PGA Tour : The Players Leaderboard Tee Times
We weren't sure which script the Players had in mind on Saturday morning, but with another perfect weather day, and an firmer, faster more treacherous TPC Sawgrass we knew it could be exciting.
As it played out an old familiar scenario was in store.
Wyndham Clark, our leader by four, stalled and let the someone's from the pack in with a chance. 32 players shot 69 or less.
His -2 70 -16 wasn't all that bad but it wasn't 65, and as is so often the case the first someone was Xander Schauffele with a bogey free -7 65 who caught up and passed Clark at -17 for the slimmest of leads heading into the Sunday showdown.
The next someone was the crafty little lefty Brian Harman, the Open champion no less, who was at it again with the day's low round -8 64 to snatch 3rd at -15.
Matthew Fitzpatrick, the English US Open champion had 68 -13 and was joined by the less salubrious gunslinger Maverick McNealy 68 T4 -13 and that's your top frame for Sunday
Oh by the way, everyone's sure fire winner Scottie Scheffler isn't done yet, with his 67 69 68 -12 stylings, he has sportingly spotted Xander 5 strokes before they peg it up tomorrow, and our man Rory T12, 69 -9 is giving Xander 6.
Now for the firmer, faster TPC Sawgrass. Nick Taylor was near perfect for 36 holes. Alas after a cautious start, then a bogey 5 at the 4th, a double from the trees at 6 , add another bogey at 9 equals 40, and after another at 10 it was exit stage left, staggering home in 76, down 27 spots from T2 to T27.
Corey Conners began T6 68 68 but opened with a double bogey 6 to dampen his ardor and he spent the front nine getting back to E 36, but back to back bogeys at 14 and 15 ruined any chance of saving the day, 73 dropping 18 spots to T24.
Mac Hughes T44 70 73 69 -4 was the other Canadian.
WEATHER (updated)
The weatherman says sunny, with the 40% chance of showers for Sunday not arriving until the evening, with the breeze originally from the W shifting to SE 10mph for the leaders, temperature dropping to 73*f
Sunday
Scheffler -12 is out at 110pm in the 4th last group and even if he posts 66 -18 he still needs a lot of help to be a factor.
Schauffele -17 and Clark -16 are last out at 140pm, with Harman -15 and McNealy -13 just before at 130. I don't expect the lefty Harman to improve on his 64.
My gut says Wyndham had the pressure lifted from his shoulders mentally today and he and Xander may well putt it out for the $4,500,000 winners prize come Sunday afternoon with a magnum of champagne from the late great Tony Lema to follow, for all the scribes in the media tent.
Bryan Angus
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