Rickie Fowler shot a sparkling 66 in The Players

Rickie Fowler shot a sparkling 66 in The Players Championship at Sawgrass, but Matt Kuchar held the lead in Florida.

Fowler claimed his maiden victory on the US PGA Tour when beating World Number One Rory McIlroy and D.A. Points in a play-off at the Wells Fargo Championship last week.

Clearly spurred on by the confidence gained from his success, the 23 year old delivered a masterful round in tricky conditions.

Picking up where he left off last night, Fowler birdied six of the opening 11 holes and added another on the par five 16th after a perfect up and down bunker shot.

He finished off his tour de force in disappointing fashion; a bogey on 18 represented a first of the day and allowed Kuchar to take the outright lead.

Midway through his round, Kuchar was 10 under - a shot better than the clubhouse target set by Fowler, whose performance was matched only by the brilliant Sergio Garcia.

The Spaniard began the day level and looked set to endure frustration when making a seven on the par five second.

But that and two bogeys did not taint an outstanding effort; Garcia delivered eight birdies, including five on a sizzling back nine to finish four under.

Among those chasing Kuchar, Martin Kaymer, a Major Champion in 2010, was another notable name; the German’s five birdies cancelled out bogeys at seven and 13 to see him to five under through 17.

But a dropped shot on the last ensured he ended on four under alongside Phil Mickelson and Ian Poulter.

Luke Donald looked the more likely of the two Englishmen battling for a chance to move to the summit of the World Golf Rankings.

Donald and Lee Westwood both started on three under but, while the former stayed on the same score, the latter had slipped to one under through 14.

Westwood needs to emerge victorious and hope Donald does not finish runner-up, while his playing partner requires a top four finish.