Florida, May 11:

Rory Sabbatini and Phil Mickelson overcame wind that was strong enough to knock branches from palm trees and both shot 5-under 67s to share the first-round lead at The Players Championship. With gusts reaching 63 kph, Tiger Woods was without a birdie for the first time in four years, carding 3-over 75.

Mickelson birdied the first two holes and saved par from an awkward slope around the seventh green to join Sabbatini at 67.

Only 16 players broke par, and Retief Goosen had the only bogey-free round. The famed par-3 island green 17th played extremely tough, with 50 balls landing in the water. It broke the single-round tournament record of 45 set in 2000.