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Xander Schauffele took advantage Wyndham Clark throwing a shot of terror into the waters of the legendary 17th hole at TPC Sawgrass to take a one-stroke lead and finish on the grandstand at The Players Championship.
The American duo fought a vibrant battle in the third round of the PGA Tour’s flagship tournament on Saturday, and looked set to enter the final round on top before current US Open champion Clark took his first swing at the 123-yard, par-three penultimate hole.
Opting not to tee his ball, the World No. 5 sent patches of grass flying before wincing in anguish as his ball fell into the water far below the island’s iconic green.
“Why wouldn’t you put the ball on the tee when you can?” questioned Sky Sports Golf announcer Ewen Murray.
“She just blew it,” added co-commentator and 20-time LPGA champion Laura Davies.
Lynne Sladky/AP
Clark became the latest golfer to foul on the 17th hole.
However, the response was as sublime as the initial effort was poor, with a nerveless Clark, having decided not to take a different angle from the penalty area to the left of the green, dropping his second attempt seven feet from the cup before to roll. home.
If there are good bogeys, then this was one of them, and Clark certainly thought so: celebrating a job well done in damage limitation with an emphatic punch.
After matching Schauffele’s par on the final hole to close out his two-under round of 70, Clark remains within striking distance of the $4.5 million winner’s purse.
“It’s unfortunate on a hole that is so iconic and has a lot of issues to have the worst swing of the day,” Clark told reporters.
(But) I followed it up with a great swing and a great putt… I hope it’s a big point in the tournament and that tomorrow we look back and say, ‘Hey, that was maybe the shot and the putt that meant everything.’ . .’”
Clark dismissed any suggestion that a lack of concentration contributed to his mistake on the tee shot. Instead, the 30-year-old said a last-minute tip from caddy John Ellis to “take it down a little bit” from his typical sand-wedge striking distance led to a costly flinch.
“I’m by no means throwing John under the bus, but it was probably a perfect sand wedge,” Clark said.
“When I was on the ball, I got to the top and said, ‘Take it off a little bit,’ and then I just slowed down (slowed down) and chipped it up.
“It wasn’t really a lack of concentration or anything like that. Honestly, it was a bad swing.”
Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images
A strong response kept Clark within one hit of Schauffele.
Schauffele, world No. 6, started the day four shots behind Clark, but quickly surpassed his playing partner with seven birdies and shot a bogey-free 65.
It offers the 30-year-old a one-shot cushion in his quest for an eighth PGA Tour title and a first Players crown, having finished tied for second in 2018.
“Overall, it was a little complicated,” Schauffele said.
“The wind was blowing a little for both of us, for everyone who was on the back nine.
I was happy to stay in it and move on on moving day.
“Tomorrow might be low, but overall I’m going to try to enjoy myself and stay in my lane,” he added.
Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images
Schauffele quickly closed the gap on Clark.
Fellow American Brian Harman shot a spectacular 64, the best round of the tournament so far, to move within two shots of Schauffele as the chasing pack gathered behind the leader.
After starting the week with a frustrating par 72, the current Open Championship winner He came into the weekend with a 65 and made nine birdies to improve on Saturday.
“Thursday was a failure,” Harman lamented. “One of those days, I don’t know, just some bad oatmeal.
“The last two days I have felt more like my preparation. “It’s very frustrating not being able to get off to a better start, but at least I know that with the preparation I was doing, I knew I was going to play well at some point.”
Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images
Harman had his best round of the tournament so far on Saturday.
England’s Matt Fitzpatrick and American Maverick McNealy shot 68 to finish Saturday four shots off the lead, one shot ahead of world number one Scottie Scheffler.
Having battled a neck injury Through most of his second round, Scheffler shot 68 as he looks to become the first golfer to win back-to-back Players titles.
World No. 2 Rory McIlroy’s roller coaster week It took even more twists and turns as a brilliant late comeback kept their faint hopes of a second tournament triumph wavering.
The Northern Irishman had made an exasperated figure after a double bogey on the par four 14ththbut roared home with three consecutive birdies to card 69, a score exactly between his brilliant opening 65 and his error-plagued second round 73.
Only Webb Simpson had surpassed McIlroy’s 21 birdies and (or) eagles in three rounds in the tournament’s 50-year history. according to golf journalist Justin Ray.
Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images
It’s been a turbulent week for McIlroy in Florida.
However, when Simpson scored his 22 in 2018, he gained a seven-stroke lead that he used to take the trophy.
By contrast, McIlroy, a four-time major winner, will start Sunday eight shots behind leader Schauffele, and his chances will be hurt by six bogeys and three double bogeys in the tournament.