It will be "Rory in the rain on St Patrick's Day" at the Players Championship

PGA Tour Players Championship scoreboard https://www.pgatour.com/leaderboard.html

Happy St Patrick's Day to all the Irish where ever you are, and as my tribute today I'm saying it will be "Rory in the rain" for everyone who is wearing green!... and why not !!!

First of all the weather today at the Players is as predicted, rain, albeit light, which has moved in and will hang about on and off most of the day, and that is certainly not unusual for the Irish. The wind will freshen to around 15-18kph in the afternoon, and although that's considered a wee breeze in the Emerald Isle, on this TPC Sawgrass course it can be a difference maker. The greens are wet and softer, but the rough is now wet and tougher.

Check the live scoreboard link above to follow all the action, and when you do you'll be reminded there are 3 Ryder Cuppers' from the European Tour atop the leaderboard.

 Jon Rahm cut loose with the low score of Saturday -8 64 (69 68) to take a one stroke lead at -15. Rory got off to a bad start with a bogey at the first and a shaky bogey 6 at the second, but steadied the ship with 3 birdies, out in 35, and back in with steady pars and 1 more birdie for his -2,70 -14 (67 65) total. Tommy paired with Rory, struggled early as well, double at the first, bogey's at 4 and 7 out in 38, but what a recovery,  back in 32 for his 70 -14 (65 67).

I will add 2016 champion Jason Day 70 66 68 -12 in 4th and outsider Abraham Ancer from Mexico 69 66 70 -11 to the top five.

So why pick Rory ?

* there are 6 players at -10, including Dustin Johnson (69 68 69) who is completely capable of -8 64, but that only gets  him to -18. There are too many players including Rory, ahead of him for that to be enough.

* Jon Rahm had everything go his way for his Saturday 64, it's tough to repeat a round like that, and also as he continues to grow up, he is still a couple of shots away from losing his composure.

* Jason Day is driving it as well as anyone this week, I just think he has to overtake the 3 guys above him, so I wouldn't be betting the wife's shopping money on that.

* Tommy is in the last pairing, and as humble as he is, don't be fooled, he got his struggling round done yesterday, and like Rory recovered well. He is one of the European Tour's premier drivers, a leader in Fairways in Regulation every year, so I expect him to be right there at the finish today.

* Rory's worst finish all year is T6, I think he got his struggling round out of the way early yesterday, and he admits he can play the par 5's better to take advantage of his supreme driving. I watch him closely early on, when he just bounces up to the first, rips it. knocks in an iron, putts for birdie/par, he is off and running, and mentally free. He can't start worse that he did yesterday (5,6 +3). Also he's not in the last group, playing with Jason Day, so that will free him to go and post a number.

So there you have it, why not pick Rory, especially in the rain, especially on St Patrick's Day.

May the "luck of the Irish" be with him !!!

Bryan Angus

PS:  Corey Connors 72 70 68 -6 T24, Nick Taylor 73 69 69 -5 T38.