World Number 1 Jason Day has grabbed theearly lead at THE PLAYERS after a faultless bogey free opening round.

Day, who also tied the course record,racked up nine birdies on his way to 9-under 63 and will take a two-shot leadinto the second round.

"Today was good. Tee to green was nice andthe greens were very receptive out there. I felt like I could hole everything,"said Day

"The temperature was hot, so the ball wasgoing a long way and when the ball goes a long way, you’re coming in withshorter clubs if you hit the fairways."

"Shooting 63 was great today and there’s alot of guys at 7-under par right now and a lot of guys that are going off theafternoon tee time that can definitely shoot that score as well."

Day joins Fred Couples (1992), Greg Norman(1994), Roberto Castro (2013) and Martin Kaymer (2014) as the onlyProfessionals who’ve recorded a 63 on one of the most difficult golf courses inthe world.

Paired with 2014 Emirates Australian Open championJordan Spieth and South African Branden Grace, Day couldn’t do anything wrongin the first round of golf’s unofficial fifth major and a title that has, sofar, eluded the Queenslander.

"The control that I had on the clubs todaywere nice, especially the irons out of the rough. I had a few iron shots out offairway bunkers, as well," added Day.

"It’s more predictable coming out offairway bunkers than it is out of the rough here. When I did miss a fairway, Iended up hitting it on the green or somewhere close to the pin and gave myselfthe opportunity."

Day went into this week feeling moreprepared than ever for the challenge of TPC Sawgrass and tournament where hehas missed the cut three times and finished inside the top-10 just once – T6 in2011.

"The way I was feeling, the way I wasplaying, I knew that I could shoot a good score, especially with how the greenswere so receptive today," added Day.

"But it’s round one. I’ve got to try andfocus on playing a solid round two and then after that round three and round fourand just trying to keep pushing forward."

"That’s my main goal right now is try toget as much under par as I can."

Day is seeking his third victory of theseason having won the Arnold Palmer Invitational and the World GolfChampionships-Dell Match Play in back-to-back weeks earlier this year.

In five previous appearances at THEPLAYERS, Day has posted 3-under 69 in the opening round three times (2011, 2013and 2015). Last year, he followed his opening 69 with a second round 81 to missthe cut.

Of the other Aussies in the field, AaronBaddeley is the next best having fired 3-under the card to be tied 33^rd.

Marc Leishman is a further shot back andthe only other Australian under par.

Adam Scott finished the first round on1-over the card and tied 103^rd.

John Senden is 3-over, Matt Jones 6-overand Steven Bowditch 8-over the card.