Spieth’s in a phoney war American snaps at the state of bunker

OK, even though I didn’t play all that great”, he said.

“I think if you looked at my stats they would be awful as I didn’t hit a lot of greens or a lot of fairways, while I hit it sideways on a few occasions along with a couple of shanks and there was also a couple of hooks.

“I have not played this course particularly well in the past since they moved it from March to May but then, in saying that, I have never played well around here. I like the changes and everything they have done is great with the exception my ability to shoot level par on it.” Also at one under was Graeme McDowell and the Northern Irishman was delighted with his effort having, like Casey, also endured a love/hate relationship with the Pete Dyedesigned layout. “A 71 is a good day’s work considering I didn’t play that fantastic”, he said. “I probably should have done better but the pin positions out there today were fairly tough and they seem to be a yard or two closer to the edge of the greens that you are used to seeing them here at Sawgrass.

“Like I say, I didn’t play all that great but I wasn’t 100 per cent at the races. Sometimes you have to deal with that to see if you can put a score in because I would have taken one under.”

Casey’s fellow Englishman Ian Poulter had raced to three under par through eight holes but gave back the shots with three bogeys in succession from his 15th hole in an eventual round of 72.