McIlroy shares early Players lead after a 65

Rory McIlroy shares the early first-round lead at the Players Championship after a seven-under-par 65 at Sawgrass.

After starting on 10, McIlroy charged to eight under after 15 holes but found water at seven to card a double bogey.

That followed a long discussion with playing partners Jordan Spieth and Viktor Hovland about the penalty drop location before he got the go-ahead.

But McIlroy regrouped by getting his 10th birdie of the day at the last to join Xander Schauffele on 65.

McIlroy retained the DP World Tour's Dubai Desert Classic in January a week after finishing runner up in the Dubai Invitational but finished outside the top 20 in all his four PGA Tour events over the past six weeks.

The Northern Irishman was only four off the pace going into the final round at last week's Arnold Palmer Invitational but a closing 76 led to him finishing in a share of 21st place.

However, his ball striking for the most part on day one at Sawgrass was impeccable as he produced a brilliant start by birdieing his opening three holes.

Three more birdies followed over his next five holes, which included a two at Sawgrass' signature 17th hole following a superb tee shot to sixth feet.

That left him three clear of the field but a pulled drive into water at the 18th meant he had to work hard just to drop one stroke after a full-out three wood to the front edge of the green.

McIlroy moved back to six under by birdieing the par-five second and picked up two more shots by holing 10 and 15-foot putts at the fourth and six holes.

However, then came his mishap at the seventh after another pulled drive into water, which led to the lengthy discussions with his playing partners about the location of the penalty drop after McIlroy had already taken it.

A rules official eventually backed McIlroy's judgement but after failing to find the green with his third shot, following the penalty drop, he was unable to get up and down.

However, McIlroy showed resolve by holing a 15 foot birdie putt at the par-five last to join Schauffele on seven under.

Schauffele didn't drop a shot in his 65 and he and McIlroy are a shot ahead of Canada's Nick Taylor, who had also completed his round.

Young Swedish star Ludvig Aberg and 2016 Players champion Jason Day are two off the clubhouse pace along with American Tom Hoge.

New Zealand's Ryan Fox achieved a hole-in-one at the 17th which meant back-to-back eagles following his three at the par-five 16th and was three under late in his round.

English pair Tommy Fleetwood and Justin Rose are both five off the leader after hitting rounds of 70.

World number one Scottie Scheffler is among the later starters on day one.