PLAYERS: Kyle Stanley and Henrik Stenson with worst morning rounds

Each week, there seem to be a few players that just can’t get their opening rounds together. Early on at the PLAYERS, we have at least two of them in Kyle Stanley and Henrik Stenson.

Kyle Stanley was the leader in the clubhouse early on at the PLAYERS, but not in the way you want to be. As part of the first group out, he’s easily going to be able to find his name on the board, as he posted a +11 83 to start his tournament.

Starting on the 10th hole, Stanley would spin his approach down to the front of the green, and be looking at a 52 footer for birdie. His score would start with a B, but it would be after three more shots, as he started his day off with a bogey.

Heading into the 13th, things looked a bit better. He had made two straight pars, and seemed like he was back on track. Unfortunately, that wasn’t the case.

Kyle Stanley’s bad run at the PLAYERS would start on the par-3 13th hole.

Over the next three holes, he would go bogey-double-bogey, a run that no one wants to see on their scorecard, save a 36 handicap. He would birdie the par-5 16th, and instantly give it, and more, back on the next with a double. He would finish that side with a bogey on 18, shooting a +7 43.

Then a bogey on one and a double on two would about top it off, and he would get back on track with six pars and a bogey to finish out with his 83.

Henrik Stenson had a similarly bad round at the PLAYERS.

Starting on the front nine, he actually made par to start, unlike what we saw from most players who had rough days. A bogey on two and four would put him at +2 through five holes… not great, but better than many had started. The run would start on the sixth hole, with a snap hook into the water off the tee leading to a double bogey.

He would fin water off the tee on seven as well, and looked to be on his way to another double bogey. His 4th shot was a bit of a mis-hit, and he was 60+ feet short of the flag. Like so many from this distance, he couldn’t get a read on it and left himself around ten feet, which he would miss en route to a triple-bogey seven. After a bogey on the 9th, he would one-up Stanley, shooting a 44 on his first nine of the day.

After two birdies, two bogeys, and a double on the 12th, Stenson would head to the island green 17th sitting at +10. That is nowhere close to where he would leave it. Water first, and then a LONG look at bogey would be followed once again by a three-putt, leading to an awful triple-bogey at the 17th, getting him to +13, which is where he would finish the round with an 85.

It was a rough day for both Stanley and Stenson at the PLAYERS. Hopefully, their second-round goes a bit better.