ton of endurance, and Fitz noticed most of his success from the tee to the inexperienced. He is the large title right here that I’ve the least confidence in how he is taking part in, however he is nonetheless a risk to win this golf match.

T6. Scotty Scheffler, Jason Day, Ludwig Eberg, Tom Hodge (-5): I noticed in some unspecified time in the future throughout his tenure that Scheffler is Jordan’s antithesis. He not often speaks, all the time finds the middle of the membership face, equalizes after equalizing (11 on Thursday), not often does something loopy, on the subject of making choices, he Stays flawless, stays out of hassle and barely shoots you 67. Discover. Flip all of them the opposite means round, and also you get Spieth. Scheffler as soon as once more shot a 67, his twenty fourth (!) consecutive spherical. His success with the putter, which led to his win final week, continued. This can be an enormous drawback for the remainder of the sphere coming into the weekend.

what I want and may use on the PGA Tour? A McIlroy-Scheffler shootout the place they’re about 4 away from the remainder of the sphere for the ultimate two days.

Gamers once more ship early.

The primary two days of The Gamers are often the most effective. I assumed they’d fall flat this yr within the absence of Jon Rahm and the remainder of the LIV Golf workers, however they did not. It is undoubtedly exaggerating, however the gamers are already feeling like the most effective match in 2024, and it is just one away! A part of that’s that TPC Sawgrass is a wonderful match course. A part of that is as a result of closely loaded leaderboard. A few of that’s as a result of the climate was excellent.

Actually? At the least a part of that’s as a result of there is a correct subject and an precise minimize line, all of which does not simply really feel like a $20 million sweepstakes. That is an enormous dialogue for one more day, however I used to be glad to see the gamers bringing pleasure on Thursday.

Quick and powerful and … bumper?

What I did not like was what number of balls had been caught by the tough round these greens at TPC Sawgrass. It was typically identified all through the day, however let’s simply let the most effective gamers be the most effective!

Rick Gehmann and Kyle Porter resume the opening spherical of The Gamers Championship. Observe and hearken to The First Minimize On. The Apple Podcast And Spotify.