What was the biggest surprise for players on the first day of 2025?

There are three players on the first day of the 2025 Player Championship: Lucas Glover, JJ Spaun and Camilo Villegas – tied for six points, and a few other players were waiting on the court to finish the first round. What did we learn on Thursday at TPC Sawgrass? We asked our staff.

What was the biggest surprise on the first day of the player’s championship?

Senior writer Josh Sens: Scottie Scheffler did not win. My child. While it wasn’t an unlikely leader early in the game, Camilo Villegas wasn’t above such a hot start on my roster. He is a Floridian and knows the course very well. But this is the neat round I just watched him.

Jessica Marksbury, Senior Editor: I agree, Josh! From Lucas Glover to JJ Spaun to Billy Horschel, the number of less furry veteran names at the top of the rankings is absolutely surprising. Of course, there is still a long way to go, but it is proven that all kinds of players can succeed at TPC Sawgrass.

James Colgan, News & Featured Editor: Man, I was surprised that this golf course is easy to play. Many red numbers and accepted green. Not the norm!

Josh Berhow, executive editor: What surprised me is that I wasn’t that surprised? I mean “the board seems to be right. Some veterans are high, some names are in good positions, some are struggling, some are struggling, and still struggling. It will be fun to see who will stay in the five-fifth and sixth points after 36 holes. Rickie Fowler is back in two of the quarters. It will be fun to see him go back in this event – it’s been a decade since he won here.

Senior writer Dylan Dethier: You can’t win the game on Thursday, so it seems to be appropriate for a guy who has lost the game. To put Berhow’s point of view, the big guys at the bottom of the rankings aren’t necessarily surprising, but seeing Viktor Hovland shoot 80 and Max Homa’s 79 on the days of relative scoring (plus Matt Fitzpatrick and Justin Thomas shoot 78) relative scoring, which makes their fear of their current troubled foster their current fear of struggling. If you have something wrong, TPC Sawgrass is cruel. They are a little out of place.

Josh Schrock, Associate News Editor: Justin Thomas lost nine with a batting (strike and goal) after starting two-level matches in the seventh grade. JT found the water at 17 o’clock and doubled. He then hit his T-shirt, entered the death center of the pond around 18 years old, and got three times more. He found the water again at the 4th and 5th. Thursday was a brutal day for someone who seems to be resuming form.