Rahm Seven Behind Surprise Clubhouse Leader Ramey at Players

Chad Ramey of the United States waits with his caddie Ryan Goble on the 14th hole during the first round of THE PLAYERS Championship on THE PLAYERS Stadium Course at TPC Sawgrass in Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla., on March 9, 2023. Richard Heathcote/Getty Images

World number one Jon Rahm was seven shots behind early first-round clubhouse leader Chad Ramey at The Players Championship on Thursday, March 9, in Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida, where Rory McIlroy struggled to find his groove.

Ramey, who missed the cut in his last three PGA Tour starts and is making his Players Championship debut, opened with a bogey-free eight–under-par 64 that left him one shot clear of twice major champion Collin Morikawa at TPC Sawgrass.