Jason Day, Adam Scott and Aaron Baddeley will be forced to play catch-up at the Players Championship after the Australian trio missed golden opportunities to steal the first-round lead at TPC Sawgrass.
Defending Players champion Day and Scott both grabbed a one-shot buffer during the back nine on Thursday, while 36-year-old Baddeley was tied atop the leaderboard at the $US10.5 million ($A14.2 million) event in Florida.
All three remain in the mix in a tie for 18th after signing for two-under 70s, three shots back of co-leaders William McGirt and Mackenzie Hughes (67).
American McGirt and Canadian Hughes will take a one-shot lead into day two of golf's unofficial fifth major, with JB Holmes, Chez Reavie, Jon Rahm and Alex Noren (68) trailing in third at four under.
Scott's was the most dramatic stumble - finding the water at the 17th, moments after playing partner Sergio Garcia aced the famous island green par-3.
Scott drowned his ball again on the 18th en route to two closing double bogeys.
World No.3 Day, who won at TPC Sawgrass by four shots in 2016, carded three back-nine bogeys and Baddeley had a triple-bogey on his 16th hole.
Scott, who won the Players Championship in 2004, is confident of making a move back up the leaderboard with a morning tee time up his sleeve on Friday.
"It doesn't matter whether you're leading (or not) on the first day. I'm in good shape and hopefully have a better back nine on (Friday) morning and work my way back into the lead again," said Scott.
Day, who has managed a best result of fifth place on Tour during a misfiring 2017 season, was inspired by seeing flashes of his brilliant best during a five-birdie haul in his opening 11 holes.
"Yeah, it's close. I'm excited about where the state of my game is; I actually played some solid golf. I hit a lot of fairways today and I'm starting to hit it a lot closer with the irons," said Day.
Queensland youngster Cameron Smith, fresh off his maiden Tour victory at the Zurich Classic two weeks ago, signed for a respectable 71 at his adopted home course.
The 23-year-old Smith shares 32nd place with world No.1 Dustin Johnson.
Fellow Queenslander Rod Pampling is a shot back at even par, the 47-year-old sharing 51st after a 72, while Marc Leishman and Greg Chalmers shot 73.
The two seasoned Australians are tied 66th with major winners Jordan Spieth and Rory McIlroy at one over.
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