Home is where the heart is for quiet guy Aaron Rai as he catches the eye once again at Sawgrass in first round of the Players Championship

Not many golfers are so well acquainted with Sawgrass as Aaron Rai and even fewer picked it apart quite so effectively during the first round of the Players Championship.

Two years have passed since this son of Wolverhampton relocated to Jacksonville, a five-minute drive from the course staging the PGA Tour’s flagship event, and he is making a habit of catching the eye here.

In 2023, that meant a hole-in-one at the iconic 17th and on Thursday it translated to an opening 68, built on precision driving and nailing seven putts from outside 12 feet. It might also help that he practises on this track five days a week.

‘Really good start,’ he said, after carding six birdies and a pair of bogeys to sit just two off the early lead set by American Lucas Glover.

Once upon a time Rai flew far beneath the public radar, save for his quirk of wearing two gloves. 

But such has been his progress in reaching 24th in the world rankings, and indeed winning on the PGA Tour last autumn, he is compiling a strong case for a Ryder Cup debut in September. The calls from European captain Luke Donald have become more frequent.

Rai lives just a five-minute drive from the course staging the PGA Tour’s flagship event

‘It’s definitely in my awareness, but at the same time, there’s so much golf to play before that,’ Rai said.

Less promise was found in the first-round performances of some other European stalwarts. Matt Fitzpatrick, whose career has hit turbulence, played the closing two holes in five over to finish with a 78 and Viktor Hovland carded an 80. Donald will be anxious about their form.

But there was better news from Scot Robert MacIntyre, who carded a fine 69 thanks to five birdies.

Among the later starters, Rory McIlroy wrestled with some loose driving as he reached the turn in one under after three birdies and two bogeys.