Players Championship Saturday tee times / leaderboard here.
When the sun set on another impossibly beautiful Florida day evergreen Lee Westwood, playing as well as he ever has was in the lead at this Players Championship with 69 66 -9 and three of four Canadians made the cut, led by Corey Connors who made a great late run to salvage a 72 and stay in contention for the weekend T14 at -4.
Adam Hadwin's rollercoaster 69 had a double, 2 bogeys but also an eagle 3 at the 11th and 5 birdies T36 -1, while Nick Taylor is T50 70 74 making the cut right on E. Mac Hughes began his week with an 8 and missed the cut 75 72 +3.
Corey wasn't as sharp on Friday, but with a nice birdie on the 4th moved to -5, however made a bogey at 5, then a double on the par 4 6th, his drive caught the fairway bunker near the lip, then his 2nd caught a bad lie in the greenside bunker, 3rd came out hot and rolled through the green into thick rough, 4th rolled 10 feet past, 2 putts and just like that a 6. He took 3 to get down from the greenside bunker on the par 3 8th for another bogey.
He'd lost 4 shots in 4 holes, then things were looking grim after another bogey at 10, but help was on the way.
Recovery: His 255yd 3 metal approach at the par 5 11th just cleared the pond into the greenside bunker, a great long explosion shot to 7 feet and the birdie putt did a lap of honour before it fell in.
Lady luck showed up on the par 3 13th, where he was annoyed at missing the green into a grassy swale short and right, however he chose his putter and rolled it in from 45 feet for an unlikely birdie 2.
His shot of the day came at the par 5 16th, after his drive split the fairway, his 240yd utility metal went long and left into gnarly rough 30 yards above and behind the hole. He produced a fabulous pitch onto the collar which rolled down and settled 3 feet away, he made the birdie 4 putt.
Now to the 17th, island green par 3 where he made a 25 footer for birdie and he was back to where he started at -4.
There was more drama at the par 4 18th where he drove in behind the trees and had to chip out sideways, and held his breath as it rolled perilously close the the water. However another terrific wedge from 130yds covered the flag and spun back to 5 feet which he calmly converted for E 72.
Canadian tee times: He has to feel great as he tees off at 12.35 today with Jason Day, T14 -4. Adam Hadwin T37 -1 is off at 1010am with Scott Harrington, and Nick Taylor is E through 4 holes this morning.
Leaders: The European Tour leads the way, Lee Westwood at -9 and his fellow Englishman Matthew Fitzpatrick -8 are the final pair at 2pm. A pair of 65's Sergio Garcia and Chris Kirk who had Friday's round of the day are at -7, 150pm.
Americans Denny McCarthy and Brian Harman are off at 140pm -6 then Bryson DeChambeau and Charley Hoffman also at -6 130pm.
There are 16 players including Corey Connors within 5 shots of the Westwood lead.
Weather : warm, mostly sunny with the breeze increasing as the day goes on, up to 15kph this afternoon for the leaders.
Dustin Johnson and Phil Mickelson are -1, Jordan Spieth back at E.
Missing: Rory, Poults, Stenson, Hatton, Rickie, Tommy, Bubba, Frankie are all spending their weekends at home.
Bryan Angus
Angus
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