PONTE VEDRA BEACH, FLA. (AP) - Ian Poulter has birdied all of the par 5s on the TPC Sawgrass for a 7-under 65 and the early lead Thursday at The Players Championship.
For Tiger Woods, his goal is to make it to the weekend. One week after missing the cut at Quail Hollow, Woods opened with a 2-over 74 and already was nine shots out of the lead. He will have to play well Friday to avoid missing consecutive cuts for the first time in his career.
Poulter ran off four straight birdies around the turn _ two of them on par 5s _ and wound up with a one-shot lead over Blake Adams among the early starters on a warm day.
Rory McIlroy, the world No. 1, and Phil Mickelson were among the late starters.
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