PONTE VEDRA BEACH (Fla.) Adam SvenssonTo build a 2-shot lead at The Players Championship, he hit a shot onto a tent of hospitality and made birdie Saturday morning.
After Fridays storms, the Players finished its second round. Shut down playHalf of the field was unable to finish.
Svensson made his worst shot into a birdie after he was given a free drop from the tent, a cart path, and hit a delicate pitch of 4 feet to birdie on the par-5 nineth. He finished with a score of 67 and had a 2-shot advantage over Masters champion. Scottie Scheffler.
Scheffler took his time and had good reason. Scheffler was playing with Rory McIlroyTwosome after world No. 1 Jon Rahm Withdrew before round 2.A stomach bug.
Scheffler was patient and patient, but it was tiring. He made a pair of par-5 birdies at TPC Sawgrass and found the island green at 17th. This culminated in a score of 69.
Now that Rahm, McIlroy have left, who will they? You missed the cutScheffler has a clear path back to No. The worlds No. 1. Scheffler must be in a three-way tie to finish fifth or better to succeed Rahm.
Svensson, who won the final event at Sea Island last year, his first PGA Tour title, holds his first 36-hole lead. He was at 9 under 135.
Two-time major champion Collin MorikawaHe didnt make any gains Saturday morning, and ended up with a score of 73. He was three shots back, along Ben Griffin, Min Woo LeeAnd Christiaan Bezuidenhout.
Bezuidenhout tied Svensson at 8 over when play resumed under crisp, sunny conditions. He bogeyed two holes of his last three holes to score a 70.
McIlroy isnt missing a cut since Augusts FedEx Cup playoffs. This tournament wont have a cut moving forward.
He opened with a score of 76 and was playing at 6 over for the tournament when play resumed. He made birdies on the par-5s, but needed more. McIlroy made an unimportant bogey on 18th for a total of 73.
McIlroy declared, Just very boring.
The third round was scheduled to begin Saturday afternoon with threesomes of both tees. All 75 players who made it to the final round should be able for the finish.
The sad tale belonged only to Luke ListHe was 1 over for the tournament, and just short of the green at the par-5 ninth in 3 He was able to get there in 4 shots, a double-bogey that would have put him at 1 over. This would have eliminated 11 players. Justin ThomasAnd Shane Lowry.
Keith MitchellHe is also sticking around after shoving the tee shot into the water on Fridays fifth hole, just seconds before the horn sounded to end play. He returned to the tee to hit his third shot and then hit wedge to a fairway foot to escape with a birdie.
He made it on the number, which is crucial because hes No. 47th in the world. He must remain in the top 50 for the Masters in less than two weeks.