6/1 Fleetwood and Bradley set pace at Sawgrass

Tommy Fleetwood has made a strong start to the Players Championship and jointly holds the lead after the first round with American Keegan Bradley on seven-under (Fleetwood 6/1 – Outright Winner).

The 28-year-old Fleetwood has maintained his good form from last week’s Arnold Palmer Invitational, where he finished tied for fourth, to post a bogey-free 65 on the opening day of the unofficial ‘fifth major’.

Fleetwood was on fire on the way in, with six birdies from the turn, as Ryder Cup rival Bradley carded the same score, but his round included a bogey and an eagle on the way to his 65.

Fleetwood was happy with his day but admitted the course at Sawgrass means players always have to be on top of their game.

“I played really well all day apart from I hit a poor tee shot on 14 and got away with it,” Fleetwood told Sky Sports.

“The course doesn’t make you feel very comfortable at all, you are always a semi-bad shot from struggling to make par. It’s one of the courses that’s the ultimate test in golf.”

Northern Ireland’s Rory McIlroy is in the hunt after he carded a bogey-free 67 to sit just two shots off the lead.

The former world number one looks to be getting more consistent but knows it is all about putting together a strong final round, so will hope to be among the later starters on Sunday (McIlroy 6/1 – Outright Winner).

Tiger Woods, who missed out last week due to a neck injury, was a little all over the place, with six birdies and four bogeys, but at two-under he is by no means out of contention.

Odds subject to change.