PONTE VEDRA BEACH, Fla. — One birdie led to two more before Jason Day even hit his stride, and his round kept getting better until the world’s No. 1 player was in the record book and the lead at The Players Championship.

He putted for birdie on every hole. His longest putt for par was 30 inches.

When Day blasted out of a tiny bunker within inches of the cup on his final hole, he had a 9-under 63, a two-shot lead and a fresh memory of the TPC Sawgrass.

His most recent round was an 81 last year to miss the cut. This one tied the course record.