Players Championship At Sawgrass: Tiger Woods In The Hunt As Weekend Approaches [VIDEO]

Currently ranked No. 1 in the world - a position he is extremely familiar with - Tiger Woods is in serious contention at the 2013 Players Championship.

While Woods has put together a marvelous career to this point with well over 70 wins and 14 major championships, the 37-year-old has struggled mightily at the famed TPC Sawgrass course since winning The Players back in 2001.

Entering this week's event that is affectionately referred to as the PGA Tour's 'Fifth Major,' Woods is putting together a stellar 2013 campaign.

In 6 completed events this season, Woods has made every cut, finishing in the top 10 in 4 of those tournaments while winning a title 3 times. His finest victory this season came at the Arnold Palmer Invitational where the superstar posted 2 rounds in the 60's on his way to a two-stroke victory.

Heading into the first round at this year's Players Championship, Woods felt good about his overall game and it certainly showed during Thursday's opening round.

Firing a 5-under 67, Woods set himself up for a great week. Converting each of the courses par 5's into birdies, Woods was shocked at how short the course was playing on what was a gorgeous day in Florida.

"It was surprising how far the ball was going,'' Woods said to ESPN. "The ball was just traveling out there. The ball was going for miles, and it played, really, really short.''

The overall length - or lack thereof - allowed Woods to play some of the shorter clubs in his bag and enabled him to find fairways with his 3 and 5-woods since driver wasn't necessary on every hole.

Considered one of the greatest players in the long history of golf, Woods was also very aware of the struggles he's had at Sawgrass in recent years - most notably his tie for 40^th in 2012 - so he knew he needed to get off to a fast start on Thursday afternoon to set himself up moving forward.

"It was a day that I felt like I had to go out there and shoot something in the 60s," Woods said. "Most of the guys were under par in the morning session. The afternoon wave got a little bit of wind and it dried out the greens, and some of the greens were pretty bumpy.''

The 14-time major champ battled through some of those 'bumpy' conditions Thursday, completing one of his best round this season and surely one of the finest rounds of his career at The Players.

Tiger's opening round 67 was impressive but it still left him 4 shots off the lead at the end of Day 1.

Players Championship rookie Roberto Castro tied the course record with his opening round 63, putting him atop the leader board at minus-9.

With a stacked field of talent looking up at the second-year pro including Lee Westwood (-7 after Round 1), Rory McIlroy (-6), Zach Johnson (-6) and Woods, Castro will undoubtedly be tested as the tournament progresses.

As far as Woods is concerned, his opening day tally of minus-5 puts him very much in the mix as he resumes play Friday morning.

A great start to a tournament Woods has traditionally stuggled in should only bode well for this great champion moving forward.

Expect to hear the roar of the crowd this week at the sunny TPC Sawgrass Stadium course as they cheer on their beloved Tiger.

WATCH Highlights from the Opening Round of the 2013 Players Championship: