Controversy at The Players: McIlroy, Spieth in heated discussion on 7th fairway | D'Angelo

PONTE VEDRA BEACH — To sum up Rory McIlroy's day Thursday at The Players Championship:

His iron play was as good as it's been in a long time after spending three long days on the range "trying to figure it out." He believes Jordan Spieth was just trying to make sure Rory was "doing the right thing" when questioning where Rory's ball crossed into the water on No. 7. He had a tournament record-tying 10 birdies. He hit two balls into the water.

Just another day for the Jupiter resident and one of the most opinionated and polarizing players on the PGA Tour.

"Great start," McIlroy said about his 65 on the Stadium Course at TPC Sawgrass. "Just one day."

McIlroy, tied for the lead with Xander Schauffele and Wyndham Clark, equaled his second-best round in 15 Players starts, his other 65 coming in 2019, the year he was champion. And while improved iron play — he hit 15 greens in regulation despite those water balls on 18 and 7 — certainly was his highlight, the round came with controversy that had his playing partners, Spieth and Viktor Hovland, hustling to avoid the media after emerging from scoring.

Spieth sprinted up the hill leading to the clubhouse and Hovland kept walking while declining an interview request through the PGA Tour. Closing with a double bogey on No. 9 (his 18th hole) likely led to Hovland's sour mood.

Both of McIlroy's drops after the water balls were questioned. But it was the second (No. 7) that led to a heated exchange between McIlroy and Spieth. The discussion after he hooked his drive on No. 18 was mild by comparison.

Spieth thought McIlroy's drops were generous

In both cases, Spieth believed McIlory's drop was generous. Hovland was not sure.

The confusion on No. 7, though, was whether McIlroy's drive landed above or below the red line before bouncing into the water, which would have made a difference in where he dropped.

Rory said he was "pretty comfortable" that it landed above the line. Spieth did not agree.

"Everyone that I'm hearing that had eyes on it … saying they're 100% certain it landed below the line," Spieth said in the conversation that was heard on the television broadcast.

"Who's everybody, Jordan?" McIlroy said. "Who're you talking about? Who's everybody?"

The conversation lasted several minutes. Because neither Spieth nor Hovland saw the ball hit the ground and there was no visual evidence — the ball landed in a blind spot when it came to television cameras — McIlroy had the final say as to where to drop.

"I feel like I'm one of the most conscientious golfers out here, so if I feel like I've done something wrong, it'll play on my conscience for the rest of the tournament," McIlroy said. "I'm a big believer in karma, and if you do something wrong, I feel like it's going to come around and bite you at some point.

"I think at the end of the day we're all trying to protect ourselves, protect the field, as well. I wouldn't say it was needless. I think he was just trying to make sure that what happened was the right thing."

McIlroy was then asked if he believes Spieth and Hovland are comfortable with the decisions made, especially since both avoided talking about it after the round.

"I think so, yeah," he said. "I'm comfortable. I think that's the most important thing."

Irons heating up for McIlroy

McIlroy has had his adventures with water balls on the Florida Swing. His approach at No. 16 at the Cognizant Classic trickled into the water. He removed his right shoe and sock and attempted to hit it out of the water, and it carried about 3 feet and rolled back into the water.

Last week at the Arnold Palmer Invitational, McIlroy duck-hooked his second shot into the water on the par-5 6th hole.

Rory tied for 21st in those two events. His start at The Players suggests a much better outcome.

That double bogey on No. 6 at Bay Hill was part of a 76, a round that had McIlroy on high alert entering this week.

Because of it, Rory went back to work Monday.

More: Rory McIlroy says he's made the turn in his career: 'Maybe on the 10th green or 11th tee'

"Say I had a decent day on Sunday at Bay Hill and shot 70, for sure I would have taken Monday off here," he said. "But because of not shooting a decent score, I grinded on the range and figured something out and put the time in, and it's sort of already reaping benefits, so that's nice."

That "something" was in his irons, which McIlroy admitted Wednesday were by far his weakness this year.

"I have this amazing feeling with my woods at the minute," McIlroy said. "I feel like I figured out my putting last week and I putted well the last three days at Bay Hill.

"A little bit of work to do with the irons and trying to get those straightened out."

Thursday suggests he did just that. McIlroy birdied all four par-5s, three of those on the green in 2. He started the day with three birdies, sticking his approach shots on the 10th and 12th holes within 5 feet.

On the famous 17th island green, McIlroy's tee shot rolled to within 6 feet.

"Just needed to clean up the technique a little bit, needed to clean up some things," McIlroy said. "Honestly, just needed to put the time in."

Tom D'Angelo is a senior sports columnist for The Palm Beach Post. He can be reached at tdangelo@gannett.com

The Players Championship

TPC Sawgrass, Ponte Vedra Beach

Through Sunday

TV: Thursday, Friday, 1 p.m., GOLF; Saturday, 2 p.m., NBC; Sunday, 1 p.m., NBC

2023 champion: Scottie Scheffler

This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: McIlroy, Spieth in heated discussion on 7th fairway at The Players