Wyndham Clark saw his four shot lead quickly evaporate in the third round of The Players Championship as Xander Schauffele stormed into the lead with a stunning seven-under-par round.
US Open champion Clark missed some tee shots left and duffed a wedge into the water at 17 as he made some uncharacteristic errors. "Today was a mental grind and I hope tomorrow I make it easier on myself," admitted Clark.
But Schauffele carded an immaculate bogey-free round to get to -17 and take the lead by a shot from Clark, with Open champion Brian Harman a shot further back at -15. Schauffele said: "I will try and enjoy it as much as possible. It has been a while since I have had a lead. It would mean the world to win."
World No.1 Scottie Scheffler looks to still be struggling with a neck injury, which he had taped up, but he still shot four-under to get to -12 after finishing with three successive birdies at TPC Sawgrass. Rory McIlroy, meanwhile, is -9 after a strong finish of his own.
THE PLAYERS CHAMPIONSHIP LEADERBOARD
- -17 SCHAUFFELE
- -16 CLARK
- -15 HARMAN
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-13 McNEALY, FITZPATRICK
THE PLAYERS CHAMPIONSHIP QUICK LINKS
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Updates from:
SCHEFFLER UNDERWAY DESPITE NECK PAIN
World No.1 Scottie Scheffler has just got his round underway with a drive off the first after getting treatment for neck pain yesterday. He has some tape on the injury today. His opening tee shot missed the fairway on the right but he found the green with the second as he looks to build on his stunning win at the Arnold Palmer Invitational.
SI WOO KIM AMONG THOSE MAKING A MOVE AFTER THIS PEARLER
294 yards ➡️ 4 feet 💪Si Woo Kim drives the green on the par-4 12th @THEPLAYERS. pic.twitter.com/biyJPfkGH3March 16, 2024
Si Woo Kim drives the green on the par-4 12th to set up an eagle as he gets to -7 in total with four holes left.
SCHEFFLER BACK ON COURSE BUT IS INJURED
Scheffler was imperious last weekend to win the Arnold Palmer with an exhibition display but he is clearly going to have grind out a score today as he appears to still be troubled by his neck injury, which is taped up. He is -1 for two holes though to get to -9.
LEADER CLARK TEES OFF THE FIRST WITH THREE WOOD
Clark, who has a four-shot lead, is underway after taking a three-wood off the first which he has hit into the rough on the right where he has got a terrible lie while playing partner Xander Schauffele has found the fairway. But it hasn't stopped Clark gouging his approach from 127 yards to five feet, which he converts.
The thick rough is no problem for leader @Wyndham_Clark.His approach on No. 1 sets up birdie.He leads by five. pic.twitter.com/xax0HkWQW1March 16, 2024
CLARK MISSES SECOND FAIRWAY TOO DESPITE EXTENDING LEAD
Clark now leads by five shots after an opening birdie but after missing the first fairway on the right, he has now over drawn his driver off the second tee and had a big miss left. He has a terrible spot in the trees but produces a brilliant wedge back on to the fairway at the par five.
SCHAUFFELE'S BIRDIE AT SECOND CUTS LEAD
Xander Schauffele moves to -1 for the day with a birdie at the par 5 second to trim Clark's lead by a shot to four as the leader has to settle for a 5.
CLARK FINDS GREEN AT PAR 3 THIRD
Clark has just fired an eight iron into the par three third with a 184-yard shot to 19 feet as both he and Schauffele made par.
SOME ERRANT SHOTS FROM LEADER WILL GIVE PACK HOPE
Clark produces a deft chip and putt to save par on the par four fourth after his 101-yard approach with a wedge rolled back into the rough but his lead is now only three shots after Schauffele rolls in his second birdie in four holes to get to -12.
Second birdie of the day 🐦@XSchauffele is three shots back @THEPLAYERS. pic.twitter.com/nGzjU3YlpzMarch 16, 2024
XANDER SCHAUFFELE EYES EIGHTH CAREER WIN ON PGA TOUR
Schauffele is putting Clark under pressure after two birdies in his opening four holes. He has had a look at every hole so far and is on to the par four fifth in regulation , 41 feet away. But Clark has responded by putting his approach from 179 yards to nine foot before the pair settle for 4s.
TOP TWO BOTH IN DECENT SHAPE OFF TEE AT SIXTH
Clark and Schauffele have both found the fairway off the sixth tee as they bid to pick up another shot on the field. They have both since found the green in regulation and are matching each other shot for shot at the moment from tee to green from where Schauffele notches his third birdie.
SCHAUFFELE CONTINUES TO IMPRESS AFTER FAST START
Schauffele has four top tens already in 2024 and is looking very classy and composed here after three birdies in his first six holes. He has followed that up with another straight drive on to the seventh fairway to keep up the pressure on Clark, who is two shots ahead. The pair then both fire in shots close to the pin as only Clark converts to go to -16.
CLARK IS THRIVING DESPITE ADVERSITY OF LOSING HIS MUM
How could you not root for a guy like Wyndham Clark? pic.twitter.com/u6cjbJnm6oMarch 16, 2024
CLARK AND SCHAUFFELE BOTH MISS GREEN AT PAR 3 EIGHTH
Our leaders are battling to save par on the eighth as Clark missed the green short and left before his six-footer for par slips by as Schauffele gets up and down from the sand.
CLARK AND SCHAUFFELE BID TO PLOT THEIR WAY UP PAR FIVE NINTH
Clark and Schauffele , separated by just two shots on the leaderboard, took three-wood off the ninth tee as they try to plot their way to the 601-yard par 5. Schauffele goes first and goes through the back with a fairway wood from 326 yards while Clark is pin high in the rough after an iron from 283 yards. Schauffele plays exquisitely to leave a likely tap in birdie while Clark also chips up close but again misses from short range.
Four birdies on his front nine.@XSchauffele is within one shot of the lead at @THEPLAYERS. pic.twitter.com/wqcXn9QvoCMarch 16, 2024
RORY McILROY UNLIKELY TO FEATURE IN FINAL DAY TROPHY RACE
McIlroy is -2 for his third round with one hole remaining to stand -8 in total after a birdie on the 17th but is unlikely to now have a chance of winning tomorrow.
SCHEFFLER FINDS WATER AT 12TH AS BEING TROUBLED BY INJURY
World No.1 Scottie Scheffler has his neck taped up after an injury yesterday and is clearly still being hampered by it. He remains in the hunt at -9 but has had some uncharacteristic misses with his trademark long game, including driving into the water via a bad bounce on the short par 4 12th.
OPEN CHAMPION BRIAN HARMAN ENJOYING BRILLIANT ROUND
Harman has stormed up the leaderboard into a tie for second with a -7 round which has included eight birdies in 14 holes so far.
McILROY GIVES HIMSELF HOPE AFTER STUNNING FINISH
McIlroy was out of this championship but has just finished 4,2,3 to get to -3 for the round and -9 in total. Rory will think he still has a chance as long as the leaders do not get too far away.
A big hook from the pine straw 💪@McIlroyRory bends one onto the green at No. 16. pic.twitter.com/9dl93xkxIVMarch 16, 2024
OH NO - CHRIS KIRK IS DENIED A LIKELY PGA RECORD ON THE 17TH
Chris Kirk had played 41 consecutive rounds on 17 without a water ball ... until today. His streak of 41 in a row remains tied with Jason Dufner for the most on record. pic.twitter.com/7vkucvrtdOMarch 16, 2024
CLARK AND SCHAUFELE BOTH MAKE BIRDIES ON 11TH
Leader Clark and Schauffele both holed out for impressive 4s on the par 5 11th as the lead remains just one shot in Clark's favour but that is now in grave danger after the leader found the water off the 12th tee at the short par 4.
DRAMA AT PAR FOUR 12TH AS SCHAUFFELE MOVES LEVEL
Clark did well to make a par at the par fourth 12th after a wayward drive into the water off the tee but he has now lost the lead to playing partner Xander Schauffele who made his latest clutch putt for his sixth birdie of the day.
Back-to-back birdies and his sixth of the day.@XSchauffele is tied for the lead @THEPLAYERS. pic.twitter.com/GUJMY87Uu0March 16, 2024
McILROY HEADS TO RANGE AFTER LATEST DISPLAY
McIlroy finished with three straight birdies to keep himself in the tournament at -9 and is now hitting balls at the range to try and improve after some wayward shots since his superb opening round.
Hugs for Dad after the round 🥹 Poppy and Erica were excited to see @McIlroyRory after his birdie-birdie-birdie finish @THEPLAYERS. pic.twitter.com/hUrbHB45JAMarch 16, 2024
CLARK MISSES ANOTHER DRIVE TO THE LEFT
Clark and Schauffele remain tied at -16 after they both made three at the short par 3 13th. But Clark has since missed the 14th fairway to the left and could be struggling at the par 4, where Schauffele is on the green in two and nails his seventh birdie in 14 holes.
There's a new leader @THEPLAYERS.@XSchauffele sinks a birdie from 58 feet on No. 14 to take a one-shot lead. pic.twitter.com/zuGzGFvnBKMarch 16, 2024
MAVERICK BY NAME MAVERICK BY NATURE
Maverick McNealy is propelling himself into the spotlight this weekend. The American graduate , 28, from Stanford has chipped in and putted in from off the green so far today. He is coached by Butch Harmon , has his pilot's licence and was flying high today at -13 before going in the water at the 16th.
The most important shot in golf is the next one.Just your standard two-putt by Maverick McNealy 😬 pic.twitter.com/AoN4IrnwTfMarch 16, 2024
SCHEFFLER STILL IN THE MIX DESPITE INJURY
Scheffler, playing with his neck taped up, has finished with three successive birdies to get to -12. He wasn't at his most fluent best as we saw last weekend at Bay Hill. But the world No.1 still recorded a -4 round and will hope to push the leaders all the way tomorrow.
OPEN CHAMPION BRIAN HARMON FANCIES ANOTHER TROPHY
Open champion Harman, who shot a brilliant eight-under 64 to get to -15, is in the clubhouse and knows he has a great chance tomorrow. He said: "I played some really solid golf and kept it on the fairway pretty good. I have performed on the biggest stage. I am very excited for tomorrow. This is what I live for."
HUGE DRIVE FROM CLARK ON 16 SETS-UP LATEST BIRDIE
Clark is back level at the top with Schauffele after a birdie at the par 5 16th where he drove the ball 338 yards and had 167 yards in to tee up a birdie.
HUGE DRAMA AT 17TH AS CLARK FATS A WEDGE INTO WATER
Oh my, what an appalling miss by Clark who has just come up way short of the par 3 17th with a terrible dunk into the water with a shot which travelled less than 100 yards. Schauffele though has found the green en-route to a par before Clark , to his credit, hits his second ball to about five feet on the 123-yard hold to leave a putt for four which he converts as Schauffele leads by one after his 3.
Co-leader Wyndham Clark's ball finds the water at No. 17. pic.twitter.com/jnfLqyWSJjMarch 16, 2024
SCHAUFFELE AND CLARK BOTH MISS GREEN AT LAST WITH 2ND SHOTS
Leader Schauffele has come up short of the par 4 18th and Clark has missed over the back. But Schauffele produces an incredible chip from a tough lie to set up another par in his -7 round while Clark also putts up close from off the green to secure a par as the pair finish -17 and -16 respectively.
