Rory McIlroy insists his conscience is clear after rules disagreement with Jordan Spieth overshadows his exceptional opening round of 65 at the Players Championship

Rory McIlroy insisted his conscience was clear after his exceptional start to the Players Championship was interrupted by a lengthy rules controversy with Jordan Spieth on Thursday.

The world No. 2, so rusty in recent weeks, was significantly closer to his best in an opening round of 65 that gave him an early share of the clubhouse lead at Sawgrass.

However, his ten birdies were overshadowed by controversy on the seventh hole – his 16th of the day – when he ripped a drive into the left left.

What followed was an eight-minute delay as McIlroy appeared to debate with Spieth, his playing partner, about the proper location for his drop.

Citing the claims of eyewitnesses, Spieth could be heard claiming that the ball had passed the red danger marker without bouncing, which would have sent McIlroy 250 yards back onto the course to a spot in front of the tee box for his third ball. shot.

Microphones on the track picked up Spieth saying, “Everyone I hear who has watched it – and that’s not the point – says they’re 100 percent sure it went below the red line. It’s what you think.’

That was quickly challenged by McIlroy’s caddy Harry Diamond: ‘Who is everyone, Jordan? Who are you talking about?’

Believing that his ball had bounced before crossing the line, reducing the reach of the green, McIlroy was given permission by the rules officials to continue and was ultimately awarded a double bogey six. Television footage was inconclusive to prove where the ball was thrown.

After closing with a birdie for a seven-under par finish, McIlroy said: “I think Jordan was just trying to make sure I did the right thing. I was pretty sure my ball had passed the spot where I more or less dropped it.

‘I was certainly conservative with it. I think at the end of the day we’re all trying to protect ourselves and the field. I wouldn’t say it was unnecessary. I think he (Spieth) was just trying to make sure what happened was the right thing.

“I feel like I’m one of the most conscientious golfers here, so if I feel like I’ve done something wrong, it will be on my conscience for the rest of the tournament. I’m a big believer in karma, and if you do something wrong, I have a feeling it will come back to bite you at some point. Obviously I’m not trying to do anything wrong there. I feel like I definitely did that.”

Spieth, with whom McIlroy recently disagreed over the need for Saudi investment in golf’s civil war, ran through the mixed media zone after his round rather than stopping to voice his opinion. The group’s third member, Viktor Hovland, also declined interviews.

It was a special saga on an otherwise impressive day for McIlroy, whose only setbacks were being left in the water on the 18th and seventh. After speaking about his need to ‘wake up’ after finishing 21st at Bay Hill last week, he said: ‘It’s probably been one of my best days in a while, which is really nice.

‘I didn’t have many expectations when I went there today. There’s something to be said for just lowering expectations a bit and going out and seeing what happens. It was obviously a great start.”

McIlroy was joined by some of the clubhouse led by Xander Schauffele and US Open champion Wyndham Clark, with Matt Fitzpatrick one back at six under. Fitzpatrick recovered from one over to three by collecting seven strokes from the seventh, including an eagle on 16. World No. 1 Scottie Scheffler opened with a 67.

Tommy Fleetwood reached five under after starting on the 10th, but could only close with a 70 after a triple-bogey seven on the seventh.