At Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida, Min Woo Lee and Akshay Bhatia are at the forefront of The Players Championship, leading the field heading into a weekend marked by forecasts of strong winds that could spark an exciting competition. Among the notable performances was that of Justin Thomas, who offered a remarkable display on Friday.
Thomas, who began the tournament with a devastating 78, experienced a significant turnaround by matching the tournament record with 11 birdies, ultimately carding a 10-under 62. This effort tied the record previously set with Tom Hoge. Despite a bogey on the 18th that interrupted his momentum, Thomas maintained a positive outlook, stating, “I’m happy I have a tee time tomorrow.”
Meanwhile, Lee completed his round with a bogey on the par-5 ninth hole, while Bhatia executed a skillful birdie on the same hole. Both players achieved a score of 66, tying them for the lead at 11-under 133. Thomas, trailing seven shots, remained unconcerned about the difference.
Thomas’s performance brought back memories of when he witnessed Hoge set the 62-mark while they played together at TPC Sawgrass. Reflecting on his day, Thomas expressed surprise at the unpredictability of golf. From the right rough on the 18th, his attempt to punch the ball under the trees faced a setback, ending up in the water after a miscalculation. Nevertheless, he managed to save a bogey after a penalty drop, taking pride in his record-equalling accomplishment.
The tournament promises to intensify, with the challenging weather expected to make the TPC Sawgrass even more demanding. Gusts reaching 25 mph are anticipated, potentially accompanied by rain on Sunday, turning the course into a test of skill and endurance.
J.J. Spaun sits just one stroke behind the leaders after posting a 68. Rory McIlroy, after an impressive start in the morning that included six birdies in 11 holes, saw his pace slow down, concluding two shots behind with a score of 68. McIlroy noted improvements in his play, especially in hitting more fairways, which provided opportunities for early birdies even though he couldn’t maintain the momentum on the back nine.
Collin Morikawa, a recent runner-up at Bay Hill, showcased his prowess with a variety of birdies, resulting in a round of 65. He is tied alongside Alex Smalley, who closed his round strong with birdies on two of his last three holes, finishing with a 67. Morikawa emphasized his strategic putting and knowing when to avoid forcing shots.
Scottie Scheffler, the reigning two-time champion, recovered from a slow start to finish six shots off the lead, recalling his ability to make comebacks like he did last year, reducing a five-shot deficit on the final day. The cut, set at 1-under 143, fluctuated, producing intense emotions among the players. Xander Schauffele narrowly made the cut, using a late surge to maintain his streak of consecutive cuts made, the longest since Tiger Woods.
Danny Walker finds himself in the weekend lineup after initially being uncertain of playing. Last-minute withdrawals gave him a spot in the competition, despite a tense moment on the final hole which required an hour-long wait to confirm his position.
Conversely, winners of some of the year’s PGA Tour events didn’t make the cut, including high-ranked Ludvig Aberg, who struggled with multiple double bogeys. Amongst those barely making it through was Jordan Spieth, whose unpredictable play included hitting a shot left-handed. However, a consistent close helped him secure his place eight shots off the lead.
In related news, Wyndham Clark withdrew with a neck injury, while six other PGA Tour winners of this season didn’t progress past the cut, including Hideki Matsuyama.
