Jason Day equals course record 63 to take two-shot lead at Players Championship

World number one Jason Day equalled the course record at TPC Sawgrass by carding a nine-under-par 63 in the first round of the Players Championship in Florida on Thursday.

The Australian, who hit 81 in this tournament last year, will head into the second round with a two-shot lead.

© Getty Images

Day had the chance to putt for birdie on every single hole, and he managed to make nine of them, three of which came consecutively on the 10th, 11th and 12th holes.

Five players, including Justin Rose and Shane Lowry, who became the first player to hit 29 on the back nine, are the closest challengers to Day as they all carded seven-under-par 65s in the opening round.

Jordan Spieth, who is competing in his first tournament since losing the green jacket at Augusta last month, hit five birdies but a double bogey on the ninth and dropped shots on three other holes left the American level par on 72.