PONTE VEDRA BEACH, Florida, May 12 (Reuters) - American Nick Watney grabbed the early first round clubhouse lead at the Players Championship after a shooting an eight-under-par 64 on Thursday.
The tournament suffered a blow when Tiger Woods limped off the course after nine holes of six-over-par golf, including a triple-bogey on the fourth hole, and withdrew because of pain from lingering knee and Achilles tendon injuries. [ID:nLDE74B236]
Without world number one Lee Westwood and sixth-ranked Rory McIlroy, the tournament billed as the unofficial "fifth major" has lost three of the top names in golf.
Watney, who won the WGC-Cadillac Championship at Doral in March, played the back nine first and birdied his first three holes before a double-bogey on the par-four 14th where he got in trouble in the rough and three putted.
But the 30-year-old Watney was close to immaculate on the front nine with an eagle on the par-five second, five birdies and only a bogey on the par-three eighth to spoil his card.
Compatriot Lucas Glover, coming off a playoff win at the Quail Hollow Championship on Sunday, continued his good form with a seven-under-par 65, leaving him a shot back of Watney.
German world number two Martin Kaymer, who can overtake Westwood in the rankings with a here, was three shots behind Watney along with South African Rory Sabbatini.
The tournament suffered a blow when Tiger Woods limped off the course after nine holes of six-over-par golf, including a triple-bogey on the fourth hole, and withdrew because of pain from lingering knee and Achilles tendon injuries. [ID:nLDE74B236]
Without world number one Lee Westwood and sixth-ranked Rory McIlroy, the tournament billed as the unofficial "fifth major" has lost three of the top names in golf.
Watney, who won the WGC-Cadillac Championship at Doral in March, played the back nine first and birdied his first three holes before a double-bogey on the par-four 14th where he got in trouble in the rough and three putted.
But the 30-year-old Watney was close to immaculate on the front nine with an eagle on the par-five second, five birdies and only a bogey on the par-three eighth to spoil his card.
Compatriot Lucas Glover, coming off a playoff win at the Quail Hollow Championship on Sunday, continued his good form with a seven-under-par 65, leaving him a shot back of Watney.
German world number two Martin Kaymer, who can overtake Westwood in the rankings with a here, was three shots behind Watney along with South African Rory Sabbatini.
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