The Players: After entering the final round of The Players with a two-shot lead, Scottie Scheffler took a significant stride towards his comeback to the top of the world rankings.
After Rory McIlroy missed the cut and Jon Rahm withdrew from the event in the middle, Scheffler needs a top-five finish to regain the No. 1 ranking. Scheffler shot a fantastic seven-under 65 at TPC Sawgrass, mixing an eagle with six birdies and one bogey.
After successfully defending his WM Phoenix Open title, the world No. 2 enters the final day on 14 under par and in a prime position to win a second PGA Tour title in as many months. Scheffler’s closest rival is Min Woo Lee.
A low-scoring Saturday had Lee in the lead at various moments, but he concluded his third-round 66 with a bogey to fall back at 12 under. His countryman Cam Davis sits two strokes behind Lee in third place, followed by Aaron Rai, Tommy Fleetwood, Chad Ramey, and Christiaan Bezuidenhout.
Rai’s hole-in-one at the par-three 17th produced the first birdie-ace-birdie finish in the tournament’s history, and Tom Hoge broke the previous course record with a stunning 62 that featured 10 birdies.
How Lee and Scheffler fought for the lead at Sawgrass?
Scheffler, who was two shots off the lead at the halfway point, hit his approach shot to inside three feet on the opening hole and holed out from the rough on the ensuing par-five. He then birdied the fifth but missed a chance for a second at the sixth from inside five feet.
After a hole-out eagle at the first with additional birdies at the fourth and sixth, Lee moved into a one-shot lead. The Aussie then moved alongside Scheffler when the Masters champion bogeyed the seventh after finding water off the tee.
As Lee began his back nine by holing a 15-footer to preserve par and stay at 11 under, Scheffler birdied the next and joined his nearest rival, who was playing in the group in front of him, in taking advantage of the par-five ninth.
After making a 20-foot birdie at the par-five 11th and another from close range at the next, Lee took the lead and held it until Scheffler left himself a tap-in opportunity at the par-five 16th.
At the par-3 17th, Scheffler missed a great birdie opportunity from within eight feet, but he gained the lead when Lee missed his par-saving try at the last. The 26-year-old then finished his round with a birdie to increase his lead going into Sunday’s final round.
Davis finished with a birdie to give him a five-under 67, moving him into sole possession of the third place. Rai’s ace at the par-three 17th was his second of the week and followed Hayden Buckley’s effort in the first round.
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