In a sublime performance, Xander Schauffele managed to steal the lead from Wyndham Clark in the third round of the PGA Tour’s premier event, the Players Championship, held at Sawgrass. Clark, the champion of the US Open, had a four-shot lead on Schauffele and Canada’s Nick Taylor at the start. However, Schauffele, the Gold medalist from the Olympics, did not let up his pursuit, capitalising every opportunity.
Clark started his game strong, but Schauffele managed to catch up. Clark had to battle through a rough start and a birdie, while Schauffele narrowed the gap with a 14-foot birdie on the sixth. This reduced Clark’s lead to two shots, shrinking to a mere one-shot advantage at the turn. Schauffele seized an opportunity when Clark hit water on his 12th tee, saving his par, he quickly sunk another birdie and excelled with a 58-foot putt on the 14th, securing a one-shot advantage.
Clark rallied with a 30-foot birdie on par-five 16th, but stumbled when his tee shot found water on the 17th. Opting to re-tee rather than take a drop caused him a stroke and handed the lead back to Schauffele.
The final score for Schauffele was an impressive 65, putting him two under for the day and a 17-under overall.
Rory McIlroy, who was also vying for his second Players Championship win, rallied late in the game, resulting in a final score of 69, leaving him nine-under overall. Meanwhile, Brian Harman, Open champion, outdid himself with a solid 64, his week’s best, propelling him up the rankings at 15-under. Shane Lowry ties at the 51st position with three under, while Séamus Power comes in last at tied 71st with three over.
Harman landed amongst the trees at the ninth hole’s par-five, leading to a score of six. However, he bounced back fast, securing consecutive birdies, and with an additional birdie from a 17-foot putt on the 14th hole, reduced the lead deficit.
Scottie Scheffler, world number one, slid down the leaderboard as a persistent neck ailment plagued him, wrapping up his round with a 68.
Despite a double bogey setback at the fourth hole and another later on, Matt Fitzpatrick managed to regain his position, finishing his game with an outstanding four birdies on the last nine, rounding off with a 68.
Fitzpatrick now shares the fourth position at 13 under with Maverick McNealy, who confidently scored his second 68 successively.