Golf: Jones upstages fab four at Players’ Championship

PONTE VEDRA BEACH, Florida - American Steve Jones stole the spotlight from golf's biggest names today, firing a flawless eight-under 64 to grab the first-round lead at The Players' Championship.


With the Fab Four of world number one Vijay Singh, Tiger Woods, Phil Mickelson and Ernie Els failing to get into the top seven on the leaderboard, the day belonged to several of the PGA Tour's lesser lights.


Jones, who won the 1996 US Open but is without a title in nearly seven years, turned back the clock with an eight-birdie display that earned him a one-stroke advantage over Britain's Lee Westwood and Americans Fred Funk and Zach Johnson.


Lurking one shot further adrift on six-under 66 at golf's unofficial fifth major were Britain's Luke Donald, Sergio Garcia of Spain and American JL Lewis.


"I'm surprised, my best round in the year," Jones told reporters. "I've felt like something was going to happen soon.


"I don't know what's going to happen the next three days but I felt like I had a good one in me, I was due. "


Ranked 743rd and sidelined for part of 2003 and all of 2004 following elbow surgery, few would have expected to find Jones leading a field that includes the world's top 50 players.


The 46-year-old had failed to make the cut in three of five events this season, including his last two, and began his round quietly with six consecutive pars from the 10th.


Jones then reeled off seven birdies in eight holes, including the infamous par-three 17th at the TPC at Sawgrass.


Westwood also enjoyed a faultless start to the $8 million event. He missed a chance to join Jones at eight-under when his five-foot birdie putt on the last came up well short.


Of the so-called Fab Four, only Singh came close to challenging for the lead, carding a 67 to join Americans Bob Tway, Brett Quigley, Bob Estes and Irishman Padraig Harrington, runner-up here the last two years, in a tie for eighth place.


"I played well," said Singh after a round that included six birdies and one bogey. "I hit a lot of fairways and it's nice to start off a tournament in contention for a change.


"I feel like five-under is a good start for me this week, and we'll see if I can get it going tomorrow again. "


Woods, who lost the number one ranking to Singh last week but can regain it by winning here, and Mickelson battled to rounds of 70.


Both made bright starts, Woods carding birdies on two of his first three holes and Mickelson getting to four-under through six.


Woods, the 2001 champion, stalled on his back nine while Mickelson had a more adventurous day as his rollercoaster round contained seven birdies, three bogeys and a double bogey.


"I got off to a good start but I could tell I was rusty, " said world number four Mickelson, back in action for the first time in three weeks.


"I didn't really get any good practice sessions in the last week. I knew I wasn't as sharp with my physical game. "


World number three Els, who had back-to-back wins in Dubai and Qatar earlier this month, had to settle for a one-under 71.


- REUTERS