Big guns begin proceedings

Ponte Vedra Beach – Defending champion Jason Day (above) plays with past champions Rickie Fowler and Henrik Stenson, while world No 1 Dustin Johnson tees up with Rory McIlroy and Justin Thomas in tomorrow’s opening round of The Players.

Day, the world No 3, won last year’s tournament by four strokes after opening with a course-record 63.

The Australian helps kick off the tournament in the morning wave with fellow top 10 players, Sweden’s Stenson (seven) and Rickie Fowler (nine), teeing off at the 10th tee in the so-called “fourth Major” of the season.

Another glamour group follows them to the tee 11 minutes later as world No 5 Jordan Spieth, No 4 Hideki Matsuyama of Japan and five-times Major winner Phil Mickelson began proceedings on the revamped Stadium Course at TPC Sawgrass.

Johnson, whose run of three victories in his previous three starts ended with a tie for second at last week’s Wells Fargo Championship, hopes to get started on a new winning streak when he tees off from the first tee in the afternoon wave.

World No 2 McIlroy, the FedExCup champion, celebrates a return to competition after a month off to get married.

They are preceded by groupings of Masters champion Sergio Garcia of Spain and former winners Adam Scott of Australia and Matt Kuchar, and an international trio of Briton Justin Rose, German Martin Kaymer and Spaniard Jon Rahm. –