RORY'S RELAXED OVER DROP CHAT

RORY McILROY insisted his conscience was clear after shrugging off a lengthy debate over a penalty drop on the first day of the Players Championship.

- PHIL CASEY

Having started from the 10th at TPC Sawgrass in Florida, McIlroy looked set to have an outright clubhouse lead when he covered his first 15 holes in eight-under-par, only to pull his tee shot on the seventh into the water.

It was not clear where the ball had bounced before entering the hazard and that led to a near 10-minute discussion with playing partners Viktor Hovland and Jordan Spieth, who appeared to question the location of McIlroy’s drop.