PONTE VEDRA BEACH, Fla. — Chad Ramey managed to avoid stress and bogeys Thursday in The Players Championship for an 8-under-par 64, making him an unlikely leader on a course that rarely fails to deliver a surprise.
Ramey had a one-shot lead over two-time major champion Collin Morikawa in mild conditions on the Stadium Course at TPC Sawgrass. Roughly half the field was at par or better.
That doesn’t mean the first round was devoid of drama.
Hayden Buckley made an ace on the famed island green at the 17th, a hole he had seen only on TV until he arrived this week for his debut at the PGA Tour’s big event.
Aaron Wise lost four balls in a span of two holes: in the water on the 17th, and then three straight tee shots in the drink left of the 18th fairway, where he stumbled to a 10, one short of the record for highest score on the closing hole.