Rory McIlroy returned to competition at the Players Championship after withdrawing from last week's Arnold Palmer Invitational with back spasms. The five-time major winner shot a 2-over 74 on Thursday, citing rustiness rather than injury as his primary concern. McIlroy arrived at TPC Sawgrass only Wednesday afternoon and had minimal practice time before his opening round.

McIlroy acknowledged that skipping his usual pre-tournament preparation proved costly. He hit just six of 14 fairways and 10 of 18 greens while losing over a stroke to the field with his putting. The Northern Irishman made only one birdie and sits in a tie for 69th place, seven shots behind the leaders after first-round play was suspended.

Despite the rough start, McIlroy remained optimistic about his chances. He described feeling "unbelievably rusty" after his last competitive round on Friday but expressed confidence that a strong second round could quickly get him back in contention. The 34-year-old plans to continue treatment and hopes his body continues to feel better as the tournament progresses.