PONTE VEDRA COASTLINE, Fla.– Scottie Scheffler won early, holing a chip from deep harsh for eagle on the par-5 2nd opening at the Players Championship to win a wager versus his caddie on the variety of times the Masters champion contribute throughout the period.
The larger benefit was the method Scheffler browsed 26 openings on Saturday– 8 in the early morning to complete the rain-delayed 2nd round, 18 in the mid-day when the TPC Sawgrass was as soft and also prone as it obtains – for a 7-under 65 to construct a 2-shot lead over Min Woo Lee of Australia.
Still to find: An opportunity for Scheffler to catch one more huge reward versus a solid area, go back toNo 1 worldwide and also cash money a $4.5 million champion’s check.
“I would much rather win the tournament than get back to No. 1 in the world,” Scheffler stated. “So that will be my focus going into tomorrow, just going out and having a solid round of golf.”
Scheffler topped his lengthy day with what totaled up to a 2-shot swing.
Lee, the more youthful sibling of united state Women’s Open champ Minjee Lee, took 3 putts from 70 feet on the edge at the 18th opening on the TPC Sawgrass for a 66. Scheffler, in the last team behind him, struck the suitable technique to the appropriate side of the environment-friendly and also rode the incline to 10 feet for one last birdie.
He was at 14-under 202, and also no person else from the leading 10 worldwide is within 7 shots of him at the greatest area of the year.
Scheffler recognizes adequate concerning Lee, that directly entered the Players, and also the TPC Sawgrass to recognize 18 last openings can seem like a lengthy roller-coaster flight.
Lee holed out for eagle from 131 lawns on the very first opening and also remained with Scheffler stride-for-stride, and also periodically leading, up until completion.
Lee just entered the Players Championship 2 weeks back when he directly remained in the leading 50 after theHonda Classic He made information on Thursday when he experienced an ache on his tee shot at the 15th opening. And currently he remains in the last team with the Masters champ.
“Tomorrow could be the biggest day of my life, but I’m going to go out there and have fun again,” Lee stated. “It’s been the motto for the last three months. … I’m just out here enjoying my time, and like I said, I just crept into this tournament and making the most of it and soaking it all in.”
Cam Davis of Australia had a 67 and also was 4 shots behind, adhered to by a team 5 back that consisted of Tommy Fleetwood and also Aaron Rai of England, that made a hole-in-one on the 17th. It was the very first time the island environment-friendly has actually produced 2 aces in the very same week. Chad Ramey made one in the opening round.
Jon Rahm, the existingNo 1 and also three-time champion this year, took out prior to the 2nd round with a tummy condition. Rory McIlroy had a possibility to return toNo 1, however he missed out on the reduced with rounds of 76-73.
Storms maintained half the area from ending upon Friday Scheffler returned at 7 a.m. with 8 openings to play, made a set of birdies to obtain within 2 shots of 36-hole leader Adam Svensson and after that switched turns at the leading with Lee the majority of the day.
Tom Hoge established the record on the Players Stadium Course when he holed a 10-foot putt for his 10th birdie of the round and also a 62.
And to assume Hoge had a trip scheduled house to the Dallas location for Saturday mid-day. He opened up with a 78, got better with a 68 and also figured his 2-over total amount would certainly still not suffice when the 2nd round completed Saturday early morning.
The greatest aid originated fromLuke List He lacked the par-5 nine environment-friendly in 3, some 40 feet from the opening. Get backwards and forwards for the same level and also the cut would certainly be 1 over and also 11 players would certainly have missed out on the cut. He made dual bogey. Hoge was amongst those that entered. And he took it from there, missing out on just 2 environment-friendlies and also transforming all the crucial putts.
Hoge currently is at 8 under, 6 shots out of the lead.
“I finished yesterday afternoon actually and woke up this morning to watch the scores for a few hours there, and that was all over the place,” Hoge stated. “So I just felt fortunate to have tee time this morning. Just tried to go out and make as many birdies as I could.”
He really did not understand it was a training course record up until he authorized his card.
Svensson, at the same time, made birdie on his last opening of the 2nd round after striking right into a friendliness outdoor tents alongside the nine. That provided him a 67 and also a 2-shot lead, and also he began with a birdie. But it obtained sidewards swiftly, specifically when he bungled the 14th and also took three-way bogey. He fired 75 and also dropped 8 back.
Lee has lots at risk. A two-time champion on the European trip, he can gain PGA Tour standing with a win, and also a good coating is most likely to relocate him high sufficient worldwide rating to enter theMasters There’s additionally that tiny issue of a $4.5 million benefit to the champion.
“Sawgrass is scary,” he stated. “There’s a lot of times where people have faltered and you don’t want to be one of those. But as long as you can control your emotions and go out there and have fun — which I did — it was fun playing really good golf.”
