Poulter only needed 10 putts on the back nine.

Self-confidence’s Ian Poulter shot a seven-under-par 65 to grab a share of the overnight lead on Thursday at the 2012 Players Championship.

The strongest indication yet that his star is once again on the rise, the Ryder Cup veteran attributed his success to the completion of a protracted family relocation. (continue reading…)

Tiger's thinking face.

Embattled world No7 (eh?) Tiger Woods endured a frustrating opening round at the Players Championship Thursday, shooting 74 to end the day in a tie for 100th place.

He’ll begin Friday facing the very real possibility of missing the cut in consecutive events for the first time in over 15 years. (continue reading…)

Kickin' it: Harman and caddy linger with intent.

That strange, anonymous blob you saw lurking at the base of the Players Championship digital leaderboard this morning should have carried the name of Sea Island native Brian Harman.

The left-hander gained late, late entry to the field as first alternate, taking the place of last week’s forgotten man, D.A. Points, but his transition from practice ground mainstay to competitor would prove circuitous, to say the least. (continue reading…)

Luuuuuuuuuuuke!

Current world No2 Luke Donald visited the media centre at TPC Sawgrass this morning to discuss, among less interesting topics (“I was wondering if you could just talk about the par-3s on the back nine…”), his most recent world rankings demotion, course strategy and the sad neglect of Europe’s flagship event, the PGA Championship. (continue reading…)

Woods was in combative form during today's pre-tournament press conference.

Having endured a turbulent seven days – in which he provoked the ire of a usually timid press corps and, in missing his first cut of the year, prompted an outbreak of journalistic apostasy (examples here, here and here) – Tiger Woods returned to the media centre this evening to reinvigorate the faith of his once loyal disciples.

Rhetorical miracles weren’t performed, but the unshakable tenets of a philosophy were enumerated, cliché by laborious cliché. This was a press conference of positively catholic dimensions. (continue reading…)

McIlroy lost out to D'Artagnan Rickie Fowler at Quail Hollow.

Though reinstalled at the summit of the world rankings, Rory McIlroy arrives at Ponte Vedra Beach for this week’s Players Championship with his reputation arguably at its lowest ebb for several months. (continue reading…)