Rory McIlroy is near the top of the PLAYERS Championship, but he had to earn his 5-under 67 the hard way as his struggles off the tee continue.

Lucas Glover, J.J. Spaun and Camilo Villegas each shot 6-under 66, but the top of the leaderboard is jammed after Thursday.

Few have the experience of playing the Stadium Course as McIlroy and certainly not three of the players directly ahead of him on the leaderboard.