Rory McIlroy, Xander Schauffle share early lead at The Players

(Photo credit: Corey Perrine/Florida Times-Union / USA TODAY NETWORK)

World No. 2 Rory McIlroy and No. 6 Xander Schauffele shared the lead at 7-under par as the morning wave of the first round of The Players Championship was wrapping up Thursday in Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla.

Both took advantage of soft greens and light winds to card opening 65s at TPC Sawgrass, although they did it in distinctly different fashions.

McIlroy